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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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make an announcement almost immediately, just following on the heels of the President's announcement, that I have made you available to Mr. Hillman, that the Assistant Secretary of Labor is being made available to Mr. Hillman to assist him in getting this thing into operation. Will you do it?”

He said, “Well, I don't relish that assignment.”

I said, “No, and I certainly won't make it in black and white unless you're willing. I couldn't do it. But will you do it?

He said, “What can I do?”

I had to think this out as I went along because we had had not preliminary opportunity to figure this out. I sketched what he could do to help Hillman. He knew the Department of Labor, and he knew where the resources of the Department of Labor were. He was liked in the Department of Labor, and he was trusted. If I gave the word, they would give to Tracy any information he wanted. I said, “You know those resources.” Then I said, “You know the AF of L, and you are one of the AF of L, although in this case you'll be acting as a public official. You're an old time officer of the AF of L. They know you and trust you. Perhaps you can bring the AF of L into line.”

He said, “That's the hardest part of it. I think that's impossible.”





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