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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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these goings on. I don't think he had anything to do with it. That was, I think, a set of volunteers that had run in these visitors from away.

Interviewer:

Lewis and Roosevelt--could you trace that thread, the relationship between the two?

Perkins:

No, I can't. I'm trying to say how Lewis's denunciation of Roosevelt began, you see. Because it began at just that time. I cite this because I locate it in my memory by the startled reaction that Alfred Sloan had to it. And he was here, with other automobile people, on some business to do with the automobile strike.

Anyhow, Charlie Taft had seen the President, and the President had heard his report. Now the truth is, Charlie Taft ought not to have gone to the President. The President hadn't been in touch with the Auto-lite thing. He hadn't been in touch with Toledo. I had been in touch with it, and I had appointed Charlie Taft, but of course I had told him, “The President wants you to do this.” You always do tell them that. I mean, otherwise, you know, it would be less easy to serve.

So Charlie Taft came down and instead of coming over to see me first, which he should have done, he went over to see the President. He was delighted to get in to see the President, he had a reason, and the President was pleased to see him--you know.





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