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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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As the President told it to me, he said, “Can you beat it?”

“Can you beat it?” said the President.

Interviewer:

Miss Perkins, did Lewis really mean it, believe it?

Perkins:

Oh yes! Oh, yes! There's no doubt in my mind whatever. He believed it. He believed it, and what's more, he believed that the President would not live throughout a third term, and that he would succeed him. That I know from what he said to Dan Tobin. I mean what Lewis said to Dan Tobin.

Interviewer:

What did Roosevelt say to Lewis?

Perkins:

He thanked him very much for the suggestion, and said he'd think about it. What else could you say? There were many aspects to be considered, and so forth and so on. Lewis went away saying, “Well, I wouldn't think you should decide this immediately. Let's think about it. Let's think about it carefully, and I think we'll come to an answer.”

Interviewer:

Did Lewis ever talk to you about this?

Perkins:

Only once, and that by inference. That was before the convention. I'm not sure if I opened the conversation or not, but be it as it may, I said, “Of course, there's





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