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The President said, “I don't know that it's necessary, Frank. There's nothing you can do when you get there. We've got to know what's going on and you can't tie the wires together. That's a technician's job.”

“I know, but I've got to go. I've got to be there. I know it's my duty to go.”

The President nodded and said, “I guess you're right, Frank. I guess you're right. You may not be able to do anything, but you're right. It is your duty to go.”

I remember feeling that Knox had the right idea. He was the boss of this show and there was trouble. He should go where the trouble was. The word “sitting duck” wasn't used in connection with all this until the next morning, but, as it was described to us, partly by Knox, partly by the naval aides who were running in, partly by Early who would add a bit here and there, partly by the President, it was a pretty sad story. I remember that the President could hardly bring himself to tell us this. His pride in the Navy was so terrific that he was having actual physical difficulty in getting out the words that put him on record as knowing that the Navy was caught unawares, that bombs dropped on ships that were not in fighting shape and not prepared to move, but were just tied up. I remember that he said twice to Knox, “Find out, for God's sakes, why the ships were tied up in rows.”