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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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been in that particular building. They'd moved to new premises. I knew by reading the bulletin board in the office building which floor they were on. I got off the elevator and there were all these clerks milling around to get a look at the new Commissioner. I said good morning to them and picked the handiest one and said, “Would you take me to Mr. Mitchell's office? I don't know my way through this labyrinth of corridors.”

He took me in. Mr. Mitchell was very polite when I got there. He shook me warmly by the hand. Apparently he thought I was going to come with horns hissing fire. Instead of which, I came as pleasantly as I knew how. We talked about a lot of things - old times and one thing or another. We talked about the labor movement and some of the people he'd known in the labor movement. There were various questions that I asked about that. I didn't say one word about the Commission.

I said, “Well, now, do you think I can be sworn in this morning, Mr. Mitchell?”

“Why yes,” he said, “I think so.” He called on his secretary. He said to her, “Will you arrange to have Miss Perkins sworn in?”

She said, “Oh, yes; who would you like to have swear you in?”





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