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That was the way he estimated it. Of course one hesitated to say to him, “Well, of course, don't you think Belle had something to do with it,” because you couldn't discuss that, naturally. It was enough to know that he thought it was unnecessary.

Soon Raskob and the isolationists began to put their hooks into Al Smith. Then, of course, began the great temptations. I don't think it was seriously discussed, and I never heard it seriously discussed, to have Al run for Governor in 1930 instead of Roosevelt. It may have been, but I don't recall it now. It was assumed that the Governor would run to succeed himself. Al was thinking in terms of running for President in '32 and by this time was thinking of it very strongly. Al had said he would not run again, and just when he changed his mind, I don't know, because I never was the go-between on that point. I know that it had never occurred to me and many others that anybody but Roosevelt would be asked to succeed himself as Governor. That's just generally accepted in New York State. If the Governor makes any kind of a Governor, he's entitled to a second try.

I know that the election for Governor in 1930 seemed very easy compared to the previous ones. Nothing stands out in my mind about it except the James Walker incident. It was