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and her life if she had stayed in New York. I once apologized to her for it and said I was sorry. She said, no, I had given her a much more interesting life and it was all right with her. Nevertheless, she would have been a happily married housewife living like other people if she hadn't come down and devoted her life to me. She gave me her life, that's all. I know it. I wake up in the night sometimes and say, “Mea culpa.” I know that I've taken her life. I realize it. It's been awfully useful to me, but I know that I have taken her life. Anyhow, so far as she's concerned she's always felt it was all right and that she gained more than she gave. Perhaps she did, but when I see her without the ordinary comforts of life I wonder.

What I did before I talked to Roosevelt naturally was to evaluate, as well as I could quickly, what I had in my Department. I got rid of these two men in the outer office who were assistants to the Secretary. Also within the first two days I asked Rode Carl White if he would stay with me for a while, because I found him the only person around from whom I could get real information. I trusted him. Some people don't trust their predecessors, but I trusted him. I knew from looking at him that he was a good honest man. I could tell from the way he talked that he was slightly sour, but good and honest. He had a good sense of public service.