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own situation and on our own planning here. You first indicated to me and gave me reason to think that you were willing to go. I believed that was a good solution of what has frankly become a problem.”

I found myself looking at my boots by this time, and so was Richberg. In our presence this approach was terrible. He went on, “I want to ask you once more, General Johnson, if you are willing to go, because I would like to send you. I would like to put you at the head of this mission. You can put anybody else on the mission you want. Will you go?”

Johnson said, “No, I told you, Mr. President, I would not go. I will stay here and do my duty by NRA.”

“Well, then,” said the President, “we must move on to the second item. I think you have misunderstood me, General Johnson, although I tried to make myself clear the other day. If you don't wish to go to Europe, I think you should resign at once. Frankly you have become a problem. I can't discuss it much further, but I think you should resign immediately.”

Richberg and I were looking firmly at our boots. It was a most embarrassing predicament for us. The President turned from one to the other of us and said, “You understood what I said, didn't you, Miss Perkins?”