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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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saying “me too.” That was what the platform was and what the issue of the day were. I don't remember too much about his campaign. I remember his labor speech naturally because I was much interested in that. He made it in Pittsburgh. That was the great occasion in which he unnecessarily put his foot in it. The President noted that with great glee and laughed, saying, “Poor boob, he had it just right. He was doing fine. Then he had to spoil it all.” He was speaking as professional critic. He said that he was going to appoint a Secretary of Labor from the ranks of labor. That, of course, drew a great cheer. That was fine. It was a labor audience and it was his labor speech. Then he added, when the applause died down,” And it won't be a woman either!”

The President said to me afterwards, “My God, couldn't he see what he did? He had it. It was all coming to him if he had just stopped right there.” The local crowd of labor men cheered it. They didn't care. But he made enemies of a million women by saying that, including Republican women. The very next day he was flooded with telegrams from Republican women, from Mrs. Louis Slade and people like that two were the bulwark of his support. He was supposed to be running as a liberal reform Republican.





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