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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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what it would do. All kinds of people - second and third string people - came in from various departments. Various assistants to assistants came in. They were quite far removed from responsibility. The room was a hugh room and it would be just packed. Some of the people you had never seen. You didn't know who in the world they were. They could have been utter strangers from outside, but I think that practically all of them were government employees.

I think that about the third meeting, realizing that the room was full, I said to the chairman, “I have a matter that I wish to bring up, which is of such significance and importance that I don't think it ought to be said in the presence of anybody except a person who is an actual, sworn member of the War Manpower Commission.”

McNutt looked very astonished.

I said, “Before we take it up I would like to suggest that everybody else who is in the room - I don't know who they are - withdraw.”

Patterson supported me. Forrestal supported me on it and said, “Certainly, certainly.” Everybody went out. I forget what the matter was now, but it was something that shouldn't have been discussed with a roomful of people. At least I thought it shouldn't have been discussed. The week before I hadn't taken it up because there were so many people there. I felt





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