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Part:         Session:         Page of 912

Interviewer:

I had a feeling that “ill behooves he” speech came out in '40. “Plague on both your houses,” the way it ended.

Perkins:

Oh no, that wasn't the way it ended. That was what Roosevelt had said, you see. Roosevelt said to Charlie Taft, “A plague on both your houses.” No, Lewis didn't say it, except to resent that Roosevelt had said “a plague on both your houses.”

Interviewer:

You're right--that speech continues “Roosevelt had said ‘a plague on both your houses' and damned with fine impartiality”--that was it.

Perkins:

Well, anyhow, Lewis made this speech to me, in my office, walking up and down. I used to know it by heart. I find my memory has slipped. I thought I'd never forget it. I could tell it to anybody. It was in essence the speech that he made later, the statement that he gave out later, when he was irritated.

At any rate, I tried to pacify him and I tried to say that I was sure no offense was meant and that after all, a very short time had elapsed since election, and the President was busy, he was to be inaugurated right after the first of January, there wouldn't be any time, and so forth.

Said Lewis, anyhow, he should have asked him earlier.





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