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Well, certainly he wasn't laying out his whole hand. Why should he? But when he'd made a promise, “Yes, I will,” “No, I won't,” he kept it. He was absolutely trustworthy. There was always a difference between a serious and a superficial conversation with John L. Lewis. In a superficial conversation, he might say anything or show you what part of his hand he wanted to--you don't have to tell the world everything you know in order to be trustworthy, you know. But when you asked for an action of trust, he was prepared to give it to you, and to say, “Yes,” or “No,” and to stand by it. If he said “No,” to something you wanted, he would give you a reason that was at least reasonable from his point of view, and you knew perfectly well he wouldn't go any further on that line.

Have I told you about our conversations with Ickes? This was a case in point. This was at the time when the Government took over the coal mines. I should tell you, because that's very important.

Of course, the strike was on, and there was great irritation about it. This is in 1942. There was great irritation and excitement about it, and constant demands from Tom, Dick and Harry that the Government take over the mines. Of course, you'd say to them, “Well, how could they take them over?”

“Oh, send the military in.”

My won comment in Cabinet meetings and other places