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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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the conversation to an end, you see.

“I'll think it over,” said Jim. So he departed.

So when I saw the President, I said, “I couldn't help hearing what you were talking about.”

He said, “Jim's got no political sense at all. Pauley's been a big contributor, and Hannegan wants him.”

I said, “Well, what do you think about Keith Kane-- you know Keith, don't you?”

“Yes, I know him,” he said. “I understand he's a candidate for Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Well, he might be good. He might be good. Write me a little memorandum.”

That was the end of our conversation. But Jim prevailed. Among other things, you see, Forrestal had indicated that he didn't doubt Pauley's integrity and all that, but he thought it gave a bad flavor to the Navy to have an oil man come into a high post in the Navy at a time when the Navy was obviously seeking oil supplies. I mentioned that to the President. I said, “I suppose that's the real objection to Pauley, isn't it? There's nothing against him personally, so that's the real objection.”

He said, Yes, it is, I guess. That's the real objection. Perhaps Kane would solve the problem.”

Anyhow, that was the end of that. Kane wasn't appointed. I think the man that Forrestal wanted was. Pauley wasn't, I know.





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