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what the Government's order was, or why he wouldn't obey it. It's one of those things that made him famous the world over, but nobody remembers what it was about now. I'm sure if I looked in my papers, I would see the story. Certainly I saw the clipping. It was not my direct responsibility, though. I had no function in it.

Interviewer:

This meeting is May 18. On the 23rd, your resignation was announced at a Press conference, by Truman: “Tom Clark would replace Francis Biddle, Clinton P. Anderson would replace Claude Wickard, and Lewis B. Schwellenbach would replace Frances Perkins.” Now, what happened?

Perkins:

Well--I tell you, I think all through this period from the 12th of April on, I certainly was laying out the plans for the I.L.O., but I was also laying out my plans to retire. I mean, it didn't look like a natural to me, for this old Cabinet, you see, that had been Roosevelt's Cabinet, to stay on in office with Truman. It didn't seem a natural. Well, it just seemed as if it couldn't be, that's all. That's all I can remember, although I was perfectly willing to go along as long as they wanted us to.

I had been in touch with Steve Early a number of times, and I had spoken with Truman once or twice to say, “I'm going to do what I can, but I'm sure that eventually you're going to want my resignation, and will you let me know when you





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