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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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can't remember what day of the week it was, but I'm inclined to think it was a Thursday or Friday. I wired and asked him if he would like me to reserve rooms for them at some hotel, and he wired back, “No.”

I knew they must have engaged their own rooms or were staying with friends or something. At any rate, I went to the Department. I went down to the train at 8:00 o'clock in the morning, in the big limousine with the chauffeur, and I had the little car, the smaller car, also with a chauffeur who wasn't a regular chauffeur but was one of the messengers. I thought they might have people with them. So we went down, and they were parked outside there in the Presidential parking space where my cars were always parked, and I met the Schwellenbachs on the platform. I went down on the platform and met them coming out and greeted them very cordially.

Mr. Schwellenbach seemed utterly astonished that I should be at the station to meet them. It would seem to me just the courtesy that one does to an incoming successor. He was very much astonished that I was there. He had with him the secretary who had written and telegraphed me before, a young man, quite a callow youth but an intelligent fellow. I think there was somebody else with them. At any rate, there were two or three people on the platform whom I didn't





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