Washington, D.C. June 17, 1942
Dear Bess:
Your extremely lovely letter came today. I guess I am making progress sure enough. That was the most important radio speech I have made because it was more widely broadcast and because it was on the most vital subject affecting the war effort. Lots of work was put in on it and I was most anxious for it to be believed as founded on actual facts. If you say it sounded convincing it must have been. Thank Ethel & Lucy. Of course I need instruction but I've been too busy to get it - and too timid I guess.
No the apartment was not dusty at all. The milk started on time and I got some bread - eventually and the keys came O.K.
I didn't hear Pearson & Allen Sunday but someone told me they were needling me. I postponed the date of release out of courtesy to Nelson expecting him to come and talk to me - but he talked to Tom Connally and Tom called him to see me. He came down at 9:50 Tom came and Sen. Burton happened in. Nelson really told me how I'd ruin his setup and stop the war if I made the report. He'd sent me a nasty letter and when he got all through I told just what I thought and what I expected to do, I told him what I thought of his help and what would happen to him if he continued with some of his most outstanding SOB's, that the report would be made as agreed on by the whole committee and that I wasn't running the committee for the W.P.B. but for the Senate & in the Public interest as the committee & I saw it. Then I called the committee together at 2:30 told 'em what had happened and to a man - except Tom and he said he wouldn't oppose me, they backed me up and suggested I make it tougher. Mead, Herring, Kilgore, Brewster, Ball, Burton and Connally were there. Hatch was out of town but I had his vote and Wallgren was in Washington State & I had his vote. How's that for handling Prima Donnas? Wheeler says we all are so I guess it's no insult. So she goes in tomorrow and I'll be skinned by the "kept press" but it right. We're having an all night black out & I'm in the hall.
Kiss my baby. Love to you Harry