[The White House] September 12, 1946
Dear Bess:
Your good letter of the 10th came last night. I don't understand your not getting my letters. I guess they don't mail them promptly. Sometimes I give them to Rose to mail and sometimes to Mayes. I have only missed one day and that was Sunday and I called you that day.
Hope you received the extra copies of the N.Y. Times. It was nice of Mr. Cappe to bring the flowers. He's one man who's not in the "Ain't done nothin' for me lately" class. His boy was appointed to West Point while I was in the Senate. Hope you get all your housecleaning done more rapidly than we are doing ours. I am enclosing you a report on progress. It shows exactly what "we've" done and what "we" propose to do and the time of completion. Mr. Crim gave it to me yesterday. Old Bluett is very anxious to know when you and Miss Margaret are coming home. I told her the President was anxious to know too but hoped it would be some time before the first of Oct.
I am going to inspect the hospitals Bethesda and Walter Reed today and tomorrow. Tomorrow is Pershing's birthday. Just 28 years ago today I was following up the drive on St. Miheil. Spent the night awake and with the horses harnessed. It was rather nerve wracking.
Monty came to see me yesterday. We were having pictures taken out on the lawn and he wanted to know when it was built. I told him in 1792 and that in 1814 the British burned it down and from then on it had to be painted white. He said that they ought to pay for it or else we should burn Whitehall.
Hope everybody is well and that there'll be no more delay in my letters. Vivian went home last night. I guess Canfil will go today. I am going out to Cliffords to dinner today. Forestal, Frank Walker, Allen and one or two will be there.
Kiss my baby and lots of love to you.
Harry.