June 1 '45
Yesterday was "medal pinning day," with one spilling over into this morning.
Gave Steve Early a Distinguished Service Medal. He's earned one in the last 30 days-let alone the previous 12 years.
Called all the White House force into the rose garden and personally read the citation and pinned the medal on him. Said it was his mother's birthday and both of us got sort of emotional. After the pictures we took something for our nerves and to calm our feelings.
In the morning I had given Mrs. Knox a Legion of Merit badge for the dead Secretary of the Navy. It was a nice ceremony too in the executive office with Secs. of War and Navy present with their aides and assistants and wives. Mrs. Hull was present.
Gave the Regent of Iraq a merit badge this morning. He is a nice young man and not a bit upstage. His Foreign Minister is also a regular fellow.
Have been going through some very hectic days. Eyes troubling somewhat. Too much reading "fine print." Nearly every memorandum has a catch in it and it has been necessary to read at least a thousand of 'em and as many reports. Most of it at night. I see the Secretaries at 9:15 after dictating personal mail for 45 minutes. Usually stop in the Map Room at 8:20 and spend ten minutes finding out about ship sinkings, casualties, etc. Gather up dispatches from Stalin, Churchill, Hurley and others.
After discussing the day's prospects with Connelly, Ross, Hassett, McKim and Early (I'll miss him) then commence to see the customers. Usually Senators, Congressmen, Cabinet members and Missourians.
Saw Herbert Hoover day before yesterday and had a pleasant and constructive conversation on food and the general trouble of U.S. Presidents-two in particular.
We discussed our prima donnas and wondered what makes 'em. Some of my boys who came in with me are having trouble with their dignity and prerogatives. It's hell when a man gets in close association with the President. Something happens to him. Study Rienzi and one or two others.
Some Senators and Congressmen came in and passed the time of day, and then go out and help me save the world in the press.
That publicity complex is hell and few can escape it here. When a good man comes along who hasn't the bug I try to grab him.
The family left for Missouri last evening. Went to the train with them and rode to Silver Spring just as I did with my mother and sister a week or so ago. Daughter was in a very unsatisfactory humor. I hope-sincerely hope, that this situation (my being President) is not going to affect her adversely. My great predecessor had a lot of trouble with his family. Most all of 'em sold him down the river and when they weren't selling him, they "sold" the country. But at that I sympathize with them. They were handicapped too. I'm trying to see that they get the same just treatment that other Americans get.
I'm always so lonesome when the family leaves. I have no one to raise a fuss over my neckties and my haircuts, my shoes and my clothes generally. I usually put on a terrible tie, not even Bob Hannegan or Ed McKim would wear just to get a loud protest from Bess and Margie. When they are gone I have to put on the right ones and it's no fun.
Went to church this morning and beat the publicity boys. Walked across Jackson Park with no advance detail and slipped into a rear pew of St. Johns Church without attracting any notice whatever. Don't think over six people recognized me. Several soldiers and sailors stood and saluted me as I walked across the park but there were no curiosity seekers around, and I enjoyed the lack of 'em.
Had dinner on the south porch all by myself. It is a beautiful outlook across the White House lawn to the Jefferson Memorial with the Washington Monument rising just to the left of the picture. And the Sabotage Press represented by Mr. Walrup did everything possible to prevent the building of the Jefferson Memorial. It makes a lovely picture from that south porch.
Church was rather dull. But I had a chance to do some thinking and the time wasn't wasted. A lot of the world's troubles have been caused by the interpretation of the Gospels and the controversies between sects and creeds. It is all so silly and comes of the prima donna complex again.
The Jews claim God Almighty picked 'em out for special privilege. Well, I'm sure He had better judgment. Fact is I never thought God picked any favorites. It is my studied opinion that any race, creed or color can be God's favorites if they act the part-and very few of 'em do that.
June 4, 1945.
Some day-Alabama Senators and Rep. Sparkman hear of a Board vacancy and want it for Alabama. I admire their activity.
Saw the Big Four from the Congress-McKeller, Barkley, Rayburn, McCormick. Rayburn spent weekend in Maryland at the fishing resort of Jim Barnes-a grand old lobbyist who charges Congressional Week Enders $10.00 for the privilege of fishing in his lake. No business is discussed-only fishing lies and Jacks or better. They took me fishing before I became V.P. and "accidentally" spilled me in the creek while I was changing seats in the row boat. I got wet from neck to ankles but kept my feet and head dry! Some feat. Try it sometime. I simply sat in the creek over the side of the boat. My feet stayed inside the boat, and I held on to the side of the boat with my hands keeping my head above water. But I succeeded in getting just as wet as if I'd gone all the way into the creek.
It was claimed to have been an accident-I'm not sure it wasn't. But they still discuss it, and I wish I could go again and have as much fun. But can you imagine me taking sixteen secret service men, telephone and telegraph connections, representatives of three press associations, radio, photographers, special writers, etc. ad lib on a personal excursion of that sort? It would all be off the record of course, but these people would be along so if I got drowned or some nut got by the secret service and shot me or stabbed me, the news service would be intact. I'll stay in the White House back yard and let 'em stare through the back fence at the "two headed calf."
Joe Davies returned from his visit to the P.M. of G.B. Had him and Adm. Leahy to dinner, and we discussed foreign affairs and Churchill in particular.
After dinner a dozen or so Senators and the White House employees and their wives came to the East Room for a show by Olson & Johnson. It was a dandy show and everyone enjoyed it. I took the show troupe over the House and told 'em what the Pres. uses the Green, Blue, Red and State Dining Rooms for. Then took 'em upstairs and showed 'em where State guests sleep; the Lincoln and Monroe rooms and my own and the family quarters. I think they got a kick out of their high-powered guide-so did I.
June 5 '45
Another hectic day in the executive office. Saw a lot of customers. Hope they all left happy. Most of 'em did.
Took Ross, Snyder and Rosenman to the "House" for lunch. Had 'em upstairs in my so-called "study" and gave them a libation before we went to the family dining room for lunch. Told the three of them that they were most in my confidence and that I wanted frank and unadulterated statements of fact to me from them-and that when they couldn't treat me on that basis, they'd be of no use to me.
We had a nice lunch and discussed sale of war plants, surplus property board chairman, and F.E.P.C.-all loaded with political dynamite. We expressed opinions of various people including Guy Gillette and his successor. Guy can't make up his mind on anything. If God told him to take charge of Heaven, he'd be dead sure that Hell would be an easier place to run. I have known him to change his mind three times in as many conferences on one issue. He's very religious, very good looking and is so anxious to do what is right. But he can never make up his mind on what God wants. If he had the power of decision he'd be a great man. Too bad he hasn't.
Went to a party this evening for Leslie Biffle. [Illegible] was the host. He's Barkley's son-in-law. I was a surprise guest. Arrived at the Hotel Raleigh lobby about seven o'clock. The secret service men were getting me through the lobby--pushing people right and left to make way for the President--politely, of course. We came to the elevator and there were Biffle, several Congressmen and a Senator or two waiting to go up. The Secret Service men who take care of the Nation's Chief Executive think only of the President and his convenience. Sometimes it is very embarrassing to a modest man.
They began pushing Congressmen, Senators and other big shots out of the way at the elevator-even including the guest of honor-Mr. Biffle. Biffle is rather slight in build weighing about 130 pounds, so I grabbed him from behind by his elbows and shoved him into the elevator ahead of me. He thought he was being too roughly treated for a regular Raleigh guest and turned on me to express his opinion. When he saw who was manhandling him, he was so surprised and happy that it made me ashamed.
The dinner was one great success. [illegible] called on Biff's Senator from Arkansas, Bill Fulbright, who made some very appropriate remarks. Then he called on Judge Pine, Sen. Scott Lucas, Sen. Hatch and his father-in-law Sen. Barkley. Barkley really spread himself. He not only paid a great tribute to Biffle but he went out of his way to pay a very high compliment to me.
Wish we'd had a stenographer there. It was a heartfelt endorsement of Biffle and me.
Got back to the White House at 10:30. Called the Madam and talked to her and my baby girl (she doesn't like that designation). I can't help wanting to talk to my sweetheart and my baby every night. I'm a damn fool I guess because I could never get excited or worked up about gals or women. I only had one sweet-heart from the time I was six. I saw her in Sunday School at the Presbyterian Church in Independence when my mother took me there at that age, and afterwards in the 5th grade at the Ott School in Independence when her Aunt Nannie was our teacher, and she sat behind me. She sat behind me in the sixth, seventh and High School grades, and I thought she was the most beautiful and sweetest person on earth-and I'm still of that opinion after twenty-six years of being married to her. I'm old fashioned I guess, but it's a happy state to labor under in this terrible job I fell heir to on Apr. 12 '45.
June 7 '45
Looks like San Francisco would be a success yet. Uncle Joe agreed to accept our interpretation of the Veto. He also agreed to reconsider the Polish question. We may get a peace yet. Hopkins has done a good job in Moscow.
Davies did a good one in Britain. It was a good thought when they were sent over.
Montana went haywire and elected a Republican Congressman and Wheeler went haywire in Italy on the Russians. Every time we get things going halfway right with the Soviets some smart aleck has to attack them. If it isn't Willie Hearst, it's Bertie McCormick or Burt Wheeler, it is some other bird who wanted to appease Germany but just can't see any good in Russia. I'm not afraid of Russia. They've always been our friends and I can't see any reason why they shouldn't always be. The only trouble is the Crazy American Communist. There is only one in a million of our population but they are loyal to Stalin and not to the American President. I'd like to send them to Russia. Uncle Joe would promptly send them to Siberia or a concentration camp I'm sure. But I can't do that and wouldn't if I could. Emma Goldman and William Z. Foster found by experience that the dictatorship of the proletariat is no different from the Czar or Hitler. There's no socialism in Russia. It's the hotbed of special privilege. A common everyday citizen has about as much to say about his government as a stockholder in the Standard Oil of New Jersey has about his company. But I don't care what they do. They evidently like their government or they wouldn't die for it. I like ours so let's get along.
You know Americans are funny birds. They are always sticking their noses into somebody's business which isn't any of theirs.
We send missionaries and political propagandists to China, Turkey, India and everywhere to tell those people how to live. Most of 'em know as much or more than we do. Russia won't let 'em in. But when Russia puts out propaganda to help our parlor pinks-well that's bad-so we think. There is not any difference between the two approaches except one in "my approach and the other is "yours." Just a "moat & beam" affair.
The United States was created by the boys and girls who couldn't get along at home. So-called Puritans who weren't by any manner of means pure came to Mass. to try out their own witch burning theories. Roger Williams couldn't stand 'em any better than they could stand England under the Stuarts.
Most every colony on the East Coast was founded for about the same reason by folks who couldn't get along at home. But by amalgamation we've made a very good country and a great nation with a reasonably good government. I want to maintain it and shall do all I can in spite of the hyphenates and crackpots.
I've no more use for Polish-Americans, Irish-Americans, Swedish-Americans or any other sort of hyphenate than I have for Communist-Americans. They all have some other loyalty than the one they should have. Maybe the old melting pot will take care of it. I hope so.
June 13 '45
Had breakfast with Hopkins, Davies and Leahy to discuss the Russian-British-Polish situation. Seems that a good job was done by the special envoys. Anyway we are in better position for a peaceful conference than we were before. Hopkins looks better than when he left here and so does Davies. Think both of 'em were more worried than sick.
Propaganda seems to be our greatest foreign relations enemy. Russians distribute lies about us. Our papers lie about and misrepresent the motives of the Russians-and the British out-lie and out-propagandize us both. The best one I've heard was about a show the British gave the French on their great Paris boulevard-Champs Elyse.
They showed American Lend-Lease material which we'd given them and claimed credit for furnishing such stuff to the French! What a world!