July 7, 1945
Had two rather full and interesting days. Received a committee of Congressmen and Senators who are members of the Lions Club. They presented me with an honorary membership, all framed etc. and a scroll on principles of ethics. It was stated then, by me that business ethics would settle most trade difficulties and do away with courts of equity etc.
A couple of nice children gave me a plaque commemorating $715,000,000.00 in bonds sales by the school children. The nice boy made me a speech. At his age I'd have surely passed out, if I'd had to make a statement similar to is, to the town mayor let alone the President of the U.S. He didn't seem to be much bothered or impressed. These modern kids are something to write home about even if they can't spell or find a word in the dictionary or tell what 3 x 3 equals.
On the 7th I saw Sens. Wheeler, McFarland, Hawks and Capeheart. They'd been overseas, had seen Germany, France, Italy-and knew all the answers. Smart men I'd say. Since Julius Caesar such men as Charlemagne, Richelieu, Charles V, Francis I, the great King Henry IV of France, Frederick Barbarosa to name a few and Woodrow Wilson and Frank Roosevelt have had remedies and still couldn't solve the problem. Maybe these historical characters didn't have the brains and back ground of the four "able senators."
Anyway their song was that France would go Communistic, so would Germany, Italy and the Scandinavias, and there was grave doubt about England staying sane. The Pope, they said was blue as indigo about the situation. All of 'em except McFarland assured me that the European world is at an end and that Russia is a big bad wolf. Europe has passed out so often in the last 2000 years and has come back, better or worse than ever, whichever pleases the fancy, that I'm not impressed with cursory glances of oratorical members of the famous "Case of the Winds" on Capitol Hill. I've been there myself and have been through crisis after crisis in each of which the country surely would disintegrate (and it never did) that "Senatorial Alarm" doesn't much alarm me.
My good isolationist friend Wheeler is a natural purveyor of bad news. Capeheart is a promoter gone political, Hawks is an honest man with a good Chamber of Commerce mind and my Arizona friend is really worried but is an optimist and of all four I think most anxious to help me win a peace.
Talked to Bess last night and the night before. She wasn't happy about my going to see Mr. Russia and Mr. Great Britain-neither am I.
Had a long talk with my able and conniving Secretary of State. My but he has a keen mind! And he is an honest man. But all country politicians are alike. They are sure all other politicians are circuitous in their dealings. When they are told the straight truth, unvarnished it is never believed-an asset sometimes.
Byrnes & I discussed Pauly's plans on reparations. The smart boys in the State Department, as usual are against the best interests of the U.S. if they can circumvent a straightforward hard hitting trader for the home front. But they are stymied this time. Byrnes & I shall expect our interests to come first. Pauly is doing a job for the United States.
How I hate this trip! But I have to make it-win lose or draw-and we must win. I'm not working for any interest but the Republic of the United States: I giving nothing away except to save starving people and even then I hope we can only help them to help themselves.