[with President Roosevelt acknowledging] If you [unclear] by name on any of these, I think you might as well say that—call attention to [Benjamin O.] Davis [Jr.], that on his record [President Roosevelt acknowledges] they promoted him, and this is the first time [unclear].[note 2] Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was a U.S. Air Force officer; commander of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II; and the first Black brigadier general in the U.S. Army in 1960.

Yes, yes. I think you’re right.

Come in, boys.

Earl [Godwin], what’s the news this morning?[note 3] Earl Godwin was a reporter for the Washington Times from 1917 to 1919, and a White House correspondent in the 1930s; president of the White House Correspondents’ Association in 1938; a favorite reporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt; and a syndicated radio newscaster from 1936 until his death in 1956. Have you done your bit this morning?[note 4] The Kannee transcript indicates that Roosevelt said, “Have you done your deed this morning?" Godwin was a radio newscaster.

I’ve done it twice.

Twice. How’s your voice holding up?

My voice gets better every minute.

That’s right. That’s right. {Like mine.} [Laughter.] You know, if you ever have trouble, Ross [T.] McIntire in there has a solution.[note 5] Ross T. McIntire was an otolaryngologist; physician to the president from 1933 to 1946; and surgeon general of the U.S. Navy from 1938 to 1946.

Is he all right?

Perfectly amazing. Perfectly amazing. [Tape skips.] {It will last you 20} minutes. You can take a croak like a frog, and you’ll get the voice of the most beautiful singer for 20 minutes.[note 6] According to the Kannee transcript, President Roosevelt said, “You can have a croak like a frog, and you will have a voice like the most beautiful singer for 20 minutes.”

I’ll have to see him.

Anytime you go on like that, you run in there.

We know a prominent speaker who may be able to use that.[note 7] The Kannee transcript suggests that the “prominent speaker” in question was “Mr. [Wendell] Willkie,” the Republican presidential candidate.

[chuckling] Yes, we do. [Laughter.] We’re not giving away the formula.

It’s off the record.

I don’t dare talk about the politics, though.

Huh?

I don’t dare to talk about the politics.

Oh, you can’t do it.

I got an egg this morning. [Chuckles.]

I think the only news I have this morning is that—a list of promotions. The interesting thing relates to the promotion of General—Major General [Delos C.] Emmons, GHQ Air Force Commander, to be lieutenant general, which is the same rank as that held by the Corps Area Commanders, plus a great many other promotions.[note 8] General C. Emmons was commanding officer of the 18th Composite Wing of the Air Corps from 1934 to 1936; commanding general of the Hawaiian Department of the Air Corps from December 1941 to 1943; commanding general at the Presidio in San Francisco, California, in 1943; head of the Alaskan Department at Fort Richardson until 1946; and commandant of the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, from August 1946 until his retirement in June 1948. [reading aloud] “The present expansion”—Steve’s got this for you—“of the Army will increase the active strength from 227,000 to 1,400,000 in this year.” And that’s in this fiscal year. “The increased strength makes necessary the organization and activation of many new units. It permits a large expansion of the Air Corps. It increases manyfold the activities and the size of the manufacturing arsenals and depots. The expansion cannot be carried out without proper leadership, and proper rank must be accorded to the leaders. The following temporary promotions are essential to meet the requirements of the present phase of the expansion.” They’re all temporary promotions, of course. “As the Army increases, as more new units and more training sectors, or centers are set up, and as the Selective Service System brings new trainees in large numbers to the colors, additional temporary promotions will be necessary.” This is the second list; we had one already. Emmons goes up to lieutenant general on the theory that the GHQ Air Force, in fact, is, in its relationship to the Army, at least of equal importance to a corps area command, and the corps area commanders for some time have been lieutenant generals. Then there are a number of brigadiers to go up to major general . . . for the corps and division commanders. Coast artillery, three colonels; infantry, one colonel goes up; field artillery, one colonel goes up; cavalry, two colonels go up; and, on that, it’s rather an interesting fact that among those two colonels who go up, on the record, one of them is Colonel Davis, Benjamin O. Davis, who, I think, as we—far as I know, is the first colored man who’s ever been a brigadier general. One, two, three, four, five, six ordnance colonels go up to [tape skips] {brigadier general; one quartermaster} corps; one chemical warfare; and one corps of engineers. [Pause.] In other words, you have to have the correction . . . the correct rank for a given command. And I think, if you want—this is, this is—I’ll give you this now background stuff, and only background.

In time of war, it’s a pretty important thing, of course, to keep the overhead down. At the same time, it’s pretty important to keep the rank of officers in line with the number of men they command or the importance of their work. The other day we were up in Philadelphia [Pennsylvania], and we saw the Frankford Arsenal, employing 7,500 men. Well, 7,500 men, of course, anywhere in the field, would rate at least a brigadier general. However, the men up there—this has nothing to do with these individuals—the man up there was a colonel, pretty well up on the top of the list of ordnance. And he is, in this list today, being promoted to a brigadier general. In the same way, a man who’s running a private establishment, we might want to shift him to some other private establishment, because there are a great many private establishments in case of war turn out solely [U.S.] Army material. It’s perfectly possible that we might take a 75,000-dollar-a-year man, who’s running a 7,500-men factory, and make him a brigadier general, which would certainly save the money—save the government money. You see the point? In other words, we’re trying to fit the rank to the number of men commanded, or the importance of the job.

Mr. President, how far down will these temporary promotions go in grade?

These only go down to colonel or . . .

One Lieutenant.

One lieutenant colonel. All the rest are colonels.

Well, the reason I ask, sir, is the young fellows out of the academy in both services, in the course of the last two years, with a great many reserve officers coming into the line. [Unclear] line officers rather than—

They all go up on merit equally. [The unidentified speaker attempts to interject.] No discrimination. They all go up equally.

There’s no nominations.

No what? They don’t have to be nominated to the Senate. [speaking over an unidentified speaker] I think the thing is going on as a regular process, the way it did during the World War.

Mr. President, there’d be a vacancy on the District of Columbia Public Utilities Commission in a few days. Are you—has that come up to you at all?

I don’t think so. Ask [John Russell] Russ [Young].[note 9] The Kannee transcript identifies “Russ” as Commissioner J. Russell Young. Young was commissioner of the District of Columbia from April 1940 to June 1952, and president of the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia from July 1941 to June 1952. [Slight chuckle.]

Mr. President, there seems to have been some misunderstanding about whether you might go to Chicago [Illinois] before election. Has anything been decided on that?

I don’t believe there could have been any misunderstanding. As I’ve said, I don’t know, I suppose 20 times in press conferences, that as soon as the international situation quiets down, makes it possible for me to be away for more than the limit I set, which is 12 hours, I’m going to various parts of the country, including the Middle West and—well, after election, to be quite frank, if the situation dies down, I would go to Warm Springs [Georgia] [chuckling] for Thanksgiving! See, that’s more than 12 hours. But if it doesn’t quiet down, and at the present moment, as you all know from reading the papers, it hasn’t quieted down, I have to be within easy distance.

That understanding—the misunderstanding, sir, was at the other end, not here.

[chuckling] All right.

Mr. President, do you care to indicate what general phase of the international situation is now—may be receiving your special attention?

I don’t think so. I guess we both read the papers, and I also get a lot of dispatches, which confirm some of the things in the papers and some that don’t. [Chuckles.] It’s all rather speculative.

The reason I asked was because there’s been numerous queries alleging or insinuating that possibly some inquiries would be addressed to you through Spain.

I haven’t had anything like that at all. No.

Mr. President—

But if you know—again, like you want background—and this has got to be background; it can’t be attributed to me—just to take an example, you’ve got in the papers four different situations, any one of which might get worse. On the other hand, any one of them might get better.

There is, first, the question of Spain, which you mentioned. Secondly, there’s the question of the French fleet, which you know is—from the papers, I’d say, is under discussion at the present time over there. And third is Greece and the Balkans. And the fourth is the Far East. So, there you have, at the present moment—and things change awfully fast—four possibilities of trouble. It doesn’t mean involvement of us in any way, but it means all kinds of things that have to be done by the President. Proclamations, getting Americans out, executive orders. What do they call it, the tying up of money?

Freezing [unclear].

Yeah, freezing of money in banks in this country. In other words, the President has to do something about those things. And that being the case, I can’t go more than 12 hours away from Washington.

Mr. President, apropos of the conversation the other day between [Adolf] Hitler and Marshal [Henri Philippe] Pétain, is the French government still in the category of a friendly power from our viewpoint or are they part of an unknown quantity?[note 10] This speaker may have been Fred Essary. Adolf Hitler was chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and the leader of the Nazi Party. Marshal Philippe Pétain (né Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Pétain) was chief of staff of the French army from April 1917 to May 1917; a World War I military hero and the so-called Lion of Verdun; commander in chief of the French army; French minister of war from February 1934 to November 1934; deputy prime minister of France from May 1940 to June 1940; prime minister of France from June 1940 to April 1942; and chief of the French State from July 1940 to August 1944. Press reports had indicated that France would sign an extension of its armistice with Germany and make territorial concessions to the Third Reich. The implication was that France would now be aligned diplomatically, economically, and military with Germany, and thus poised to facilitate Germany’s war against England, even if France were not to come into the war formally. The focus of these concessions was expected to be in North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. See Daniel Brigham, “French to Give Axis Land and Bases; Hitler Sees Pétain, Lines Up Spain; RAF Pounds Berlin in 2 Night Raids,” New York Times, 25 October 1940.

Well, we certainly have diplomatic relations with them, haven’t we?

We have with Germany also. [Unclear.] [President Roosevelt laughs, followed by general laughter.] [note 11] The Kannee transcript indicates that “the President did not hear the question and looked askance.”

We have with Germany, also.

[Laughs.] You’re right. And quick.

Mr. President, have you anyone in mind for the transportation board? Any nominations to go up soon on that, sir?

I haven’t. I’ve asked people for suggestions, and I haven’t got them all in yet.

Sir, have you anything further to say about Ambassador [Joseph P. “Joe”] Kennedy [Sr.]?[note 12] Joseph P. “Joe” Kennedy Sr. was the father of President John F. Kennedy; chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 1934 to 1935; and U.S. ambassador to the Court of St. James from March 1938 to October 1940. You made a statement about rumors of his resignation several week—days ago. Do you care to make any further—

No, it’s just the same as it was then. We . . . Did I have anything else, Steve?

No, sir. [Unclear.]

I don’t think there’s anything else.

Mr. President, [in] your speech in Philadelphia, you said: “We are determined during the next four years to make our objective work for every young man and woman in America a living fact.” Does this term mean that, if reelected, you will, God willing, serve the full four-year term?

Of course. The answer is: “Of course.” [Laughs.] You can quote it if you want. [Laughs.] I’m glad you put in “God willing.” That saves it.

[speaking aside] Thank you, Steve.

Thank you, Mr. President.

There’s a man running for Congress in New Jersey [unclear]. [President Roosevelt acknowledges throughout.] [Unclear] running on a “Free Beauty Parlor” ticket. [President Roosevelt laughs.] What do you know about that! [Unclear exchange.] “Free Beauty Parlor,” yeah.

Well, you don’t remember [unclear] but up in New York state about [unclear]. [Unclear], and they closed [unclear] think that [unclear]. [Laughs heartily.]

We’re getting—beginning to get telegrams in, Mr. President, [President Roosevelt acknowledges] appeals from workers on various government projects that some arrangements be made to permit them to vote.

Mm-hmm.

And I talked to Howard [O.] Hunter, who talked to Patterson yesterday.[note 13] Howard O. Hunter was assistant administrator of the Federal Relief Administration and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1933 to 1939; deputy administrator of the WPA from 1939 to 1941; commissioner of the WPA from 1941 to 1943; and special assistant to the chairman of the War Production Board from 1943 to 1945. “Patterson” may have referred to Robert Porter Patterson Sr., the assistant secretary of war since July 1940. Is it all right to go ahead and let the various departments straighten it out?

Yeah, and do it through the budget.

Yeah.

Yeah. That’s right. Direct through the budget.

And they must have—they’re entitled to time.

Oh?

Reasonable time. [President Roosevelt acknowledges throughout.] Election Day, in order to reach the polls. Now, of course, some of them are from a distance and requesting they want more than a day off, and we can’t do that.

Well, do it just the way you do down here.

Yeah. All right.

If they have to take a whole day off and don’t [unclear], it depends on the, largely, on the subject of state law. Now, for example, as I remember it, Virginia has no absentee ballot law. I think I’m right.

[Unclear.]

Now, suppose you live—a fellow here in Washington, on WPA [Works Progress Administration/Work Projects Administration]! And suppose he votes in Bristol, Virginia.

Right.

That’s a hell of a long trip. You couldn’t vote there and get back here the same work day. You couldn’t go there on Election Day and get there in time to vote.

[Unclear.]

Having done any work.

Now, in the case of that fellow, of course, he should be given the whole day off.

Given the whole day, but in his spare time would have to come on his own [President Roosevelt acknowledges] [unclear] Election Day. Well, we’ll work it out just like we’ve done before.

Yeah. Steve, they didn’t get that thing asked. I gave them every chance. Huh?

No, [unclear].

I couldn’t [unclear] it.

[Unclear] no.

Huh?

[Unclear.]

That fellow worded a sweet question for him, though, there, didn’t he?

Well, there’s a hell of lot of that going around. [Unclear.]

[speaking over Early] Ooh, I’m—Mr. President, that’s one—they’re using that against you in a whispering campaign—

Oh, yeah.

What?

That you’re not going to serve.

Yeah, how’d you like the answer?

Oh, it was perfect.

The question and answer [were] both perfect.

And the [unclear]. [Unclear exchange.] [Laughter.]

I’ve got something here that’s very private. These boys shouldn’t hear this, Mr. President.

All right. [Laughs heartily.]

[Unclear] to them. [President Roosevelt chuckles.] [Unclear.] [Unclear] yesterday.

Yes.

[Unclear.]

Yes.

I’m not talking about the Speaker.

Yes.

[Unclear.]

Yeah.

[Unclear] get that message to you.

Now, how do I answer that?

You don’t have to give [unclear] answer.

What?

Don’t have to give it [unclear] answer [President Roosevelt attempts to interject] [unclear].

Yeah. Yeah.

[Unclear.]

Another thing, that our ambassador Claude [G.] Bowers in Chile piped up here for a speech on propaganda.[note 14] Claude G. Bowers was a journalist, best-selling author, and Democratic Party campaigner and orator; U.S. ambassador to Spain from June 1933 to February 1939; and U.S. ambassador to Chile from September 1939 to September 1953. [Unclear.] [Unclear] could furnish some stuff.

What?

He’s furnishing all the stuff that he hasn’t gotten. But he’s down there . . . might be bad.

[Unclear.]

He’s got to take a couple of days’ leave to do that, hasn’t he?

What?

He’s got to get a couple of days’ leave to do that, hasn’t he?

Yeah.

[Unclear.]

Yes.

Well, after all, if Joe can come home—due for [a] consultation paid for by the government of the United States, and stay here until after election, why the hell couldn’t we order Claude Bowers up here for consultation?

[Unclear.]

[Unclear] same status.

[Unclear] every campaign as far as you can remember.

Mm-hmm.

But [unclear] going to be listening [unclear]. And he’s a good speaker.

He’s a grand speaker, and another thing: I would very much like to know from him, actually, whether the Germans in Chile are working and praying against my election. [Unclear.]

[Unclear.]

It’s part of the foreign policy of the United States.

I do like me to—

That is the thing. Will you speak to old [B.] Sumner [Welles] about that?[note 15] B. Sumner Welles was U.S. ambassador to Cuba from April 1933 to December 1933, and U.S. under secretary of state from May 1937 to September 1943. Welles was forced out of the Roosevelt administration on accusations of soliciting sex with men in September 1940. He was questioned by the House Committee on Un-American Activities as part of the Alger Hiss case in 1948.

[Unclear.]

[Unclear.] [Unclear] the Kansas City Star [unclear] arguably. He said the thing that I [unclear] I knew this happened when the telegrapher taking the speech stopped taking it [unclear]. [Unclear.]

[Unclear] speech in Philadelphia?

No.

Did they stop receiving [unclear]?

No.

[Unclear.]

No! [Laughter.] [Unclear exchange.] [Unclear.] And the band stopped entirely!

I was having dinner with Harry [M.] Warner of Warner Brothers, and he’s been talking to the Vice President.[note 16] Harry M. Warner (né Hirsz Mojżesz Wonsal) was a Hollywood film studio executive, and a cofounder of Warner Brothers Pictures Inc. [President Roosevelt acknowledges.] And we had a portable radio in the room. And these fellows, instead of saying, “My God, what a speech,” they kept saying, “My God, what an audience. [laughing] My God, what an audience. My God, what an audience.” Every [unclear].

I had hardly finished a [tape skips and repeats] point that they didn’t start before I’d finished it!

The most electric response I’ve ever heard. [Unclear.]

[Unclear.]

And I’m going to tell him some—

And it wouldn’t be very difficult, of course, in Madison Square [Garden], to duplicate anything like that next Monday night, because I find the size of Madison Square, there’s a very different . . . your sound system takes a long time to get to the far part of the hall. It’s very different. I don’t know what it is, but you have a different feeling; the crowd is a long ways off.

You did that before [unclear].

I think that’s true of Madison Square, as against a convention hall.

Yeah.

If you wait as long as Willkie waits for them [unclear]. You’d have had time.

Perfect. Maybe we’ve got to pay a little bit more attention to the loudspeaker system in Madison Square, then.

Yeah.

‘Cause that is the only corrective that I can think of. You can get damn loud speakers, Mr. President, that’ll ruin any—

I know it. But I’m inclined to think this—

And by that I mean inadequate.

I’m inclined to think this, Steve: I really—we—I’ve done it before. I don’t like [unclear]. But I think it would be a good thing if some of the organization people were down at the—pretty well down at the far end of the hall, you see, instead of being [unclear] like that.

[Unclear.]

We’ll bring in ten people from the district with us and tell those captains, “For heaven’s sake, keep the meeting alive. You lead it.” Now, that’s all right. Hell, they’ll be there anyway.

[Edward J. “Ed”] Kelly was right on that job.[note 17] Edward J. “Ed” Kelly was the Democratic mayor of Chicago from April 1933 to April 1947.

You bet he was.

Very much.

Very much. And did you notice?

His signal?

Mmm.

Yeah.

Go back to Welles. Tell him that, if it’s OK, for him to call Bowers up by plane.

Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

Tell him to do it. It’s the only way to get him here.

We can get a plane. By plane, by air.

[Coughs.] By air.

Yeah. And send [Thomas J.] Tom Watson [Sr.].[note 18] Thomas J. “Tom” Watson Sr. was head of International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation from 1914 until his retirement in 1956. According to the White House daily log, Watson visited at 12:30 p.m. See Presidential Daily Diary, 25 October 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt Day by Day: A Project of the Pare Lorentz Center at the FDR Presidential Library. Should I let him in first [unclear]?

Yes. Yeah.

Five minutes?

Four.