Summaries of Telephone Conversations

Washington, D. C. October 19, 1945 CO SUMMARY 10:30 AM Mrs. BEHAN to Miss LIBEL, in BEN COHEN's office, State Department, 2795. CORCORAN is attempting to reach Dr. JEROME FRANK who is staying with COHEN. It is not known whether he has returned to New York City or not, but Miss LIBEL said that Justice DOUGLAS might know. 10:31 AM Mrs. BEHAN to Miss WATERS in Justice DOUGLAS' office. She doesn't know where JEROME FRANK is. She transferred Mrs. BEHAN to PHIL CURLEY (phonetic), in Justice FRANKFURTER's office, who advised that FRANK has returned to New York City and can be reached at Courtland 7-7161. 10:35 AM TOM CORCORAN to BILL BAILEY in Senator GUFFEY's office. CORCORAN told BILL that he would be a little late because BENNETT (CLARK?) had asked him to come up to see him before he is sworn in. The following conversation then took place: TC - BILL, let me tell you what I'm thinking about. I have always known how this judgeship mess in Pennsylvania was gonna come out because I've known his eminence was in it. I warned your boss and my fri end that it was gonna come out this way nearly six months ago. I think by now he's convinced I was right. But the point is--what I was anxious to do then and what I want to try to help figure out now is how he was gonna compensate for it. And the idea I wanted to drop into your head was this--and sit down and do some plotting with you-by gosh, why don't you get back in return the place that's being vacated. Nobody knows better than I do what the importance of that place is. (JAMES McGRANERY's position in Justice Department.) BB - Well, I know it's important but I'm in this position and I'm damned sure I can't persuade my boss to do otherwise. He's gonna fight it to the finish. TC - Well, I know. But he's gonna lose it. BB - Well, all right. TC - What I'm trying to figure out is from his point of view I don't want him to lose it. That's all I'm concerned with. He's been a damned good friend of mine. BB - If the President goes through for this fellow (McGRANERY?) I'm tell- ing you TC - BILL, the President is under the pressure I told you about on a plain, personal basis. That's what he's always been under. And you know those things are not laughed at. That's what it's all about. BB - I also know this boss of mine, TOM. TC - Yeah. BB - When, by god, when he gets it into his head that he's being done wrong--all hell won't stop him. TC - I know. I'm still trying not to lose Pennsylvania. So are you. BB - Well, that's a damned good way to lose it. TC - Listen, I have been afraid of exactly what you've been afraid of for months.