Summaries of Telephone Conversations

Washington, D. C. October 31, 1945 CO SUMMARY 8:15 AM TOM CORCORAN to LEO CROWLEY. The following is their conversation: TC - LEO? Is everything all right? TOM. LC - Going to have lunch with DONALD (RUSSELL) at noontime. I talked to the other fellow. And WEBSTER, DONALD and I are to work out at noontime, so I'm having lunch with DONALD at noontime. TC - Yeah. Well, do you think ED (FOLEY) and JOE (RAVENSKY?) are safe? LC - As far as I know, yes. I'll call you right after lunch. TC - Now, did you take a look at that law? LC - Yeah. TC - You could put on both GANS (GANSON PURCELL, Chairman of SEC) and whosis if you wanted to and have them both stay in the SEC. LC - I think that would be a mistake to put both of them on, and I don't think we could just do one. I think we'd better take ED and JOE, TOMMY (Export-Import Bank). TC - O.K Goodbye. 8:22 AM TOM CORCORAN to Colonel . CORCORAN asked to speak to "the Colonel" and tells him that "it's all right;" that they're having another meeting at noon today; that "JIMMY (BYRNES) cleared through finally last night and they're sitting on the ultimate composition of the thing today. But you're all right. CORCORAN then says that the names will be sent down this afternoon or tomorrow as the appointments must be made before October 31st because the old board can't function after that. 10:20 AM ERNIE CUNEO to TOM CORCORAN. EC - What's new, TOM? TC - Well, what's new is a lot of rowing inter se which I don't like to talk a bout over telephones. You understand. EC - Is there pretty much of it? TC - Yeah. EC - How is BEN feeling? TC - Not too good. Mr. SMUTS (phonetic) is about right, boy. EC - Oh, sure. Only it's got to be the big--I mean, it's coming down to the showdown, that's all. TC - Well, but it's coming down to something else. There just isn't energy--mobilizable energy of the size you need to face these things. This is going to drift, fellow, everywhere it's going to drift, and it's a good time to take care of your own personal affairs. EC - Yeah. TC - Because in the drifting there will be so much messing that anybody who can do any interstitial straightening out is invaluable. EC - What about (ADOLF) BERLE? Is he going to be relieved, do you think?