Summaries of Telephone Conversations

Washington, D. C. PR SUMMARY July 27, 1945 9:04 AM PRICHARD to MARY (phonetic) in MR. SNYDER's office (White House, Extension 183). He said he doesn't feel very well and will not be in this morning. He asked that she send WALKER out to pick him up about 12:00 o'clock and MARY said she would send WALKER or WILLIAMS if she can get him. PRICHARD then referred to a letter which is on his desk from Senator MEAD, addressed to Secretary VINSON, and with reference to this he dictated a memorandum for Secretary VINSON, to be taken immediately to Mr. KELLEY. In this memorandum PRICHARD comments on MEAD's suggestion that OWM and R be an active management agency rather than merely a planning organization and says that this plan would be impractical. He also said'that aside from a reference to carbon black there was no specific reference to OWM and R except general criticism. PRICHARD asked MARY to call Mr. GULLION (phonetic) and ALF DAVIDSON (phonetic) about 9:30 and have them contact him at his home. He also asked her to call Mr. KELLEY and tell him to make arrangements to move over today because Mr. KLAGSBRUNN wants to move tomorrow. He also asked her to tell KELLEY that he wants to have lunch with Judge VINSON tomorrow and wants to talk to him for an hour without interruption. 9:18 AM ROBERT NATHAN and PRICHARD discuss a draft of Senator MEAD's report and agree that it is not satisfactory because it is critical of slow progress in reconversion and because it advises that OWMR be made an operating agency. PRICHARD suggests to NATHAN that he call Judge VINSON and also SNYDER and that VINSON should call MEAD about it. 10:00 AM ALF DAVIDSON to PRICHARD: P - Have you done anything on that yet? D - No, I couldn't get. hold of the fellow I wanted to. Do you want me to hold up on it? P - No, I want you to go ahead. D - Well, I am going ahead. I've got to get hold of SETTER (phonetic), who is POLIOTO's (phonetic) right hand man here. He's the only one left. P - What did he say? D - Well, I couldn't get him yesterday. P - Well, he knows me very well. D - Yeah. Well, he'll say O.K. if I tell him to, so there won't be any problem with that. P - Fine! D - I was really disappointed that you couldn't swing this other business. P - I was, too, but I was afraid of that. That's what happens when people get dependent on you. D - Well, I was sort of thinking it over a little more I am not sure this is a wise thing for you to do. I think it would be fun for a little while. P - What? D - This job abroad. I think it would be fun but it's just a sort of breathing spell in your career, that's about the size of it. P - That's right. D - And if you want to do it, I think it's fine. P - Well, I think I want to.