Ernst, Mooris L., 1943-1945

PSF Ernst, Morris L. 1943-45 Subject File "E" 1940-1945 Box 146 A PSF Morris L. Ernst Ernet BFJIC Fal folder 3-43 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST 11. LAWRENCE OREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD 5. GREENBAUM HEABERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK MORRIS L.ERNST JONAS J.SHAPIRO JAN 12 RECEIVED 8 " AM MOSS '43 TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1882 BAMUEL d. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY - JEROME HANDLER IRVING MINTE THEODORE 3. JAFFIN January 11, 1943. BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN JOSEPH H.GOLDBERG HAROLD H.STERN HARRIET F.PILPEL Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. My dear Governor: 1. You might want to have somebody check up to see if the rumor is true that Joe Barnes, working at OWI, is at present ghosting Willkie's new book. 2. I understand that Willkie may shift his position because he says he is afraid that Roy Howard and the Reader's Digest are unwilling to go along with him in his high project of twisting the Lion's Tail. May he wants to separate us from England I can't figure out. 3. Your speech was swell. When you come to having permanent employment after the war, you might keep in mind that certain plants will be able to convert more quickly than others and thus grab the markets. Gen- eral Motors, for example, has such a variety of work that it can re-tool easier than can a company making certain airplene parts. Thy shouldn't Nelson at this time, without legislation, merely provide that on all priority rew material orders, the government shall have the right at any time to re- capture at the price paid. This will imbed into your structure the necessary power at the time of peace to control the use of raw materials not only in relation to permanent employment but to prevent terrific cruelties imposed upon those plants which cannot so quickly reconvert for peace-time purposes. It would also be a good stabilizer for price control against inflation when the present Victory Bonds, unfortunately all convertible into cash, will create a 40 billion dollar buying spree. Do you want a further nemorandum from me on this? 4. Henry Wallace talked to me about Arca, which is a comunist enti-British Roerich United Front. I an writing to Migar Hoover to look into the matter because I have found some evidence to believe that this is mother move in the United States on the part of American communists to alienate us from England. Incidentally, can't you get Litvinov to crack down on these foolish American communists. Greenbaum, WOLFF & ERNST -2- 5. I had a chat the other day with Judge Stone in regard to a conference I had in England in the direction of a project which might be undertaken by the Lord High Chancellor and Judge Stone, to wit: the preparation of a report for laymen showing how our two nations have ac- complished a miracle in the maintenance of personal liberty during total war. Such a report for lay distribution would be in support of at least two of your Four Freedoms. 6. The first orders on newspapers and magazines gives out- rageous preference to Harry Luce and some of the Big Boys who put it over. See my letter to Don, attached. 7. What about the idea of having Leon over with you for lunch or something quite informal before he leaves on his extended trip to Mexico? I know it would be helpful in many places. I had a swell chat with Mrs. R. You might want her to tell you the story that I told her about Ethel and young Franklin, and Ethel's Jewish ancestry. Wishing you the same! , Yours January 11,1943. Hon. Donald M. Nelson Chairman, War Production Board Washington, D.C. Dear Don: I - sorry I could not connect with you Friday. I chatted with many of your Boys and I have seen much of the publishers of various types. I would be less than frank if I did not write you as follows: 1. I trust you are not naive enough to take the high commendations of newspaper rationing as appeared in the press, as any indication that the philosophy contained in your orders was sound. At most, this means that the orders were agreeable to such rationed group of newspapers as commended the orders. 2. I think sooner or later you will have to clear up the essential phoniness of rationing Holding Companies instead of Magazines. Your Boys know the bitter experience in England which resulted from rationing companies instead of titles and magazines. 3. As a result of rationing companies, there is already developing a dirty Black Market in that your orders are deemed to give permission to magazines to go out and buy out struggling or nearly bankrupt magazines, pay- ing large sums merely for the transfer of the ration ticket. C 4. The fact that the orders were amounced in a way that would lead people to believe that they would run through 1943 was less than fair to the public and certainly unwise from your point of view. Don't forget that the Little Boys in the magazine, book and newspaper fields are practically in the dark, in view of your rule that répresentatives acting on your various com- mittees are pledged not to divulge any information arising in the committees. This is raising particular havoe among book publishers. 5. The labor groups, of course, in my opinion are properly shocked at the illogical exemptions given to newspapers mailed as distinguished from those sold directly or given away free to members. This provision, and -2- others like it, developed out of an inadequate consideration of the basic philosophies. All of which grief was lived through in England, and that much we ought to be able to learn from 3000 miles away. 6. I think you will find an increasing resentment against the un- willingness to put a ceiling on proportion of advertising space. The ar gument used by your Boys that you were against "end retioning" can no longer be used since in your order you have used "end rationing", as for example, in connection, with the weight of paper in reprints. 7. The returns formula is, of course, playing well into the hands of all those newspapers, usually the large ones, which arrenged with news- paper dealers to "eat" the newspapers. 8. The reference period selected as a base obviously plays into the hands of those papers which are declining in circulation and against those which are growing. The English have taken a former base period or a very recent week, whichever is higher. This avoids all such criticiams, and al- though the alternative reference period provides a higher total reference as a base, this only means that the percentage of the out has to be raised to take care of the increase in the base. 9. The exemption of the very small newspapers is wise but it points inevitably to difficulties since, when the total cut becomes severe, ten page papers will be cut down to the minimum of eight. A cut based on pages as recommended by many British publishers is, of course, much more equitable. 10. Above all, do save the press from the radio by the formula I 816- gested - limiting advertising time on radio to the end that with the cut of paper,advertising should not flow to radio and possibly develop a folkway of acceptance, and hence never return in full to the press. I don't want to burden you with too much, but if it were not for the fact that the initial out were of such a negligible nature, the implications of the above criticism, in my opinion, would be really serious. I think even now they are serious to the extent that the orders which went out will set a pace and a pattern for future orders. I know you have got lots of more important things to worry about, but I certainly felt it was my duty to write you the above line, - always coupled with the proffer to help. and what of my Commission suggestion - with Norris as Chairman, plus Swing, or Bill White of Emporia, or Billikopf, etc. PSF Emat folder 3.43 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE s. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD . GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK MORRIS L.ERNST JONAS J.SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1882 SAMUEL d. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER IRVING MINTZ JAN JAN 15 RECEIVED STATE 8 35 WE AM re yuuss E THEODORE S.JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN JOSEPH M. SOLDBERG HAROLD H. STERN HARRIET P.PILPEL January 15, 1943. filismel jil 3/3 Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. My dear Governor: I was at the British Embassy for lunch on Tuesday and had a lengthy talk with Halifax and his Staff in regard to fifteen or twenty trivial matters in the direction of working out better trade, tax, etc., relationships with England. Together they add up to a pretty sum. I an one of those Boys who thinks we won't re-write the world at the Peace Conference but that it has to be re-made day by day in what looks like insignificant lamks. I expect to receive from John Foster, Counsel at the British Embussy, a list that we discussed, including relief by England from double tax- ation, relief by England from arbitrary movie quotas, plan for new ar- rengements on communications systems, pulp export agreement, lumber agree- ment, etc. If I am talking out of turn vis-a-vis the State Department, drop ne a line to shut up, although I an doing no more than individual needling, and I dorm well know I represent nothing but stray ideas. Yours, PSF Ernat fold 3 LAWRENCE 8. GREENBAUM EDWARD OREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF Xold BREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST 285 MADISON AVENUE fund NEW YORK HORRIS L.ERNST JONAS J.SHAPIRO SAMUEL d. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY - IRVING MINTE THEODORE S.JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROBEN M.H.H. TV TELEPHONE GALEDONIA 0-1002 JEROME HANDLER February 20,1943, write HOUSE JOSEPH FEB 22 9 00 AM '43 HAROLD H. STERN HARRIET F.PILPEL RECEIVED Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbit Dear Governor: I got a theory that in 1944, as New York City goes so goes the nation. Liberal, labor and democratic forces are in bad shape. We need a leadership with a little of the Evangelist in him, (not quite a Billy Sunday) to tell people how to step up and be saved. I suggest for your consideration the following steps: 1. Bill O'Dwyer to 6° back into his D.A. job and be relieved from active army work, with some special mission from you - and there are plenty around here. 2. LaQuardia, who wants to get out anyway and says so to every- body, should get out in the next month or two. 3. O'Dwyer should run for Mayor this November. He can run on a straight New Deal - F.D.R. ticket with Labor Party support with F.D.R. as an issue. Under these circumstances O'Dwyer is sure to win. It will set a national pace. The only other person who has the flair that the situation needs and who also has the practical contacts and background would be Sem Foloy, D.A. in the Bronx. San would be swell except that making him the focal point would revive all of the stupid und invalid Ed Plynn attack. I had a long talk with Jin Farley two days before the last election,when some of his cohorts were trying to mancuvro Alfange into withdrawing from the Cubernatorial race. I'll amuse you with it sometime - soon I hope. Yours, Main . E. full PSF Emet freder 3-43 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE s. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD 5. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK MORRIS L.ERNST JONAS /.SHAPIRO BAMUEL SCHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 8-1882 int WHITE IE HOUSE ALEXANDER LINDEY - JEROME HANDLER IRVING MINTE THEODORE b. JAFFIN February 24, 1943. FEB 25 RECEIVED '43 BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEH JOSEPH N. SOLDBERG HAROLD H. STERN HARRIET F.PILPEL Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Governor: 1. In the struggle for Congressional confirmation of all exe= cutive appointees, you might have one of your smart Boys look in the de- bates of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. You will find the Founding Fathers were much concerned over the move to cut down the President's ap- pointing power and dividing responsibility. Wilson, one of the Founding Fathers, said: "He cannot even appoint a tide-waiter without the Senate. He had always thought the Senate too numerous a body for malting appointments to office." (Writings of James Madison, Vol. IV, page 381, Minutes of Convention, Sept. 6,1787). Incidentally, a tide-waiter was the man who got on board the ,boat at New Brunswick because he knew when the tide would change. The boat which he boarded was usually a sail-boat which left Murray Street Wharf three days a week, wind and weather permitting, by soil to New Brunswick, the second day by Coach to Trenton the third day and by Coach to Philadelphia. 2. I was very disturbed in England at a very deep resentment of our soldiers against American labor arising out of the bxacgerated re- ports of strikes and absenteeism. Eddie Rickenbacker has a better song to sing than did Lindbergh. I suggest the following two courses: (a) Get somebody to make a real report on the minimal ef- fecta of strikes and absenteeism, coupling it with similar lapses from patriotism of employers such as Anaconda, etc; and (b) Why not come out with a program for: (1) annual public filing of financial returns by unions; and (11) bi-annual meetings of unions for election of officers. Maybe a letter on these two subjects to some friend might be better than any proposal to Congress. GREENBAUM. WOLFF & ERNST -2- I have sounded out many of the labor leaders. The better ones will be for it once you have announced it, but have not got the guts to urge it publicly. Incidentally, this program could be tied in with denial of Labor Board relief unless the two conditions have existed. Together with this, you might attach to the program a plan whereby an employer, in appearing before the Board, must disclose his budget as to anti- labor activities, and an affidavit that no spy-detective system has been employed. Bi-lateral disclosure. 3. I wonder if you have heard this story: Three American soldiers were drinking terrific hootch in the second story room of a house in a village in Africa. One of the Yanks took a terrific swig out of the bottle which had just been opened, and walked to the window smacking his lips. He turned to the other two boys and warned: "Don't touch that liquor; it's poison; it will drive you out of your head. For God's sake, I have just looked out of the window and have seen Roosevelt". 11105 he Ernat folder fallsonal PSF 5-43 GREENBAUM. WOLFF & ERNST NEW 1" LARRENCE s. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK MORRIS L.ERNST - JONAS - SHAPIRO BAMUEL d. SCHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0-1882 ALEXANDER LINDEY RECEIVED or 1152 is E HOUSE 9F - JEROME HANDLER IRVING MINTZ THEODORE JAFFIN March 5, 1943. BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROBEN JOBEPH - GOLDBERO MAROLD STERN HARRIET F.PILPEL Non. Frenklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dour Governor: 1. I tool: Randolph Paul down to 800 Ressell Leffingwell in regard to the tax muss. I do not a(1'00 with Russell completely but cor- tainly ho night be of great advantage in talking out against the phoney Rud Plan on which no compromise secrio to be acceptable to H.L. and the House leaders. I think it would be wise if you would, sometime, find an opportunity to got Randolph to talk to you alono and really take his hair down. 2. Diek Simon, of Sinon & Schuster, publisher of "illkie's new book, told 200 and a group the other day that the book this written by Joe Dames, one 02 your top nen in OWI. 3. Baldwin, of the Form Security, is coming up for dinner on March 18, with Cunther, Shirer, Helen Roid, Dorothy Thompson, et al. I think he needs help in the coming fight for the small farner. 4. I (EL trying to got the Association of Radio Commentators to take a crack at John 0'Donnell who, in his colum today (March 5) says that ralio commentators are all sore because Elmer is Coing on the radio for nothing and taking money out of the mouths of radio broadcasters! 5. I am seeing Sumer Telles on Thursday of next week in re- card to the list of forty items which I have developed with John Poster, of the British Embassy, on which Anclo-/merican agreements could be roach- ed without much difficulty. I un proparing a similar list for United States and Chile. I still believe that a marriage is male day by day (if not night by night) and does not depend solely on the certificate handed out by the minister. Ditto for the equivalent of the certificate handed out in the form of memborship at a Peaco Conference. Yours, Minis L.S. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON March 8, 1943. MEMORANDUM FOR MORRIS L. ERNST I think it 18 too early to talk about an embles for the United Nations. At the present time it might get mixed up with a fraternity. 2. I do like your 1dea about the elder statesman who backed Harding on October 14, 1920, and I had wondered what we could do about it. It would be fine if you would start to work up some- thing like this. Some of the survivors readily admit they were wrong but won't put any retraction on paper. I think any suggested state- ment should be very short saying "We were wrong in 1920. We be- lieve in international cooperation and the principles of the Atlantic Charter and the Four Preedoms. We propose to back those who show the most diligence and interest in carrying them out". P. D. R. PSF Ernst folder 3-43 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST the LAWRENCE a. GREENBAUM 265 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM MAR HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK HORRIS L.ERNST SAMUEL 4. SCHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0-1002 - JEROME HANDLER RECEIVED 8 WILTE 35 AM "43 HOUSE 2 JONAS J.SHAPIRO ALEXANDER LINDEY IRVING MINTZ THEODORE s. JAFFIN February 26, 1943. BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN JOBEPH H.GOLDBERG HAROLD H.STERN MARRIET F.PILPEL Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Dear Covernor: 1. How about getting up a new and exciting emblem for the United Nations? This occurred to me because I sat in on discussions on the shipment of food packages. The suggestion was made that the American flag be put on packages. This has advantages and disadvantages. It 00- curred to no that maybe an emblem which can be used by all nations, with a center left blank for the flag of the particular nation using it, might be effectively used in connection with sending food, etc. to many places throughout the world where un emblem is the only basic language. Is this & relaxing job for your old skills with a pen or pencil? 2. It occurred to no that sometime you could make use of the surviving Elder Statemen who, October 14, 1920, backed Harding on the theory that he would put over a good League of Nations free of the impor- fections contained in Woodrow Wilson's Plan. I enclose a copy of the statement. I think it might be well to get the survivors at least to sign an "apologia" which could be used later. If you have any bright ideas along this line, my relations with old Bill Thite are such that I think I could move in. Or maybe this would be at grund chance for Eughes to write his valedictory. My guess is that at the next election, as in 1920, there will be two parties, both for a decent world federation. One party will be yours, and under the banner of the other party there will be found illkie, Wheeler, Lindbergh, Rickembacker, Luce, et al. Yours, Ene (1) M.15. The undersigned.who desire that the United States shall do her full part in association with the other civilized nations to prevent war, have recently considered how we may contribute most ef- fectively to that end by our votes in the coming election. The question between the candidates is not whether our country shall join in such an association. It is whether we shall join under an agreement containing the exact provisions negotiated by President Wilson at Paris, or under an agreement which omita or modifies some of those provisions that are very objectionable to great numbers of the American people. The paper signed by 38 Republican senators in March 1919 when the League Covenant was adopted at Faris, advised the President not that the signers could approve a treaty in the form then proposed, although it wes the very sincere desire that the nations of the world should unite to promote 'peace and general disbarment.' A majority of the Senate voted to ratify the League agreement with modifications, which there is good evidence to show would have been accepted by the other nations; but Mr. Wilson refused to accept these modifications, insisted upon the agreement absolutely unchanged, and Democratio senators sufficient in number to defeat the treaty as modified followed Mr. Wilson by voting against ratification. On the other hand the Republican platform says: "The Republican Party stands for agreement among the nations to preserve the peace of the world. We believe that such an international association must be based upon international justice, but must provide methods which shall maintain the rule of public right by the development of law and the de- cision of impartial courts, and which shall secure insistent and general international conference, when- ever peace shall be threatened by political action, 80 that the nations pledged to do and insist upon what is just and fair may exercise their influence and power for the prevention of war." Mr. Harding said in his speech of August 28th: "There are distinctly two types of international re- lationship: one is an offensive and defensive alliance of great powers *** the other type 18 a society of free nations, or an association of free nations or a league of free nations animated by considerations or right and justice, instead of might and self-interest and not merely proclaimed as an agency in pursuit of peace, but so or- ganized and 80 participating in as to make the actual at- tainment of peace a reasonable possibility. Such an associ- ation I favor with all my heart, and 1 would make no fine distinction as to whom credit is due. One need not care what it is called. Let it be an association, a society or a league or whatnot. Our concern is solely with the sub- stance not the form thereof." Harding has since repeatedly reaffirmed the declarations of this each, in the most positive terms. The question accordingly is not tween a league and no league, but is whether certain provisions in proposed league agreement shall be accepted unchanged or shall be anged. The contest is not about the principle of a league of nations, it is about the method of most effectively applying that principle preserve peace. If the proposed changes in the Paris agreement were captious or thout substantial grounds, one might question the sincerity of their vocates. This, however, is not the case. The principal change proposed concerns Article X of the ague Covenant as negotiated at Paris. Mr. Wilson declares this to be "the heart of the covenant" and the chief controversy is about this. Article X provides that the nations agreeing to the treaty shall "preserve as against external agression the territorial integrity and existing political independence of all members of the League." That is an obligation of the most vital importance and it certainly binds every nation entering into it to go to war whenever war may be necessary to preserve the territorial integrity or political in- dependency of any member of the League against external agression. It is ideal to say that Congress has power to refuse to authorize such a war, for whenever the treaty calls for war a refusal by Congress to pass the necessary resolution would be a refusal by our Government to keep the obligation of the treaty. The alternative would be war or a breach of the solemnly pledged faith of the United States. We cannot regard such a provision as necessary or useful for a league to preserve peace. We have reached the conclusion that the true course to bring America into an effective league to preserve peace is not by insisting with Mr. Cox upon the acceptance of such a provision as Article X, thus prolonging the unfortunate situation created by Mr. Wilson's insistence upon that Article, but by frankly calling upon the other nations to agree to changes in the proposed agreement which will obviate this vital objection and other objections less the subject of dispute. For this course we can look only to the Republican Party and -3- its candidate, the Democratic Party and Mr. Cox are bound not to follow it. The Republican Party is bound by every consideration of good faith to pursue such a course until the declared object is attained. The conditions of Europe make it essential that the stabilizing effect of the treaty already made between the European powers shall not be lost by them and that the necessary changes be made by changing the terms of that treaty rather than by be- ginning entirely anew. That course Mr. Harding 1s willing to follow, for he said in his speech of August 28th: "I would take and combine all that is good and excise all that 1a bad from both organizations (the court and the League.)" This statement was broad enough to include the suggestion that if the League, which has heretofore received our considerations and apprehensions has been so entwined and interwoven into the peace of Europe, that its good must be preserved in order to stabilize the peace of that continent, than it can be amended or revised BO that we may still have a remant of the world's aspirations in 1918 pledg- ed into the world's highest conception of helpful cooperation in the -4- ultimate realization. We therefore believe that we can most effectively advance the course of international cooperation to promote peace by sup- porting Mr. Harding for election to the presidency. October 14, 1930. Signed: LYMN ABBOTT CHARLES EVAIS HUGHES HENRY S. PRICHETT NICHOLAS MURRYA BUTLER ALEXANDER C. HUMPHRIES CHARLES A.RICHMOND PAUL D. CRAVATH BISHOP wis. LAWRENCE ELIHU ROOT CHARLES T. DARNEY SAUEL McCUNE LINDSEY JACOB GOULD SCHURMAN WILLIAM H.P. FAINCE A. LAWRENCE LOWELL HENRY L. STIMSON FRAIK J. GOODNOW ERNEST M. HOPKINS OSCAR S. STRAUS WARREN GREGORY JOIN HENRY MoCRACKEN HENRY W. TAFT JOHN GRIER HIBBEN SAMUEL MATHER ISAAC M. ULLAUN HERBERT HOOVER GEORGE A. PLIMPTON WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE PSF Emet folder 3-43 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE 8. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM NEW YORK feles. mal HERBERT A.WOLFF MORRIS L.ERNST - JONAS J.SHAPIRO SAMUEL d. SCHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 01002 ALEXANDER LINDEY - JEROME HANDLER IRVING MINTZ THEODORE JAFFIN March 10,1943. BENJAMIN KAPLAN RECEIVED MRII 8 3. 33 is HOUSE LEO ROBEN JOSEPH - GOLDBERG HAROLD H. STERN HARRIET F.PILPEL Eth Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Door Governor: I (£) cotting a campaign coing against Dewey and the Republicans for passing legislation denying the people of this State the right to elect their Mayor in 1943 or 1944 in CASO Morello and Newbold Morris both & into the Army. I think we con whip up quite a compaign calling attention to the newspaper campaign against you (see Krock) on the theory that there would be no national election in 1944. I think the Times will come through on this one ! 2. I understand that Mike Kennedy is seeing you about the ap- pointment of Correa's successor. If you want saus dope on the background of the political situntion in Hear York in connection with the appointment, I can (ive it to you because friends of Kennedy have asked the to suggest 8010 names to him. 3. No doubt souse of your boys are trying to dopo out plans for picking the proper Nazi officers and officials who are presumptively guilty and fit for real punish on the Day of Peace. I have in mind that it night be well to have someone gather from all of the refugees of the world the neles of guilty Nazi Party members and officers, with their naos and titles. The Gathering of this information night be of some help to us when the adminis- trative job of picking out the Builty becomes an imediate problem. In the memmitile it might have a very great advantage if it were known inside Commany that through refugees, etc., we are assembling the list. We night ennounce from time to time the number of people on the list. The OWI could really cap- italize through short-nave the fact that the list is being gathered. This might add to Mazi jitters. The list might be gathered by a Committee of the United Nations. At the start it would be much better to have the list gathered by other than the military. That about the possibility of playing with a GREENBAUM. WOLFF & ERNST -2- little irony-in considering the appointment of Herbert Hoover as the Chadran of a United Nations Committee to gather the list, or does he only want to food and not punish? If he would head the Committee to gather the list - and no more - his name would have disturbing effects inside of Cormany. Yours, MoniL.E. 1 3-Y3 THE file WHITE HOUSE PSF Ernst Pending" folder WASHINGTON March 12, 1943. MEMORANDUM FOR MAC: If and when you hear that Morris Ernst is going to be in Wash- ington, will you let the President know as he wants to talk with him. G.O.T. II 1 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON March 2, 1943. MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Do you still want me to ask Mórris Ernst about Rickenbacker, in view of the fact that.you filed the recommendation from the Secretary of War? G.O.T. PSF Ernst folder 3.43 LAWRENCE s. GREENBAUM full GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD s. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK HORRIS L.ERNST - JONAS J.SHAPIRO SAMUEL J. SCHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582 STATE ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER IRVING MINTZ March 16, 1943. THEODORE a. JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN JOSEPH M. GOLDBERG HAROLD H. STERN RECEIVED MORIT 8° 39 AM. 3 IF HARRIET F.PILPEL Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Governor: 1. I saw Capt. Patterson yesterday for an hour or more. What an emazing guy! Briefly: no outward show of bitterness to you; very sensitive on being called unpatriotic; proud of framed letter from you and pen attached used in connection with signing some military appropriation bill prominently framed in his office; strong for Taft; worried about fourth term; unconcerned about no election in 1943 and 1944 under Dewey plen of appointing Mayor, thought it was quite a cute stunt of Dewey; thinks Ruml Plan quite phoney and is proposing a compromise; much interested in my report on paper rationing in England, etc. Being a born optimist, I don't think the situation is hopeless, with particular reference to Patterson's support and agreement on domestic program of New Deal. The problem is how to create en emphasis in him on domestic problems. I ain't smart enough alone. Maybe you can suggest some slants if I can see you. I saw Summer Welles on Thursday, March 11. He seemed most enthusiastic about my Forty Point Program for "Peace by Pieces". This is the list of ijustments which should be undertaken with England at once, many of which can create a foundation for after-war relations. I on pre- paring a list for Summer and will send you a copy. Yours, PSF Ernet folder GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE 5. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD s. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK MORRIS L.ERNST - JONAS J. SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1882 SAMUEL J. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY RECEIVED USA 19 STATE 8 40 WILL AM, 3/3 HOUSE JEROME HANDLER IRVING MINTZ THEODORE 5. JAFFIN March 18,1943. BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN JOBEPH M. GOLDBERG HAROLD H. STERN HARRIET F.PILPEL Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Governor: 1. From floating around in the Senate and the House, I have come to the conclusion that a basic trouble with respect to the South comes from the miserable economic condition. Willkie and Farley both can, with great justice, declare that the South has been treated like a stepchild. I am not suggesting that Lowell get out another report on the South but I do urge that you consider some kind of a commission to report to you per- sonally on the single question of railroad rates affecting the South. The ICC has fudged with this problem for a long while and I think a very drama- tic and important step could be taken by you in relation to the bitterness in the South by a real attack on the discriminatory burden on the South through exhorbitant railroad rates. Jerome Frank is the kind of a man who could head such a small commission. You could get a report from such a commission in a couple of weeks, and not announce the appointment of the bom- mission until you receive and accept the report. To a great extent the Negro problem is interrelated with the economic condition of the South, and particularly its white workers. 2. I forgot to mention that in my talk with Patterson he in- dicated that Dewey had made up his mind to appoint Thacher for Mayor under Dewey's new bill for no mayoralty elections; the News is making more money than ever before and has made money by cutting down paper but raising rates to consumers to 10/ per issue in outlying districts; and he is less than sure that we will win the war. PSF GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST filsal Ernst folder LAWRENCE 5. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD s. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK MORRIS L.ERNST - JONAS J.SHAPIRO SAMUEL J. SCHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582 ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER IRVING MINTZ THEODORE 5. JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN March 23, 1943. JOSEPH M. GOLDBERG HAROLD H. STERN HARRIET F.PILPEL RECEIVED 10:24 NEW 8 SW AM 213 : is HOUSE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Dear Governor: Tidbit Under the Dewey legislation designed to prevent an election in 1943 or 1944, a disenfranchisement of the people of New York City will not take effect in the event that LaGuardia goes into the Federal service in a civilian job. Only in case he enters the military service does the Dewey legislation deny the people of the City of New York the right to elect a democratic Mayor next November. Under the circumstances, I think you owe a duty to the democratic process of New York City in the event that LaGuardia enters the service, to place him in the civilian, rather than the military service, and in the second place, to see that affirmatively he hand in his resignation. This latter must be handled with some care vis-a-vis 0'Dwyer running for office while in the army. PSF Ernst folder April 7, 1943. Dear Morris: I love the "tidbits" -- be sure to keep them up. I am glad to know about the I. T. & T. stuff in Central and South America. I don't quite know what to say about Litvinov. I see no particular harm but I doubt if it does any good. As ever yours, Morris L., Ernst, Esq., 285 Madison Avenue, New York, N. Y, GREENBAUM. WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE 8. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD 5. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK MORRIS L.ERNST - JONAS J.SHAFIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582 BAMUEL J. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY II JEROME HANDLER IRVING MINTZ April 1,1943. THEODORE s. JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN JOSEPH M. GOLDBERG HAROLD H. STERN HARRIET PILPEL we 113 will 2 TE RECEIVED 11 HOUSE 58 1/3 Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Dear Governor: Tidbits 1. The next time you see Baruch, you might jestingly kid him about the rumor around town that he and the Ouggenheims, through I. T. & T. are interested in taking over more of the utilities in Central and South America. The talk is none too good about the situation, particularly as it is tied up with a new kind of American imperialism, since I. T. & T. is heavily financed by R.F.C. 2. I wonder if you know about the boner that Ed Jemes, of the Times, pulled with the department stores. The department stores have all ro- tained Joe Proskauer because they are fearful that they will be indicted under the Sherman Law for & conspiracy in restraint of trade, to wit: agree- ing to withdraw their advertising from the Times because of increased rates. In any event, it will probably be some weeks or months before they go back to the Times. Incidentally, the Post is making money for the first time in twenty years. 3. I em proceeding to get various organizations to go to see Litvinov with the suggestion that the greatest obstacle to decent relations between Russia and the United States lies in the activities of the American screwball communists. These groups are going to suggest that the Russian Government crack down on these disturbers of trade unionism, etc. The local communists are continuing their policy to "wreck or rule" all liberal and labor organizations. If Litvinov would repudiate these embiguous American communists the American people could proceed to deal with Russia with fewer suspicions. Do I lay off this little venture? 4. I had Baldwin, of Ferm Security, up at the house with my gang of commentators and reporters and they have already gone to town to save his organization from the congressional raid. 5, The greatest restraint of trade in the United States is the restraint of trade in ideas carried on by the motion picture companies who Greenbaum, WOLFF & ERNST -2- have placed complete power in Will Hays to reject any particular script proposed to be purchased by any one company in which case no other company is allowed, under the agreement, to buy the script. I am going to get a gang to taunt Willkie, who as Chairman of the Board of 20th- Century Fox, is a party to this restraint of trade in ideas. I guess its alright by him as long as the restraint is not "global". Yours, Moris am , too much of a peet with these recurrent thereos ? In thich skin Ed of please and heartate to let me know. PSF Ernst from GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST MRENCE . GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE HARD a. GREENBAUM RESERT A. WOLFF NEW YORK TARIS L. ERNST WAS d. SHAPIRO LLACE JENNINGS MUEL di SCHUR EXANDER LINDEY filersma RECEIVED 8 OF WILTE AM, HOUSE 0122 TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582 April 9,1943. 33 Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Dear Governor: Snooping around, I em sure this is the time for you to straighten out the tax muddle. Why not get Sweetie-Pie Doughton, George, H. M. and Randy Paul in and let them go out for e. simple four-point program. This is the common denominator of all the Congressional thinking. 1. Increased tax rates -- percentage-wise higher in the low income brackets declining to the upper brackets, where there is little leeway left. You can suggest we need not get to the British rates and we are below the Canadian rates though our per capita income is above that of these nations. Roughly, $900.00 as against $600.00 per capita. 2. Refunds, starting after the war, of substantially all of this in- crease in the form of United States bonds, These refunds will be highest on the low incomes ($800) and declining to the million and over group. 3. 40,000,000 of 44,000,000 taxpayers should be put on to current basis by forgiving past tax. This simplifies without loss of revenue. The other 4,000,000 taxpayers should not keep on asking for tax relief. They are the lucky ones in our land. 4. Withholding of tax from July 1 for about 32,000,000 of the 44,000,000. This is a convenience asked for by wage earners and makes things easier for the Government. To get such action Congress promptly must put off for later do- bate all administrative changes, even loopholes in the tax law. At such later time it should consider a spending tax, which will encourage paying off of mortgages, taking out insurance policies and buying of Covernment bonds. GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST -2- Do take this up with Randy. I think this is what Doughton and George are waiting to hear from you. Yours, Clloris P.S. Do you want this program in more detail -- that is exact dollars, etc? I can reduce it to no more than two pages. Thi.L.S. \ PSF Ernet folder THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 12, 1943. MEMORANDUM FOR MORRIS ERNST I am glad to see that Bill White goes along and I think the idea of getting Stimson and Hughes and then circulate the statement is good. F.D.R. 4 THE HOUSE GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST in I LAWRENCE a. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD s. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK - JONAS J.SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582 RECEIVED 44 AH is 8 WHE well HOUSE MORRIS L.ERNST BAMUEL J. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY - JEROME HANDLER IRVING MINTZ April 8, 1943. THEODORE s. JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN JOBEPH M. GOLDBERG HAROLD H. STERN HARRIET P.PILPEL Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Covernor: 1. I had a swell talk with Summer Welles. I em having him up for dinner with Gunther, Shirer, etc. Don't laugh, but I think Joe Patterson is coming also. In any event, I am sure it will help Summer. 2. I suggested that somebody ought to go over to North Africa, (not for the State Department) to come back and satisfy our grumbling liberals. Summer suggested Ann O'Hare McCommick, who would be O.K., but I threw back at him the name of Bill O'Dwyer, who as a civilian could do a terrific job when he got back. Bear in mind that Bill knows Spain like a book and has a feel for the Arab problem. 3. I had dinner last night with Mike Kennedy and Bill O'Dwyer in regard to the Strategy of Dewey aimed at preventing an election in New York this com- ing November. Capable as Mike is, he certainly needs a brain trust in this moment of possible great opportunity vis-a-vis 1944. 4. As you know I wrote Bill White in regard to an apologia to be signed by the remaining members of the 35 Elder Statesmen who came out for Harding in October, 1920. Bill's reply is enclosed. Now that I an at first base, have you any suggestions as to how to run to home plate? I think it might be wise if I could get Stimson and Hughes (with Bill White) and then circulate the state- ment emong the other surviving signers. Also, I en in doubt as to the timing of the release. Is it worth your while giving me a few minutes sometime to talk about this, the New York City situation, North Africa, etc? Yours, (COPY) The Emporia Gazette Emporia, Kansas April 6, 1943. Dear Morris: Probably your letter was all right and probably I misread it. Anyway, we are not going to quarrel about that. You and I agree exactly that it isn't a matter of men but of issues and unless the issues are definite and certain, any man is likely to slip out of his performance. But a man nominated by the National Committee of either party is more likely to slip out of it because he will be motivated by the party desire to perpetuate hisself for Pap than a man who gets nomin- ated on a battle for specific principles. Harding's failure was ignorance. The man had plenty of courage but no intelligence and he would get first on one side of any proposal after listening to one side and get on the other side after listening to that side. Enclosed find an editorial I wrote about Bricker. You may have seen part of it in the papers, but here is the whole thing. I would be glad enough to sign the statement you suggest. Where do you want it to appear? Sincerely yours, W.A.White filensmal PSF Evint folder Greenbaum, WOLFF & ERNST LANRENCE s. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD s. GREENBAUM HERBERT A. WOLFF NEW YORK HORRIS L ERNST JONAS + SHAPIRO WALLACE D. JENNINGS TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582 BAMUEL J. SCHUR the WHITE HOUSE ALEXANDER LINDEY APR 17 12 39 PM '43 April 16, 1943. RECEIVED Non. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Dear Governor: Tidbit This is really more than a "tidbit". Summer Welles was up last night with Luce, Helon Reid, Gunther, Shirer, et al. Alicia Patterson came. Although the Captain never stays in town in the evenings, Alicia had talked with him since I saw him, and we are setting up a luncheon party which the Captain will attend. I am convinced that he feels lonely, isolated, and has quite a yen to got back into decent cir- culation again. His swell duaghter Alicia confirms this. Summer was highly successful. Harry Luce was inarticulate and less benefited than the others. Even Grafton, who has been writing out of ignorance ,terrific attacks on Welles and the Department, got one hell of a good education. If I am any judge at all of the effective- ness of your Boys when they come to these parties, it is my guess that Summer did the best job of any of them. Best, Yours, P.S. I am finishing my memo on Chili -- along the lines of my English memo. I'd like to do Mexico next. Is it worth a trip to Mexico? I'd love it -- 1f you understand my impertinence!! filmet PSF Ernst folder GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LANRENCE a. GREENBAUM 288 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK THE WHITE HOUSE MORRIS L.ERNST - JONAS J.SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0-1882 BANUEL - SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY APR 27 8 55 AM *43 - JEROME HANDLER RECEIVED IRVING MINTE April 26, 1943. THEODORE JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROBEN JOSEPH M. GOLDBERO HAROLD N.STERN MARRIET P.PILPEL Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits My dear Governor: 1. Enclosed find exchange of correspondence with Wendell Willkie in regard to the McKellar bill. This may be helpful to you. 2. I am also sending you copy of letter from Jefferson to Madison dated, you will note, 1880. This also bears on the Senate bill. 3. I spent the other evening with William Allen White. He end Sally are celebrating their fiftieth wedding amiversary on April 29. I thought you might want to do some kidding with him. As I left him, I said: "Bill, I love you so much that I forget you are a Republican". To which he replied: "I have to forget it more than half the time myself". I suppose you saw his great editorial when you came back from Africa saying about you: "We who hate your gaudy guts, salute you". What a guy! Incidentally, he thinks the boys áre putting Bricker in the front in order to pull Taft out at the proper moment. This checks with what Joe Patterson said to me. You saw Alice Longworth's -- "Bricker is an honest Harding". Yours, Encs (3) Morris L. Mon Letter to James Madison from Thoma Jefferson Poplar Forest November 29, 1920 Dear Sir: The enclosed letter from our ancient friend Tenche Coxe, c ame unfortunate- ly to Monticello after I left it, and has had a dilatory passage to this place, where I received it yesterday, and obey its injunction of immediate transmission to you. We should have recognized the style even without a signature, and although so written as to be much of it indecipherable. This is a sample of the effects we may expect from the late mischievous law vacating every four years nearl all the executive offices of the government. It saps the constitutional and salutary functions of the President, and in- troduces a principle of intrigue and corruption, which will soon leaven the mass, not only of Senators, but of citizens. It is more baneful than the attempt which failed in the beginning of the government, to make all of- ficers irremovable but with the consent of the Senate. This places, every four years, all appointments under their power, and even obliges them to act on every one nomination. It will keep in constant excitement all the hungry cormorants for office, render them, as well as those in place, sycophants to theirSenators, engage these in eternal intrigue to turn out one and put in another, in cabals to swap work; and make of them what all executive directories become, mere sinks of corruption and faction. This must have been one of the midnight signatures of the President, when he had not the time to consider, or even to read the law; and the more fatal as being irrepealable but with the consent of the Senate, which will never be obtained The Works of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Paul Leicester Ford, Federal Edition (New York md London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1905), XII, 174-75. ball can't of TONAL (Copy) April 17, 1943. Wendell L. Willkie, Esq. 15 Broad Street New York, N.Y. Dear Wendell: I am sorry you could not join David Lilienthal and myself at lunch today. I wanted to have you listen to Dave bring the story of TVA up to date. I got a smeaking suspicion that some day you will want to do penance for holding up that very simple democratic experiment. In the meanwhile, won't you telegraph the Committee on Judiciary of the United States Senate your opposition to the McKellar bill which proposes Senatorial approval of appointments properly within the function of the Executive. This bill seesm to be a fundamentally objectionable departure from the division of the Executive and Legislative. I understand that you have stated your objections in general terms and no doubt you know that McNary has opposed the measure. I think it is peculiarly objectionable as applied to enterprises such as TVA, where the original legislation speci- fically provides against non-political appointments, Just because of your long fight against TVA, I em convinced that your protest would be peculiar- ly effective as to the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee. Incidentally, with the press of the nation shouting about the expension of Executive power, I wonder if the public is getting a clear insight into the capture of Executive functions by the Legislative, as for example, last minute appropriations with specific exclusion of the appointment of certain named employees, attaching of riders of minor significence to measures essential for the war, and the enactment of such measures at the thirteenth hour. I would like to sit and chat with you sometime about this, the movies and other matters. Best, Yours, (signed) Morris L.Ernst (coba) (Copy) Wendell L. Willkie 15 Broad Street New York April 21,1943. My dear Morris: I am writing this in a rush. I, too, an very sorry that it was impossible for us to find & mutually agreeable time to have a good talk with Dave Lilienthal. Dave is very able; also, I have a good deal of af- fection for him. As to the McKellar Resolution, I am of course against it. I said so publicly some three or four weeks ago which I be- lieve was both quoted in the "New York Times" and "New York Herald Tribune", and carried by the press associations. I will take the occasion to express my views through some of the members of the Committee. It is so obviously erroneous and would be so destructive to effective government service, that no amount of dislike by any one of the appointive power should blind them to its destructive effect. It was good to hear from you. I apologize for writing so briefly but I - a little pushed right now. I hope to see you before long. Good luck. Cordially yours, Wendell L. Willkie Mr. Morris L. Emst 285 Madison Avenue New York,N.Y. PSF Smet folder 3-48 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE a. GREENBAUM file 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK HORRIS L.ERNST - THE WHITE HOUSE JONAS SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0-1882 SAMUEL SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY MAY 3 9 43 AM - JEROME HANDLER IRVINO MINTE THEODORE 5. JAFFIN May 1, 1943. RECEIVED BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN JOSEPH M.00LDBERG HAROLD H.STERN HARRIET F.PILPEL Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D. C. TisBis Bis Dear Governor: 1, If things get hot in certain directions, I certainly think you might get from the Treasury the information which Kleuse, in charge under Henry Morgenthau, must have obtained as to the income, disburse- ments, assets and limbilities of Labor's Non-Partisen League mé other affiliates which John L.Lewis may dominate. You will recall my fenatic attempt to get Morgenthau to do a job on tax returns of information from non-profit making organizations, particularly those other than lubor unions and religious organizations. If the Treasury, had really gathered all this information on all fronts, you would have a lot more cards to play with. no You might check up to see if John Lewis has been in Pennsylvania in years. My recollection is that he has not dared 60 there to make a speech in years. I Was in Harrisburg talking to the miners in 1938 and they booed Lewis. I suggested to him that he ought to go back in the field to mend his fence. He indicated he did not dare go back. a. Let me know if I can help in any way because I have worked for Governor Earlo on the Anthracite bootleg coal situation and tried to work out a deal between the miners and the operators on the basis of a guaranty of & minimum number of days employment a year. Best, Yours, LIE-PG Claris Maris L.E. and why do & tab itall. why not some aferral action by speral werengs. at best shut their woulds free carping against m after tis Mr. PSF Ernst folder 43 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE a. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF HORRIS L.ERNST NEW - YORK 17 JONAS J.SHAPIRO tele BAMUEL di SCHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0-1582 ALEXANDER LINDEY - JEROME HANDLER the RECEIVED THE 12 8 WHITE 32 AM HOUSE "43 IRVING MINTZ THEODORE a. JAFFIN July 7, 1943. BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN JOSEPH M. GOLDBERG HAROLD H. STEAN MARRIET F.PILPEL Hon. Frenklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits My dear Governor: 1. Congratulations on that swell veto of the Inflationary Food Bill. Hundreds of the little selfless employees in Agriculture, O.P.A. and elsewhere picked up lots of courage on the strength of it. I do wish you could still find en occasion to hearten your old mass of New Deal employees who of late have felt that no one is in there alugging for them -- except maybe Ickes. Maybe a press conference would give no occasion. They feel a sense of humiliation -- as if they had been deserted - something like the 1937 period of despair. 2. Have talked further with Summer about plans for after war Private-Public financing of European projects. He has asked me to spend a couple of days a week at the State Department. I will do so, but little did I think I would ever be asked to work in that Department. or course no job, title, etc. 3. I went over with the English the plans for setting up procedures for trials of Axis Bed Boys. I do trust you won't appoint Manly Budson. He's tired, disappointed and will be e. pettifogging influence. What about Bob Jackson who is interested, and if it is a temporary job, even Stone won't object since it is "judicial". Or Jerome Fronk -- with much time on his hands. (He only sits nine weeks during en entire year in our Circuit). I have quite some suggestions on this proposed trial plen to turn over to whomever you appoint, We need not repeat Leipzig! 4. I represented Leon Henderson who starts on a national hook-up August 14th, once a week. Have you any ideas for the best way he can help - mood or subjects? I remember once you gave no a swell idea for F.P.A. to use on programs re Congress. 5. Do send for the two reports in Justice on Congressmen Cox. The Farley-Garey crowd are riding pretty since they feel they have caused Biddle's Boys to reverse the original position in favor of indictments. I have gone over the evidence and it looks like a cinch to no, provided the indictment will lie in the District of Columbia instead of Georgia. Greenbaum. WOLFF & ERNST -2- 6. Did Ickes tell you my two plans for capturing the miners, without inflation, and with no credit to John Lewis? If you are interested -- as Harold said he was - let me know if you want me to shoot these plans to you. They arise out of the job I did for Governor Earle in 1937 on the Anthracite Bootleg Coal Commission. They may do the trick even now. Illoris Yours, L.E. PSF Ernet freder 3.43 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST WHITE HOUSE LAWRENCE a. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD OREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. HORRIS L ERNST - JONAS di SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582 int AUG 12 AUG RECEIVED 8 31 AM 43 SAMUEL d. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE S.JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROBEN If HAROLD H.STERN HARRIET F. PILPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN in MILTON ROSS ORACE BADER RUTH SCHWARTZHAN Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt aug 10, 1943 The White House Washington, D. C. Tid Bis Dear Governor: 1. Have you considered as a step toward English-Americen relations a shifting of the leases of the Naval Bases such as Bermuda so that the leases will run generally to England and the United States? I had a long talk with a group of people up from Bermuda and it seems to no that a move of this na- ture would carry terrific subtle implications toward Anglo-American policing at least of this hemisphere. Also this shift could help the final settlements under Lend-Lease. 2. I ren into one of your remarkable generals - Major General Sanderford Jarman. I spent a day with him going over some of the defense situations. I saw him with his men out in the field and I've seen him handle Politicians. At last I found my ideal of a liberal, open-minded old Army Boy. Incidentally, his daughter broadcasts from a Philadelphia station, and is one of our last New Deal broadcasters left in the country. I understand that Drum gets out on age retirement shortly. I should imagine that as Commending General Antiaircraft Artillery Commend, E. D. C., Jarman has measured up. Since Drum's job is to a great extent one of public relations, I am sure you could not do better than Jarmen as his successor. And equally important, keep an eye on Jermen's daughter, Mrs. Clark. 3. Is there any chance of getting in as assistant counsel to the Nation- al Democratic Committee one of your old type boys, one that is proud of your entire program back to the old relief days, and does not have an apologetic attitude? Such & man could be of great help throughout the country. 4. I think en election will no doubt be held for Lt. Covernor. The Democrats cannot possibly win without Labor Party support. What about Dean Alfange, who piled up 460,000 votes? Or at least & joint candidate. 5. How about getting tough with Lt. Wealey T. Cuest of the Signal Corps who went out of his way improperly to divulge information against Jim Fly by turning it over to the Navy Boys? Unless Guest gets spenked good and proper the Cox Boys are planning to capitalize on his behavior. GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST -2- 6. A great number of employers are promising to take back people now in the armed forces. How about starting the idea that employers should hang out flags with the appropriate number of stars, showing their commit- ment to rehire such people. I think I can get some employers to start this and some publicity. Would it be welcome? If they once hang out a flag at least there is an emotional commitment, and not just Pie in the Sky promises! 7. At the time of the new tax bill when rates in the lower bracket groups will be increased, and there won't be income left in the upper brackets to tax, would it not be well to get labor to support a program of incentive taxation? Henry Wallace's speech along these lines to the American Labor Party was the first education labor has had on the subject. Yours, Maris L.S. filgersomal PSF Ernet folder 3-V3 Private September 24, 1943. Dear Morris: Thanks for your "tidbits" of September twenty-first. Go right shead. In regard to trials of Nasi leaders, you might talk with Bertie Pell. He is going over to England on this very soon. Here is another "tidbit", the truth of which I will not vouch for but it comes from a good source. Woodruff, the President of Coco Cola, had a long talk with a man named Mac in California, who is the head of Pepsi Cola, and asked him to put up $10,000 toward a five million dollar fund for next Autumn. If Bricker is nominated, they will set up an "American Democratic Party" -- a third ticket expecting it will take far more votes from the Demo- cratic ticket than from Bricker. If Dewey is nominated, they would just plain throw up their hands because they hate him as they do the devil. (orme) In regard to the book on the Four Freedoms, I think all four choices are excellent. As ever yours, Morris L. Ernst, Esq., 285 Madison Avenue, New York 17, N. Y. GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE . GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD 8. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. MORRIS L. ERNST - THE WILTE JONAS di SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0-1582 SAMUEL di SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE JAPPIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN September 21, 1943. SEP RECEIVED 23 11 AM HOUSE 43 LEO ROBEN HAROLD K.STERN MARRIET PILIPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN MILTON ROSS GRACE a. BADER RUTH SCHWARTZHAN Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Tidbits Washington, D.C. Doar Governor: 1. I en going to England again, this time at the request of British interests concerned with some of the minor items which I listed up in & memorendum for Summer Welles as to tidbits to improve Anglo-/merican re- lations. I wonder if there is any little chore I con take on for you with- out title, pay or anything except devotion. 8. I en doing quite some discing into the set up of a United Nations Commission for trials for Mazi leaders, etc. Is there any way I can pitch in on this? Maybe I qualify because I an tough, Jewish and still have a respect for due process and fair trials. 3. Krock and the cang are licking their chops over what they did to Summer. I hate to see than capitalize on their victory. 4. I em having Paul Appleby up at the house with Helen Reid, Henry Luce, Gunther, Shirer, Swing, etc., to got some support for the Hot Springs Food Con- ference Report. 5. I on getting Harry Emerson Fondick and a bunch of liberals to come out with a blast against the Cox investigation of Jim Fly. 6. I have gotten Simon & Schuster excited about getting out four short books on the Four Freedoms, going into some details as to what they have meant in the past and what they con mean in the future. I have in mind the following: (a) I shall do the First Freedom - Proodem of Speech. (b) I thought Henry Wallace might do Freedom From Want, taking in the Hot Springs Food Conference and ping also into clothing, housing, and the raising of standard of living elsewhere so the rest of the world can buy our goods. GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST -2- (c) I thought Summer Welles might do the Freedom From Fear, which in essence is security, policing the world, al- liances, League of Nations, etc. (d) I don't know whom to get for Freedom of Religion because to be frankly done, it must discuss the Untouchables of India, the switch of Russia from "religion is the opiate of the people", our Ku Klux Klen, Catholic Church in politics, etc. I have in mind maybe Harry Binns, Managing Editor of Commonweal. Shall I lay off? These books will be short end might do something to cut into the Willkie - Fulton Lewis attack on the Four Freedoms by their boosting "Freedom of Enterprise", a subterfuge for laissez-faire in their minds. Would it be embarrussing to get Summer? I have already had him sit with Simon & Schuster in regard to a book of a somewhat similar nature. alamS Yours, fill PSF Ernst folder 3-48 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE s. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD S.GREENBAUM will HOUSE HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. MORRIS L. ERNST - JONAS di SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 8-1882 BANUEL d. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY Oct will RECEIVED pm 43 JEROME HANDLER THEODORE S.JAFFIN October 4, 1943. BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN HAROLD H.STERN HARRIET PILMEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN MILTON ROSS GRACE A. BADER RUTH SCHWARTEMAN Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Governor: 1. I BEN Summer and urged him not to take on a two day a week column for Helen Reid or any other newspaper. I think it will lessen his useful- ness when he comes back on a job for you. Incidentally, I em arranging for about thirty of us to give him B. private dinner in New York. I talked to him about his doing a volume on "Freedom from Fear" as I wrote you. I think it's his great opportunity to stay before the public with dignity and, of course, I think that Simon & Schuster can do a terrific job on these four short volumes, particularly if Summer and Henry Wallace do the third and fourth "Freedoms". I had a further talk with Henry and I think he is excited about it and possibly you might want to give them each a nudge. If it im't done by people who are your Boys, it will be done by others in order to corrupt your concepts in the direction of Freedom for Private Enterprise. 2. I have been increasingly disturbed by the laok of objectivity and imbalance of the press. What worries me most of all is that we are getting licked on this issue as is shown by the fact that after you cracked Drow, he gained in newspaper support. I have in mind that the way to get at the issue is quite different and I think I have sold a bill to CBS to put on the air a series of half a dozen debates discussing the bottlenecks and prejudices of the press, the distortion of the news by AP, etc., (strike news against Anaconda case), bottlenecks of the movies, etc. I had in mind that they could get Wallace, Willkie, etc., to go on the progrems. Willkie might well have to defend the movie industry since he is Chairman of one of the big companies. As soon as this gets developed further, I will send you an outline because it is the kind of a series that you might want to put a general blessing on at the opening of the series in the form of some letter to be read. I have in mind that Jefferson, who was also bitterly attacked, once said to a friend who wondered why he stood for it: "He are starting an interesting experiment. I hope it works." 3. Thanks for your "tidbit", and when they call you"that old devil" I only say - "I'm sorry for people who can't have the pleasure that I have of being nuts about F.D.R. Greenbaum, WOLFF & ERNST -2- 4. I an off to England soon to see if I can break through en embargo in this country on British films. Please dig up some small chore that I can do for you! Best, Yours, PSF Erast folder 3.vd LAWRENCE s. GREENBAUM file. GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD 8. GREENBAUM HERBERT A WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. MORRIS L. ERNST - JONAS d. SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0-1582 SAMUEL - SCHUR well It ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME MANDLER THEODORE B.JAFFIN October 6, 1943. BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN Oct RECEIVED 7 8 30 AM HOUSE '43 HAROLD H.STERN HARRIET F. PILPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN MILTON ROSS GRACE BADER RUTH SCHWARTZMAN Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Governor: A group of us sat around after Look Magazine came out with the Willkie pictures, and we thought of getting some cartoonist to get out a series of the amitted pictures!! (1) Willkie, Big Business Man, sitting at a director's meeting of Commonwealth and Southern when it passes dividends on preferred and common stock. This picture could be repeated at least ten times 80 as to indicate that there were no dividends over a great period of years. (2) Picture of Willkie fighting and delaying one of the simplest of democratic experiments, to wit: TVA. (3) Picture of Willkie going on the Board of the First National Bank. (4) Picture of Willkie resigning from the Board of the First National Bank to run for President. (5) Picture of Willkie going back on the Board of the First National Bank after the campaign. (6) Picture of Willkie taking a $100,000 ? check to become window dressing chairman of the Board of Directors of 20th Century Fox. To the side of this picture we will show Schenck just going off to jail. (7) Picture of Willkie as lawyer receiving a check of a quarter of a million ? for representing 20th Century Fox, through his law firm. (8) Picture of Willkie with the two checks in his hand starting off on a trip around the World. (9) Picture of Board of Directors of 20th Century Fox with chairman absent. GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST -2- (10) This picture can be repeated for a period of years. (11) The real pay-off picture 1a Willkie sitting next to Schenck, Schenck still in half prison uniform, with Willkie voting to have Schenck restored as President of the company of which he is chairman. Yours for an unprejudiced press, P.S. Incidentally, I am fighting for the Newspaper Quild against the quartette - Coles, Luce, Sulzberger and Howard ,on October twelfth. These papers are the spearheads of an attack on Union maintenance agreements of the newspapers on the theory that it violates the freedom of the press. The hearing is before the War Labor Board. PSF Ernst folder -43 October 14, 1943. Dear Ed: Morris Ernet is going over to Europe on matters of interest to us and I want him to carry some letters from me. Will you arrange for him to get a diplomatic visa which will facilitate his travel? Ernst's priorities already have been arranged on a British plane. If you want more detailed information will you get in touch with him direct? He will be in Washington all day tomorrow and then will go back to his office in New York. Always sincerely, Honorable Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., Under Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. (1941) has Signed original of this letter sent to State Dept. for delivery by pouch. PSF Erret folder 3-43 October 15, 1943. Dear are Morris Ernst is going over to London. I do hope you will have a chance to see him. with kindest regards, Always sincerely, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVEL. Honorable John G. Winant, American Embassy, London, England. Copy filed. Winant freder, dr.1-43) PSF Ernet folder 3-43 October 15, 1943. Dear Summer: I have talked to Morris Ernet about short books on the Four Freedoms and I would be delighted if you would do one of these books. Personally, I would use a gentle panning of the opponents of the Four Freedoms -- but in a light vein. For instance, one could make comparisone between them and the nobility of France at the beginning of the French Revolu- tion; with the small, but noisy minority who opposed the Magna Carta; with the rioters of Athens who drove out many wise men; and with the rambunctious children of Iarael who made Mones 80 angry he smashed the Tables of Stone. As ever yours, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELY Honorable Summer Wellow, Oxon Hill, Maryland. Identical letter cent to Vice President Wallare, 10/15/42 (copies filed weller folder y.V. P.Wallace folder, 2-X5) PSF irnst folder 3-43 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE a. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD 8. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. HORRIS L.ERNST - JONAS di SHAPIRO SAMUEL di SCHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582 ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE S-JAFFIN DCT 19 RECEIVED 100 WINTE 8 AM HOUSE 43 BENJAMIN KAPLAN October 18th, 1943 LEO ROBEN HAROLD H.STERN HARRIET F. PILPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN MILTON ROSS GRACE -BADER RUTH SCHWARTZMAN Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D. C. Tidbits Dear Governor: 1. I suggest that you rush through the memorandum on your desk involving the Unification of International Communication. It is a shame to let the Senate Committee, through the resolution introduced Saturday, mucker up this matter. I think that Unification of International Communication is probably as important 88 the airplane situation, but I don't think that any of the thinking along regional lines would apply. Whether by government ownership or not, there must be government infiltration and control of poli- cies as to cable, telephone and international broadcasting. It so happens that Sarnoff is nearer right on this issue than is Paley. Let me know if I can be of help. 2. The Welles party was swell. I suggest you might want to get a more objective report from Major Henry 8. Hooker. All present had a ter- rific feeling against Hull -- which led me to say that we, ourselves, had helped to develop the move, and without mentioning Sulzberger by name, every- body felt that Krook had been more responsible for driving Summer out than any other person. 3. Very soon Doughton is going to ask Randolph Paul whether the government would rather have a sales tax or less income. It occurred to me that Treasury might develop a sound tax which would answer the problem we discussed at dinner, to wit: the driving out of little business by big busi- ness that has multiple profits, as in the oil case. I have talked to Rendolph about this and maybe a memorandum from you to him asking him to provide the helpful. answer to such a question, and then to see you while H.M. is away, would be Swell time with you. Yours, M.S.E. PSF Ernet folder 3-43 ju THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON October 26, 1943. MEMORANDUM FOR MORRIS ERNST 1. I think it would be fine to get Myron Taylor to a little meeting before you leave for England. 2. I will get Steve to arrange to have Samuel Grafton down right after Election. 3. I will also arrange to see Mrs. Souvaine too. I am laid up with a cold -- touch of "flu" -- but hope to be all right next week. I enclose a better version of the South American story. F. D. R. October 26, 1943. "Some years ago the President of the United States was driving through Cartagena, the great seaport of Columbia, with the President of Columbia. The latter said 'It is almost 1m- possible to make our budget balance because we have practically no manufactures. The President said "Why do you all wear foreign-made shoes and shirts and cotton clothes? You grow plenty of cotton and you have many hides. It is very simple to make low-priced shoes and cotton goods'. The President of Columbia replied "You must be jesting because that would decrease our purchases from the United States'. President Roosevelt said 'Oh, no, you go ahead and make your own shirts and shoes -- raise your standard of living and this will enable you to buy from us more radios and automobiles and not things you can manufacture down here!. Soon Columbia started making shoes and cotton goods". GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE a. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD 5. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. the MORRIS ERNST JONAS + SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0-1002 BANUEL di SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE S.JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN 22nd, OCT 23 WHITE HOUSE LEO ROBEN October HAROLD STERM HARRIET FILMEL "43" - BYLVESTER BENJAMIN MILTON ROSS ORACE #. BADER RUTH SCHMARTEMAN Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D. C. Tidbits Dear Governor: 1. Paul Appleby was swell last night. He laid out the entire program of the Hot Springs Food Conference. Russell Leffingwell wes there, who no doubt will have a luncheon for Paul with the heads of the big food companies who can really be influential wd. th our backward Senators. March of Time will put on a radio program with Paul on it, and Mabel Souvaine, of the A & P Stores (editor of one of our greatest magazines - Woman's Day, 3 million circulation and little heard of) will no doubt run a series of articles. 2. Some of our griping columnists are already indicating that the Myron Taylor conferences will be sniped at because Russia was not present. There is no use telling these Boys that Russia was invited. They just don't want to believe it and they will even make Russia's refusal of invitation into something evil. Do you think it would be well to have Taylor come up with Shirer, Gunther, Helen Reid, et al and talk off the record? If so, will you let Taylor and me know. I will have to arrange it promptly before I shoot off to England. 3. A long time ago you told me a story, which I have written out roughly, 68 enclosed. It is by all odds the best story to explain your philosophy on foreign trade to overcome the idea that we are going to be e Santa Claus. You may remember that you wrote out for ne the story of the Priest who was run down in Briteny dur- ing the last war. I got that over the air in New York and London and it was actu- ally dropped in pamphlets in France. Would you care to write out in your own style the enclosed story, because I think it can be used to great advantage. 4. Samuel Grafton, New York Post, told me that you had told Dorothy Backer that he should come to the next press conference and meet you. He tried to reach Steve and Steve was not in. I suggest that you have someone wire him because he is very anxious to "come down for next Friday's conference. He was out with Willkie for a week, and he 1a the kind of naive boy who can be taken in. When you see him, he will not want to listen to you but he will want to tell you. 5. A very important newapaper person whom you ought to get someone to contact, is Mrs. Mabel Souvaine. She is our kind of folk and is one of the tops at Woman's Day. This magazine 1s sold through the A & P Stores at two cente a GREENBAUM.WOLFF & ERNST Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt (Cont'd #2) October 22nd, 1943 copy, and has a terrific wallop. I got her to do a piece, for example, on WAVES, WACS, etc. Do you want me to bring her down next Friday to the press conference? 6. In case you have missed it, note Winchell's reference to the din- ner I threw for Summer. I did not give it to him but it is O.K. by no. Yours Enc. Some years ago, the President of the United States was riding through the Capitol of Colombia (?). The President of Colombia said: "How would you like to run a country with your telephones owned in New York, your electric light in London, your water works in Paris?" The President of the United States said, "Where to you get your shirts and pants?" Whereupon the Presi- dent of Colombia said, "New York City, of course. That's the market place". Whereupon President Roosevelt said, "I can understand why you have not been able to save, out of your past labor, enough money to buy a line of telephone poles, but certainly you have work habits and skill sufficient to buy a couple of thousand Singer Sewing machines in order to make your own shirts". To this the President of Colombia replied, "You must be jesting because if we made our own shirts it would hurt your market place in New York City". President Roose- velt then said, "Oh, no. You go ahead and make your own shirts and you will raise your standard of living and our Boys will be able to sell you more radios and automobiles". P.S. And as a matter of fact, that great South American country established its first important factory for the manufacture of shirts shortly thereafter. NOTE: The above story ought to be checked as to the name of the country and the place of ownership of the utilities. I don't know whether it ought to come out in the form of a letter you might write me, or just in the form of e story about you, which could be released in proper form. Daily Mirror, Friday,October 22,1943. The greatest testimony of American Intellectual opinion was accorded Sumner Welles the other night in & private dining room of the Waldorf It lasted from 7 p. m. to 4 a.m., The group included Mrs. Ogden Reld, of the New York Herald Tribune; Arthur Sulz- berger, publisher of the N. Y. Times: Anne O'Hare -MeCormick, Dorothy Thompson, Henry Luce, Leon Henderson, Raymond-Gram Swing and seventeen others Mr. Swing, who rarely attends parties or dinners, said he would have gone to San Francisco to Jhonor Mr. Welles Mr. Sulzberger offered the honored guest a job on the Times "and write your own ticket" The recent Under-Secretary of State said he wouldn't work for the Times "so long as Arthur Krock (Its Washington man) worked on St There was- a very strong feeling at the dinner, according to someone there, "that the machina- tions of Mr. Krock had forced Welles' resignation." PSF Denet folder 3-43 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE s. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD s. GREENBAUM HEREERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. MORRIS ERNST - JOHAS di SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 8-1582 SAMUEL 4. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME MANDLER THEODORE B.JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN October 27, 1943. LEO ROBEN HAROLD STERN HARRIET PILPEL SYLVESTER BENJAMIN OCT RECEIVED 8 52 AM HOUSE 43 28 the willite - RUTH SCHWARTIMAN CASSRELL GREENBERG MONROE R. LAZERE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Tidbits Washington, D.C. Dear Governor: 1. I had lunch yesterday with Capt. Patterson. I tried to get him ex- cited about attacking the press for wasting manpower on advertising. No soap. He is all right on the fight I just ren against the other newspapers for the Newspaper Guild. Incidentally, he told mo that MacArthur had sent over for his advice as to MacArthur running for President. Patterson advised the Gen- eral that if he was in the midst of a campaign he should not run and should al- so remember what happened to Grent. There was much more political talk but there is no use boring you unless you want more details. We did not mention F.D.R. at this session. He said he was swinging strongly in favor of an al- liance with England. This might be really important in view of the McCormick - Sissie position on England. On the war guilt problems where I had it in the back of my head that a man like Patterson might well be put ón some kind of a committee, he had en interesting idea that the trials should be held in Switzerland, because if the Allies held the trials, it would appear essentially phoney. Moreover, he indicated that Switzerland represented the seat of the concept of the League of Nations. This Swiss concept does not mean much emept that the Old Boy is thinking in better terms. As a matter of fact, he never was anything internationally except anti-F.D.R. I an still of the opinion that if we are smart enough we can swing him around and that he is anxious to be swing. Obviously he is nasty and tough at the moment, but I em naive enough to think that he is still worthwhile working on. My only worry is that the guy has taken a great shine to me and wants to see me again when I return from England. In- cidentally, he is still a buddy of Beaverbrook and drank plenty with him when Max was here. 2. I - sending a copy of excerpts from letters from Charlie Poletti and his friends. I think these few pages may give you a better picture of the economic operation in Sicily and Italy than you will get out of any formal re- ports. I got these from Jean and told her that I would send them on to you. Hope you are back on your feet. Yours, Ene (1) thank. not for putlication EXCERPTS FROM CHARLIE'S LETTERS July 15th; Feeling fine, working very hard. Everything quite disorganized. Maurice (Neufeld) has become the chief of a newly created street cleaning department and horse and mule burying service. Few days ago, spent a rough night with Rodd (Britisher) on the beach. Slept in a slight depression in the sand. Glad to have the moon set, Quite a few interruptions from planes. Our nerves held up well. Yesterday went around the country to contact differ- ent groups of civil affairs officers. Getting so we like C and K rations but we manage to obtain some wine, including Asti Spumente. We certainly have been roughing it and I have a feeling or perhaps a smelling that a bath might be most profitable. July 20th; All working hard and having fun and making real contribution to Army. . Our jobs have required much improvising. Looting occurs about time of capture of a town but soon quiets down. The other morning personally went to & big town with Bizzi. (Orpheus Biszozero, the doctor from Barre, Vt., who seems to be right with Charlie, and who writes me cocasionally and tells me Charlie is in good health, and that he is taking care of him and making him eat his vitamins!) Slept at outskirts on some out what under an almond tree. Next morning at 7 moved into city hall. No troops in town but soon restored order and got the carabinieri back on job. This morning motoring east for conference with British. Have visited most of occupied places for personal check-up. July 25th-from Bizzi; Charlie is well and we are all working hard. Things have worked out beautifully. I am sure the program is sold to the higher-ups. July 28th-from Bizzi; I am writing this in Charlie's room as I know he hasn't had time to write. He has been busy and has put this Amgot thing over through his sheer drive, brilliance and sound judgment. You should be proud Jem. .Charlie is fit and well, and I will keep my eye on him. He takes his vitaminsi!! July 30th: Since last Thursday when we moved into this place (Palermo) I have been frantically busy. One British officer, Rodd, and myself had to run this largest city and province. Later on - 4 days after - Bissi and Maurice came in and we put them to work. We found a city practically dead in its activity and we have now pushed it off dead center. It is moving. Water supply is being restored. Electricity is rationed - dreadful time getting wheat to grind into flour but we are rushing it. All kinds of im- provisation. You should see my office - such an artistic gem about the size of the big red room in Albany. August 2nd: Had good sleep last night but Sat. eve we had a couple of hours of heavenly gifts. This city got quite a pasting before we came. The people were all under the impression that with Americans here there would be no more air raids. Thousands have been pouring back into this large city on that theory. .I live in a hotel since coming here - one of the tourist hotels. Nice bed and private bath. But until we got here, Thurs. night, July 22, the going was rouch. I was all bitten by fleas or something. Never more than a helmet full of water and only C and K rations. The army food is fine here. Haven't felt sick a moment. My swimming, etc. in Africa helped. Conglomerate mail of May arrived. 401,) o totdo anbirow add and EXCEBLE AKO August 3rd-from Maurice Neufeld to his wife; Last night Charlie, Bissi and I had dinner with Franklin Roosevelt Jr. who is over here, John Boettiger, his brother-in-law, who is with Amgot, and Quentin Reynolds. Vincent Sheean is about somewhere. You can tell Jean that Charlie is functioning in superior fashion, is admired by everyone, and that he is getting a great deal of credit for the efficient administration of Civil Affairs. August 5th: Here I sit on Balcony of hotel room, private bath. Right below can see immense holes made by two bombs the other night. But I was on ground floor and fooled them! Pieces of concrete flew up on this balcony-third floor. We are getting tough but not foolhardy. On the beach one night I had to take it but here take cover below. Hurrsh yesterday received all birthday letters and cards (his birthday was July 2ndl) Today received your birthday cable (sent July latt). .Yesterday opened mess at Sport Club in center of city. One fellow had fun chasing silver, glass and employees in country. About 175,000 or more people fled during Allied bombardment. Discouraging too rapid return until things get rolling. Organized new relief and employment office - big business. Dave Morse handling latter. Bizzi is swell-happy and most efficient. Maurice great help. The three of them have an apartment and I may move over later on. However, plans of future up in air depending on progress of battle and Italian politics. .The balloon barrage looks nice. August 9th; .In retrospect, bombing from air, shots and shots from destroyers and cruisers, burning ships, lying on beach under airplane flares, noise and fantastic pattens in sky from anti-aircraft all seems 80 far away. In fact, kind of miss the line of action. Here we are miles from the fighting to the East. But this big city and provide are presenting terrific problems -economic and governmental. We are all working like doga and there is so much to do. All government had deteriorated; completely demoralized. Economy shattered. Transport noth existent. Feeding people under such circumstances 1s tough and it does disturb my sleep. But I'm determined to conquer it in two more weeks. Worked all day yesterday but in bed at 8:45 and today was a new man. Had 4 hr. conference with civil affairs officers of this province- about 40. Tonight at 9 having dinner with Franklin D. Jr. of whom I have seen quite a bit during past two weeks. August 12th; Yesterday received yours of June 30 and one of July 22nd. So it goes. Last night ate at Amgot mess then work. Night before dinner with Lord Rennell of Rodd, Major General, our Chief Civil Affairs Officer who has taken over an enormous palace right near my hotel. Very gay-stag party. Sat on open stone terrace looking at some little anti-airoraft. Bombing has been light and we have gotten good long sleeps. I didn't like the routine of waking up at 4 in the morning. .All the Amgot Hddts. crowd have located themselves in this big city and there's quite a crowd! And all kinds of gratuitous suggestions, tool Quite trying at times. General MoSherry has been fine. August 16th-from Maurice Neufeld: Charlie is in fine form, and adored by everyone. -2- N/A peq Ipoq qualify MTP apo 18 on MIFM rojt 10m JOBMA Maluel octway mont-bus August 18th; Glad you didn't know I was going in with the assault forces. It was thrilling. Also had thrilling experience moving into this big city. Came in at night with General Patton - just captured. The mountain passes outside city were burning from gunfire. The city was deserted. Considerable looting however had taken place. Went to Royal Palace and then to this hotel - same one I'm in. That day drove behind tanks of an armored unit. Bridges blown up. Our jeep navigated streams very well. A few miles out of town, General took our jeep and had it go back to deliver a message. Jumped on top of bags of another jeep and in we came. Didn't have a bit of clothing - extra I mean - shaving kit, medicines, etc. Three days later some stuff came in and since then have enjoyed comforts. . .As I told you the fine vintages are disappearing very rapidly. Asti Spumante is all gone but there are searching parties in the country checking into the cellars of the princes and dukes, of which there seem to be an abundance in Sicily. Government here is the most complicated mess and economic controls the most amazing labyrinth - just incredible. It takes hours of cross-examination to discover the facts. Our most pressing problem 1s feed- ing the people. The black market 1s rampant. Nobody has respected law and regulations for 80 many months that it is an uphill fight. I am throwing scores in jail for black market violations. In a couple of days hope to have a. new price list which I can publish. You can't appreciate the difficulties of governing without any communications and without transport. I have seized egerything around and now have a truck fleet of 50. All of them needed repairs so we started a repair shop. Public officials have no cars and we requisitioned those, too. So many handicaps to speedy action but we somehow keep life moving. No food disorders as yet. Found some frozen meat belong- ing to Italian army and once a. week release part of it for this region - on Friday! In this city established new system of relief. Have now nine offices in operation in principal parts of city but still have to open offices in the Bronx and at Coney Islandi Today made arrangements to release large quantities of wine previously held by Italian government for alcohol. In- tend to dump it on market quickly to help break black market in wine. Oh, heavens, I can't begin to tell you the multitudinous tasks of a day. In addition to government in the strict sense, one has to be an economic caar in all basic economic matters. August 21st: Time is very tricky here - 80 long and so short. It should be more than a monthwe have been in Palermo but it isn't. I know because local newspaper had an editorial referring to the thirty day period. Also told of the tireless and dynamic Colonello Poletti. Guess I'll stick around and run for the new House of Parliament from Sicily. How about it? August 29th; Yesterday about 10 o'clock saw the first rain since I left Washington. It came down in buckets and did it do damage! The hotel here, for instance, was flooded because all the skylights over the halls and the dining room have no window glass. The electric light went out at the Prefecture. Rain washed down several walls of bombed buildings. So, here we've had gangs cleaning streets for weeks and now this. Lord! what a mess! The sewers backed up. Several big depressions have occurred in the main streets. Why worry the worst is to come when rain andoold slow us up. Roofs all over the place need repairing and there are just no window glasses. Guess we'll use paper. . .By the way, my own plans are a little settled. I will not be moving on in the immediate future. They want to put all of Sicily under me and I expect in a couple of days to start operating as Administrator for the entire island. It should be fun but not as exciting as being with the troops. All in all I've gotten a. pretty good break. The argument is that someone must settle down, dig in and really try to govern occupied territory. . .Going to start more regular life now - a little swimming in the afternoon. Might as well build up the old body. It certainly is tough. Also decided not to eat any more army rations. Living on the country - wonderful fruits of all kinds - fresh figs, plums, grapes. 32, PSF Ernat folder 3-48 nov. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON October 27, 1943. MEMORANDUM FOR S.T.E. The President has written to Morris Ernst telling him that he will have you arrange to have Samuel Grafton come down to see him after election. Also, the President told Ernst he would see Mrs. Mabel Souvaine, whom Ernst says 1s a very important newspaper person, and is one of the tops on "Woman's Day". He said this magazine 1s sold through the A & ? stores at 2% a copy and has a tremendous circulation. G.G.T. dedoved copez 06 THE MHILE HONSE THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON October 20, 1943 MR. EARLY: Telephone call 3:10 - Mr. Samiel Grafton, NEW YORK POST, telephoned from New York City. He is ask- ing permission to come to one of the Presi- dent's press conferences and to stay after- wards to see the President. Mr. Grafton says this was suggested by the President to Mr. Theodore O. Thackrey, President, NEW YORK POST -- who also sug- gested that Mr. Grafton get in touch with Mr. Early on it. Mr. Grafton says any conference will be all right, with the exception of the one this Friday -- but that the conference on Friday, October 29th, is preferable. He asks that we please notify him at: 75 West Street, New York City. - - STANDARD FORM No. 14A APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT MARCH 10, 1925 FROM The White House Mashington TELEGRAM November 4, 1943 OFFICIAL BUSINESS-GOVERNMENT RATES Morris Ernet ... Greenbaum, Wolff and Ernst, 285 Madison Avenue, New York, H. I. Glad to have Samuel Grafton attend Press Radio Conference tomorrow at ten-thirty A.M. Understand you will advise him accordingly. He my remain and meet the President afterwards. STEPHEN EARLY Secretary to the President / SEAL / THE STANDARD FORM No. 14A APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT MARCH 10, 1926 FROM The White House Mashington TELEGRAM OFFICIAL BUSINESS-GOVERNMENT RATES November 4, 1943 ... Morris Ernst Greenbaum, Walff and Ernst, 285 Madison Avenue, New York, N. Y. Glad to have Samuel Graften attend Press Radio Conference tomorrow at ten-thirty A.M. Understand ^ Am will advise him He accordingly. G. remain and meet the President afterwards. may STEPHEN EARLY Secretary to the President PSF Smat freder 3-K3 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON fullowal October 29, 1943. MEMORANDUM FOR MORRIS L. ENRST The new foursome is excellent, especially the last name on Press and Speech -- but I have a little hesitation on Grew on Fear, War and Security. Grew really knows very little about it, for he is familiar only with the Japanese end. How would it do to get Major George Fielding Eliot, who is without doubt the best of the war commentators? I would not drop the idea, but personally I could not possibly write any Foreword. F. D. R. say THE MAILE мугниодон HONEE GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE 8. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD 8. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17. N.Y. HORRIS L. ERNST - JONAS J. SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 8-1882 BAMUEL d. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE JAFFIN OCT RECEIVED 28 8 Willite 52 AM HOUSE "43 BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN October 27, 1943. HAROLD H.STERN HARRIET F. FILPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RUTH SCHWARTEMAN CASSRELL GREENBERG MONROE A. LAZERE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Tidbits Washington, D.C. Dear Governor: You will recall that you wrote letters to Summer and Henry Wallace suggesting that they do two of the chapters in a book on the FOUR FREEDOMS. I have just heard from Henry's publisher that Henry won't do it. I think this is just publishers interference. Summer has in mind another book. I think they both should do their parts, particularly if you think it would be helpful to your Fourth Freedom concept and to under- mine the Fifth Freedom Boys. If they won't do it, what would you think of a foursome such as Fosdick - Religion; Appleby - Food - Clothing; Grew - Fear - Mar - Security; Ernst - Press and Speech? I still think that the original foursame would be much better for you and for the basic idea. If you think the alternative foursome is nevertheless worthwhile and you would like to see it done, let me know. In my event, the book should be of such & nature as to speak, indirectly, for what we know to be your philosophy and thus impliedly contain your blessing. I cannot believe that Henry and Summer would not go forward with their two chapters if they thought, for example, that you were excited enough about the idea to write a short foreword. Or should I drop the entire idea? In your MondLE. Anjonymous Army, PSF file Personal THE Ernat folder -43 WHITE HOUSE GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE a. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE Nov 3 8 33 AM "43 EDWARD 5. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. MORRIS L.ERNST - RECEIVED JONAS di SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1562 BAMUEL J. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE S.JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN November 1, 1943. LEO ROSEN HAROLD H. STERN HARRIET F. PILPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RUTH SCHWARTZMAN CASSRELL GREENBERG MONROE R. LAZERE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Tidbits Washington, D.C. Dear Governor: 1. The American Communists, as you know, have been bedeviling the State Department and Berle with the rumor that Berle joined the Catholic Church. I wrote to Adolf that it was nobody's business except that being a high public official he ought not to leave the public in doubt. Adolf wrote me a swell answer, enclosed herewith. I don't intend to use it unless I find the right spot. Any suggestions? 2. In regard to the FOUR FREEDOMS - instead of Crow, how about Hamilton Fish Armstrong, leaving the foursome: Appleby, Fosdick, Amstrong, Ernst. I still think you ought to spank Wallace and Welles into doing their sectors. If these "tidbits" get to bore you or flow too freely, don't hesitate to slap me down. Incidentally, while in England, if you want me to shoot into Switzerland or Germany, remember I am in your Army, and would love it. I have lived a hell'va good long life -- so what!! Yours, Department of State Washington October 21, 1943. Dear Morris: I have your courteous letter of October 19. The rumor of my alleged conversion to Catholicism has been travelled widely and pushed so heavily that it almost looks like a propaganda stunt. I am not a Catholic, never have been a Catholic, and never expect to be. I have never contemplated it, studied for it, come within miles of it. Sever- al generations of New England ancestors would turn in their graves if it hap- pened, and to arrive at that conclusion would involve reversing pretty nearly every cell in my head. I have many friends in the Church, end great respect for the people who sincerely hold that faith, or, for that matter, any honorable faith. But such Christianity as I profess-- and I happen to think Christianity still has a great deal to say-- has got to be worked out as best it can through the Pro- testant Congregationalism in which I was born. I hope this answers your question. I think that the rumor started by confusing ne with my colleague, Howland Shaw. He is a New Englander who had a kind of Oxford movement all by himself; became and is a very devout Catholic; and has held various high lay posts, notably that of President of the National Catholic Welfare Association. It is possible your friends have me fixed with him. The State Department represents the entire United States, and where it is useful or necessary to work with Catholics or Catholic organizations I do SO. This is a part of my job. When in Catholic countries I try to be respectful to the religion of the country and expect to go on doing SO. But I have done the same thing with Jewish organizations and probably would with Mohammedans if the occasion arose. So would you under like circumstances. With kind regards, I am Faithfully yours, Adolf Berle PSF Emat folder3.43 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE s. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD GREENBAUN HERBERY WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. HORRIS L. ERNST - BANUEL d. SCHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 8-1882 ALEXANDER LINDEY Nov RECEIVED 8 AM HOUSE 43 the 5 WINTE JONAS d. SHAPIRO JERONE HANDLER THEODORE s JAFFIN BENJAMIN RAPLAN LEO ROBEN MAROLD H. STERN HARRIET F. FILPEL SYLVESTER BENJAMIN AUTH SCHWARTZMAN the November 4th, 1943 I CASSRELL GREENBERO MONROE a. LAZERE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D. C. Final Tidbits Before Leaving for England Dear Governor: 1. Why not appoint a small committee to prepare a program on incentive taxation in connection with the next year? I would suggest for such committee the following: Russell Leffingwell Henry Kaiser Reuther of the CIO and somebody, I don't know just who, from the AFL. I would like to be on such a committee and I suggest, above all else, that Randolph Paul should be designated as counsel. I don't believe you will ever get any tax program through Congress because of the attitude of Congress toward H.M. I think you could run away with the show by getting in your hands a report on private incentive taxation particu- larly for small business and new enterprises. Let Congress turn down those mentt Incidentally, Randolph Paul made some pertinent remarks before the Subcommittee on Military Affairs in regard to this problem. 2. I suggested to Sumner at luncheon yesterday that the growing irri- tation of small nations, particularly South America, for what looks like 8 freeze- out with respect to the operations under the Moscow agreement, could well be answered if the Central and South American nations designated one person who on all matters of general interest to Central and South America would represent them on the Committee which will sit in London. If anything arises that affects a par- ticular nation, that would be different. Obviously the S.A. Republics cannot come in one by one in Noah Ark's fashion, but the designation of a single person or a committee of three might well be workable, and in addition, would be another wise move in the direction of International Home Rule otherwise known as "regionalism." Incidentally, I will be in Rio with Aranah on my way back from England. Martins, in fact, asked me to go down there specially. 3. I talked to Sumner about the possibility of my planting some seeds 80 that he might be invited to lecture at Oxford or Cambridge. He might be desig- nated St. Regis Professor, to give a series of six lectures at Cambridge. Summer GREENBAUM. WOLFF & ERNST -2- W0.8 interested and I will plant seeds in England, if I can, so that he would be invited sometime in the Spring. 4. I wrote you about how Capt. Patterson has started a sommersault by coming out for an English-American Alliance. Somebody ought to watch these edi- torials for you particularly because Summer told me that Cissy did not run the editorial in Washington which appeared in the News last Sunday. If that is true, then I sewed quicker than I thought. 5. The last election means that we have lost the political offensive, "we," being "your" boys no matter what their party emblem might be. My guess is that there is no hope of getting any newspaper support. They are out to bitch you up wherever they can even though they have no real final influence, vide: all New York papers for Frankenthaler - he ran last; all papers against Aurelio - he was elected. I think it is about time that the press was taken - and I don't mean over; I mean only for a ride. I think you have an ideal spot to start in with. AS you know, newspapers are trying to get more and more of the radio stations. Jim Fly has held the lid down in beautiful fashion but many newspaper applicants are now going to put on the heat. He should not have to make this profound policy decision alone. When you give him your policy idea on the subject, why not con- tinue it with two other facets: (1) 2-1/2 billion dollars of advertising this year deductible on tax returns; (2) There is enough waste of paper on advertising to save the draft of married men. I still think that my original suggestion to Don Nelson was a good one, that he appoint a committee and at that time I suggested Swing, Leffingwell, W. A. White and George Norris to report on the basic philosophy to be applied to paper ration- ing and the resulting flow of advertising from newspapers to radio, unless radio is compelled to have a certain proportion of time for non-ndvertising programs. Do let me know, when I an in England, if there is anything I can do. No doubt you will be relieved because there will be no more "tidbits" for a month or so. Best, Yours, hmo PSF Emai folder 3-43 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON November 9, 1943. MEMORANDUM FOR MISS THOMPSON: The President said to tell you he is sorry but there 1s not anything he can do on this request from Morris Ernst. G.G.T. Telegram from Morris Ernst, Bermun, 11/6/43, to Mrs. Roosevelt, reading "SORRY MTSSED YOUR PACKAGES HAVE PLENTY OF GOODTES ANTCH MY THIEND WILL GLADLY SHARE 6TTH YOURS CABLE ME LONDON EMBASSY NAMES OF PERSONS IUI WANT GIFTS GIVEN TO FOR YOU ALSO PLEASE XX ASK BOSS IN FOUR PREEDOM BOOK SHOULD ALSO DE DONE BY FOUR ENGLISHMEN AND IF a) WHOM T SHOULD CONTACT BLESS YOU." Senst freder Mill PSF 3-43 1, Grosvenor Square, London, W.1. Dear Governor, TID-BITS 1) How about Ed. Morrow to be in charge of all the German broadcasting as soon as United Nations take over in Germany ? He should be acceptable to all of the United Nations, could do a bang-up job but obviously whoever is selected should be advised in advance 80 as to get plans underway. 2) It looks now as though both Oxford and Cambridge will be competing to invite Sumner over to a series of lectures in April or May. I took this up with Sumner before I left. Aydelotte saw Dr. Lindsay of Oxford today, who is enthusiastic about Sumner coming over in April as Eastman lecturer at Balliol. Or maybe he will be designated as U.S.A. member of the Committee of Three on the European field !! 3) Your "Maritime Delegate" concept in Azores works like a charm. 4) I am getting together a list of all of the Irish generals, commanders etc. who have been awarded V.C.'s and other decorations by U.K.. I think a high proportion of the 69 awards to date have gone to born Irishmen. Also I am getting together the figures of the number of men from Southern Ireland who have volunteered in the British Military forces. I thought you might like to have this material to place it in the proper spot in order to overcome some of the Irish anti- British sentiment in the United States. Maybe you cen get this dope easier in Washington. I send you the above Tid-Bits so that you will know that even by sending me far away I am the same old pest. Best MarisL.E.E. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Washington, D.C. PSF Ernet freder 3-44 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE 5. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM HERBERT A WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. MORRIS ERNST - JONAS - SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0.1582 SAMUEL - SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME MANDLER THEODORE JAPPIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROBEN December 21 ,1943. MAROLD STERN HARRIET F. FILMEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RUTH SCHWARTZMAN CASSRELL GREENBERO MONROE a. LAZERE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Governor: Had a swell trip and saw most of the British Cabinet on matters of after-war stuff. 1. Enclosed find copy of one of the pemphlets distributed in great quantities by air over France containing the story you gave me a year ago about the candle. I thought you might be amised at seeing it in French. 2. You certainly took over Sem Grafton as a result of the confer- ence I arrenged. However, I think you ought to be a little careful about the conferences with four or five chosen commentators because Grafton already has done some talking about it and you can imagine the hell that will be raised by Dorothy Thompson and others if they are left out of even the first dinner party. I certainly advise that you leave the matter very informal and flexible, changing the group from time to time. If you want to use me 88 the whipping boy, I will be glad to make up lists and bring the crowd down so that anybody left out would be sore at me and not you. iren 144 + act. a Book for 3. I B sending you a copy of Compton Mackenzie's book entitled "MR. ROOSEVELT". You will love it. I saw a lot of Compton and in fact, kidded Brenden Bracken about getting Churchill to write an endorsement for the book, even though Compton thinks you are a greater aly than Winston. I will see what can do to get distribution in this country in a cheap reprint. 800ml 4. Is there any chance of taking the railway owners for a ride on the FEPC race discrimination fight by working out a deal with the Brotherhoods No on wages in such a way that the Brotherhoods will relax their discrimination? It is tough slugging on Negro bigotry as long as Bosses can quote the Bigotry of the aristocratic labor unions of the land. God Bless - as they say in England, Encs 402-1 PSF Timet freder 3-Yr THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON January 11, 1944. MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL ARNOLD: I have had a letter from a friend of mine who has recently come back from London where he saw Air Marshal Harris. I quote from his letter to me: "Harris' Blue Book showing the cities of Germany before and after the raids is the most exciting, tangible document of the war I have seen. One cannot really appreciate bombing results except through stereopticon. I spoke to Harris about bringing the pictures over here for public display. He is agreeable. I have in mind that an exhibition of the pictures at Radio Center and elsewhere, with & charge of 25¢ a look at a city before and after a bombing might be a good move. Harris approved it. I chatted & moment with Gen. Devers about it; at least he did not dis- approve. The Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce will no doubt finance the exhibi- tion, turning over all profits to some relief organization" What should I tell ay friend? F.D.R. No papers accompanied the original of this memorandum to Gen. Arnold. STATE time THE THE / / HOURE MHILE PSF: Ernst LAWRENCE a. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD s. GREENBAUM the JAN 6 RECEIVED 9 05 "44 WHITE HOUSE GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST HERBERT A WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. HORRIS L. ERNST - JONAS - SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 8-1882 SAMUEL d. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE s JAFFIN Jenuary 4, 1944. BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN HAROLD STERN HARRIET PILMEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RUTH SCHWARTZHAN CASSRELL GREENBERG MONROE R. LAZERE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White house Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Governor: 1. Winent asked me to look into the American Red Cross. Frankly, I think it is doing a shocking job in keeping the English boys out of most of our Red Cross Canteens. I don't think you can do much with our Red Cross in England - what with Harvey Gibson being what he is - but certainly I think it is important for our boys that the Canteens on the Continent be run as United Nat ons Centeens, open to all soldiers, at prices which the lowest paid soldier can pay. The Red Cross could actually supply much of the top personnel to run such Canteens and in any event even a United Nations Canteen open to all soldiers might be a terrific help to the Negro isolation question as well as the isolation of our boys from the British. Norman Davis ought to be informed that the situation is boiling over in England and that Readers Digest, Time, Fortune, etc., for once with validity will crack down on the Red Cross. You might want to tell Davis to get in touch with me, if you think I can help. 2. There is a swell library being run at the Embassy by OWI which sells American books and pamphlets to England end there is an exciting demand for such volumes. The great obstacle to the growth"of the library is that government pem- phlets cannot be sold at a price higher than marked on the pamphlet and the govern- ment printing office will give no discount except if purchases are made in large quantities. Why shouldn't the government printing office give a special discount to all libraries run by the government in Embassies throughout the world? This would be a very small group and wouldn't hurt the budget of the government printing office and would extend the sale of U.S. Government pamphlets tremendously in Eng- land. Can I help? 3. I was at Air Marshal Harris' home during the Berlin raid. I went out to his Cave the following morning end the following night stayed with the boys at the air field. Harris' Blue Book showing the cities of Germany before and after the raids is the most exciting, tangible document of the war I have seen. One cannot really appreciate bambing results except through stereopticon. I spoke to Harris GREENBAUM. WOLFF & ERNST -2- about bringing the pictures over here for public display. He is agreeable. I have in mind that an exhibition of the pictures at Radio Center and else- where, with a charge of 25/ a look at a city before and after a bombing might be a good move. Harris approved it. I chatted a moment with General Devers about it; at least he did not disapprove. (If you think well of the idea you might want to have Bob Lovett or General Arnold get in touch with me and I can develop the idea further. 7 The Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce will no doubt finance the exhibition, turning over all profits to some relief organization." I spoke to Floyd Odlum about this. I will be in Washington on Friday of this week for a few days in case you want to see me on the Labor Party which is a tough one, or other stuff. Do let me know. God Bless - Yours USE PSF: Ernst ADDRESS REPLY # Hifile EMANDING WASHINGTON, GENERAL, ARMY B. c. AIR FORCES, WAR DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY AIR FORCES WASHINGTON, D. C. 16 JAN 1944 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT: Subject: Exhibition in U. S. of Air Marshal Harris' Blue Book I an making a careful study of the possibilities suggested by your friend that stereopticon views of bombed German cities from Air Marshal Harris' Blue Book be placed on public exhibition in this country. If at all feasible, I believe the exhibition should include both AAF and RAF bombing views. However, since the RAF conception of bombardment rests on area devastation and the AAF mission is based on precision bombing, RAF pictures in general show greater expanses of devastation. My aim is to determine whether we can arrange a joint exhibit which will not minimize the more important but less spectacular results obtained by the AAF and at the same time not cast aspersion upon the British effort. A.Haruaid H. H. ARNOLD, General, U. 8, Army, Commanding General, Aray Air Forees. FORVICTORY BUY VALTED STATES WAR SONDS AND STAMPS MVG PSF: Ernst THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON January 11, 1944. MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL ARNOLD: I have had a letter from a friend of nine who has recently come back from London where he saw Air Marshal Harris. I quote from his letter to me: "Harris' Blue Book showing the cities of Germany before and after the raids is the most exciting, tangible document of the war I have seen. One cannot really appreciate bombing results except through stereopticon. I spoke to Harris about bringing the pictures over here for public display. He is agreeable. I have in mind that an exhibition of the pictures at Radio Center and elsewhere, with is charge of 25¢ a look at a city before and after a bombing might be a good move. Harris approved it. I chatted a moment with Gen. Devers about 1t; at least he did not dis- approve. The Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce will no doubt finance the exhibi- tion, turning over all profits to some relief organization". What shoulo I tell my friend? F.D.R. file mal PSF Ernet folder 3-44 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST pus WINTE HOUSE LAWRENCE s. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM HERBERT WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. HORRIS L. ERNST - JONAS + BHAPIRO BANUEL d. BOHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582 101 JAN 17 RECEIVED 9 9 05 AM "44 05 "44 ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROBEN Jenuary 14, 1944. HAROLD H. STERN MARRIET F. PILPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RUTH SCHWARTIMAN CASSRELL GREENBERG MONROE - LAZERE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Dear Governor: Tidbits 1. I had lunch with young Franklin, He is still my favorite can- didate for Governor. As a matter of fact I am coming to Washington with him on the twentieth. Is there any chance of my seeing you around that time? 2. I have got a plan to whip Readers Digest and DeWitt Wallace in line. This is through young Bill White, who is our kind. How about your writing to Bill White (William L. White, 56 West 12th Street, New York, N.Y.) indicating that you have an idea for a story and would he like to talk to you about it? He will then refer this to his boss and suggest that his boss come along. His boss will say he mm't invited and Bill can then communicate with you to see if he can bring his boss along. I wouldn't see Wallace without White for fear of repercussions. Bill will do the job. 3. Ickes consulted me about suing Cissy Patterson for libel in re- gard to the December 29, 1943, story by Waldrop alleging Ickes had a part in the Hopkins forged letter. I told him to lay off, but I will keep you informed. Hope you agree this is not the place nor the time to attack that wench! 4, I had a long talk in London with Minister of State, Richard Law, in regard to the Arab - Jewish matter. It is too long a story to put into a Tidbit, but I think it might be helpful along the lines of your thinking of a Threesome Mandate. 5. I had two hours with Bert Wheeler. I sat in at a conference which Norman Thomas was holding with Bert. I think Bort is most anxious to see you. He is worried that Senator White, plus Paley and Sarnoff are going to lick him in the Interstate Commerce Committee on the radio legislation. He told stories that even shocked me in regard to the ganging up of the radio and the press. I think we can get him to go to town on this issue. In any event, he more than hinted that he would like to know where you stand on the radio bill. I don't suggest that you send for him, but I think I can work out something. Yours, PSF Smatfolder int WINTE HOUSE 3-VY IAN 18 4 44 PM '44 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE a. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE RECEIVED EDWARD a. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. HORRIS L. ERNST - JONAS di SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0-1882 BAMUEL - SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME MANDLER THEODORE s JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROBEN January 17th', 1944 HAROLD H. STERN HARRIET F. PILPEL I SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RUTH SCHNARTEMAN CASSRELL GREENBERG HONROE LATERE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Governor: 1. Many top authors are preparing en advertisement to appear in the papers attacking Frank Walker on his ban of ESQUIRE. I think Frank is in a bad spot and I think he was put there by ESQUIRE'S attorneys presenting evidence primarily in relation to obscenity, and that Frank now should grant a rehearing and properly revoke his ban upon the presentation of proper evidence that the magazine qualifies under the statute. I have hesitated to see Frank because I have represented ESQUIRE many times in the past. 2. Dorothy Thompson is seeing the Provost Marshal General in regard to our handling of German prisoners in this country and in her emotional manner is off on a rampage against the Anny for its stupid (she says) treatment of Ger- nun prisoners here. It might be helpful if you would have the Provost Marshal General give me a ring and I can tip him off before his conference with Dorothy. 3. Please don't let Elmer Davis go. The big advertising boys around New York are already bragging that they have got Butcher in his place. I know Butcher is competent but 4. I have had to give up the idea of the book on the FOUR FREEDOMS because for some unexplainable reason Wallace and Summer would not do their bits and we cannot find substitutes. 5. PLACE: Stork Club - TIME: 4:30 A.M. - Arthur Sulzberger, in a group, said he hoped Wendell would not get the nomination because he was BO intimate with the Times that the Times would be embarrassed in case Wendell became Presi- dent, and then went on to say that he saw no one in the scene worth supporting for President except you. Incidentally, Mabel Souveine, the editor of Woman's Day, the 3 million circulation A and P Magazine, whom I suggested that you get of. down for a press conference, can give you more dope on Arthur than anybody I know laq.3. PSF Ernst folder 3-44 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE 9. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD s. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. MORRIS ERNST - JONAS - SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582 SAMUEL J. SCHUR the Peromite 1 12 21 PM " ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN January 31, 1944. LEO ROSEN HAROLD M. STERN HARRIET F. PILPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RAYMOND HERZOG CASSRELL GREENBERO MONROE R. LAZERE JEROME O.GREENE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Governor: 1. In regard to the man to head the job for your Refugee Committee of Three, do keep in mind that if Elmer Davis is to get out, he could do a grand job in this other sphere unless he has rubbed the State Department the wrong way. I do hope that Elmer does not leave. Much as I love Bob he just 'ain't' an executive and, of course, Elmer's position has been very difficult because of Bob's closer relation to you. If I can be still more impertinent, might I suggest that I think it would be a terrible error to combine Price's work and Elmer's. You can't do better than Elmer. 2. I have been asked to go back to England to get some kind of a degree at Glasgow University. Maybe they have spotted the Scotch in me! I wish you could whip up some jobs I can do when I get over there for April and May. For example: I have been asked by some of your boys to take a squint at the Persian - Arabian oil situation. Why not a World New Deal concept of an Anglo- American International Oil Public Service Commission vis-a-vis these two oil fields, to control territories, prices, etc? In other words, a governmental controlled cartel with the governments holding a financial stake in the pro- perties. Russia and others who need the oil from those fields could be cut in end, of course, Persia and Arabia could be represented on the Commission, thus preventing to a great extent later raids by these governments against our companies. Do you want a one page memorandum outlining this plan? 1 filgurnal PSF Ernet freder 3-44 February 15, 1944. Dear Morris: Ever so many thanks for your "Big-bit". I am perfectly delighted to have that "mineral water", and I must say you are darn good at evading the law of the land! Thank you so much for thinking of me. With all good wishes, As ever, Morris L. Ernst, Esq., 285 Madison Avenue, New York 17, H. Y. GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE a GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM HERBERT A WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. HORRIS L ERNST - JONAS di SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0-1884 SAMUEL J.SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE JAFFIN A RECEIVED 12 11 WIL 5, IE AM HOUSE 1. BENJAMIN KAPLAN February 11, 1944. LEO ROBEN HAROLD H. STEAN HARRIET F. PILPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RAYMOND HERZOG CASSRELL GREENBERG MONROE R. LATERE JEROME O.GREENE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. by dear Governor: This is not a Tidbit. This is a "Big-bit". When I was down at your house about a week ago, you mentioned some kind of brandy as being unobtainable but that you liked it. I put my private FBI on the job -- and I won't divulge the names of the agents operating at your home in my behalf -- and found that you did not do much brendy drinking after dinner and that you thought it was difficult to get Neuilly Prat vermouth. I will be in Washington Monday end will bring you a couple of bottles just on the theory that there is not a derm thing on earth that you want that you cannot have as far as I em concerned. Incidentally, being concerned about American commerce, I an also bringing along some domestic vermouth. I am dropping you this line so as to make sure that this refresher gets by all of your outer offices, and to make sure that Anna does not grab it all. Yours, Minni L.E. P.S. 1. Francis Biddle and Edgar Hoover asked ne to go out to Springfield, Mo., and make a report on the brutality charges at the Prison hospital. I was all set to go but the storm brought down all planes. P.S. 2. I want you to know that I have got to carry this liquid myself because of your law that it cannot be carried for hire by the express company!! PSF Ernst folder 3-VV GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST wt WILTE HOUSE LAWRENCE s. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF JONAS d. SHAPIRO lile NEW YORK 17, N.Y. Fall 12 06PM HORRIS L. ERNST - ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER BENJAMIN KAPLAN Termal TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1882 RECEIVED SAMUEL J. SCHUR THEODORE a JAFFIN LEO ROBEN February 16, 1944. HAROLD H. STERN HARRIET F. PILPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RAYMOND HERIOG CASSRELL GREENBERG MONROE R. LAZERE JEROME 0.0REENE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Governor: 1. John Pehle is coming up to my house, with my gang, Thursday night. 2. I have urged Pehle to take on Bill O'Dwyer, who spent two years at college in Spain and is a tough, courageous, anti-Frenco Catholic. 3. There is a dirty rumor going around that Raoul Desvernine is trading out a potential indictment against him as'an unregistered agent of Japan, in return for Garey's resignation as counsel from the Cox - Lee Committee. It will be a shame to let Garey out under these circumstences, and I don't know why Francis does not go forward against Desvernine since I understand that the boys who are to prosecute think they have a clear case. Yours ] THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON filguarnel March 6, 1944. MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL WATSON: I want to see Ed Laughlin. He is coming to town this week and when he calls up, I want to see him. I also want to see Morris Ernst this week or next week. F.D.R. of Hall / // THE PSF Ernst folder 3.00 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST WILTE HOUSE LARRENCE s. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. HORRIS L. ERNST - JONAS di SHAPIRO MAR lot 4 RECEIVED 8 41 AM *44 BANUEL J. SCHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 6-1582 ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE JAFFIN BENJAMIN SAPLAN LEO ROBEN March 2, 1944. HAROLD H. STEAM HARRIET F. FILMEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RAYMOND HERZOD CASSRELL GREENBERG HONROE . LATERE JERONE 0.0REENE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Covernor: 1. I hud a long talk with Ed Laughlin who told no he is going to see you next week. I suggested to him (a) on imediate arrangement by which the Democrate would agree not to nominate any Republican in 1944; and (b) the Democrate would agree not to nominate any Left Wing-Cormunist ALP people. This does not mean that the ALP would have to endorse every Democrat and vice versa, but it would mean that these two groups would not play into the hands of the Republicans and the Communists. This may also give a formula for getting Sidney Hillman clean out of this muss. There must be some way of saving his face. 2. I suggested to 24 that the Democrats ought to como out from hiding and they ought to bang away whenever necessary with a real document against Dewey, for example on appointing judges, since it took humanity centuries to got the power to elect judges; or e blast on Dewey's destruction of the school system by cutting down the budget, etc. They could pick thefr spots. 3. I have run into some material which I don't care to write about. In brief, however, it refers to documentary material on anti-Somitism and the Republican hierarchy including Spangler. I seldom want to steal a few ninutes of your time, but I would, like it if you could have Gen. Watson lot ne know when I can see you for a few minutes. Best, Yours, MarisL. 2. PSF Ernat folder 3-V4 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LARRENCE s. OREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD s. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. HORRIS L. ERNST - JONAS di SHAPIRO SAMUEL 4. SCHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA - the ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN March 7, 1944. LEO ROBEN HAROLD #. STERN RECEIVED 11 45 AM "Wy time 8 WINTE HOUSE HARRIET F. PILPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RAYMOND HEREOG CASSRELL GREENBERG MONROE R. LATERE JEROME 0.0REENE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits Dear Covernor: 1. Mrs. R. no doubt spoke to you about Major General Jaraan. He has about liquidated all his men on the Coastal Defense and there is some talk that he oun be used in Persia. Also, I understand that General Grumert will be retired in July and Jarman, who knows this district, would be swell at Covernor's Island. 2. Houldn't it be wise to follow Jarum's suggestion of taking the public into your confidence and letting them know that there is still danger of a raid since the Coastal menpower has been shifted overseas, to save married mon,etc. from the draft? Otherwise the O'Donnells will pick it up and bedevil every one. I assume the energy knows the facts. 3. Life Magazine took a dirty snipe at me in a close-up and I thought you might like to know that I just got a grand decision from W.L.B. for the Amer- ican Newspaper Guild against the Luce empire, Sulzberger, Roy Howard and John Cowles. 4. Burgess Meredith has made the best Anglo-American motion picture ever made, called WELCOME TO BRITAIN. He has General Devers and a lot of your boys in it. I wonder if you would like ne to arrange to bring it down DO that you can see it some ovening. I really think the Any ought to allow it to be shown to the general American public. Yours PSF smitpeder 3-44 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE 5. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD 5. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. MORRIS L. ERNST - JONAS J. SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 5-1582 MAR 3018 SAMUEL J. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER THEODORE S.JAFFIN March 8, 1944 BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROSEN HAROLD H. STERN HARRIET F. PILPEL SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RUTH SCHWARTZMAN CASSRELL GREENBERG filgersonal CEIVED I 1143 11, 43 WHITE AM 244 HOUSE - MONROE R. LAZERE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D. C. Tidbits My dear Governor: In regard to the population studies sent to you by Boh Patterson, I should think that since he has one hundred and thirty-five million people available to him and particular ly about ten million under his immediate control, he might spare O'Dwyer on a 30 day mission. I think Bill can do a hell of a job in 30 days. \ PSF Ernst folder 3-44 tup WHITE GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE s. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM HERBERT A MOLFF HORRIS L. ERNST file NEW YORK 17, N.Y. MAR RECEIVED 10 11 39 AM HOUSE '44 - JONAS 4. SHAPIRO TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0-1502 BAHUEL d. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JERONE MANDLER Personal March 9, 1944 THEODORE s JAFFIN BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROBEN HAROLD H.STERN HARRIET F. PILPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RUTH SCHWARTZHAN CASSRELL GREENBERG MONROE R. LAZERE Eon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbit My dear Governor: I wrote a letter to the Herald Tribune of which I enclose copy asking Wendell Willkie to tell just where he would pick up the extra six Billion dollars. I gave Wendell a break,- cracked down on Dewey, but thought that Wendell should not talk generalities. Helen Reid called me today most apologetic, said she thought it e. swell letter but that the Tribune should not answer it and that they had sent the letter to Wendell and that Wendell said that it would be impolitic for him to answer it at this time, but that he intended to take the matter up in detail later. Helen then said that Wendell felt that he was at a. loss because he did not have all of the information which the Treasury has. I said-then he should stop talking generalities and should merely have endorsed the President's program. When I see you on Monday you may have & bright idea as to whether I should follow this up by sending the letter to the Times or whether I should forget it. I imagine Arthur will send the letter to Wendell also! Yours MLE:EH ENC. Mari 1.2. In the midst of the greatest and costliest war in the history of the world, at least two prominent Americans are not afraid to advocate tremendously increased taxes even in an election year -- when such a subject is usually sh-sh. President Roosevelt stamped the new tax bill presented to him by Congress as wholly insufficient and, therefore, rejected it asking for an adequate tax bill to raise 10-1/2 billions. His admin- istration had previously recommended to Congress the sources from which the new revenues might come. Wendell Willkie, on February 2nd, 1944, stated that the President's proposed tax increase was "far too low." Willkie is doing himself a great service in his campaign for President. Whether you like the shape of his chin or not, at least he is sticking it out. I mention this because no American should ever oriticise the Willkie campaign for the nomination without indicating disdain for the Dewey silence. And so picking up Willkie's great challenge on the tax pro- gram, I wonder if the public could not smoke out the one leading maximum silencer Tom Dawey at the same time that we ask Wendell Willkie to be a little more specific and stop talking just in generalities. Our Constitution indicates that the House of Representatives should originate revenue legislation. That great body having for decades defaulted in tax leadership, it was inevitable that the Executive should constantly take more of the leadership in the formulation of revenue legislation. The Treasury asked for #10-1/2 billion additional taxes. Congress came through with between one and 2-1/2 billions. Willkie asks for more than double the amount of the Treasury program, which is $16 billion additional or twice the $8 billion which is left of the Treasury program after deducting the suggested post-mar credit of #2-1/2 billion. What worries ne about Willkie's request despite his political courage is that I think it is his duty to tell us from which general sources he would like to get the money even though I don't think it is his duty to wite a tax law. My analysis of the Treasury program which Willide wants to more than double leads no to ask the following questions Does Willkie intend to get the $5-1/2 billion more (above the $10-1/2 billion Treasury request) from: (a) a. 10% sales tax including food which would yield about $6 billion; or (b) a 10% sales tax exempting food which would yield about $4 billion; or (o) an increase in the excess profits tax to 100% (with a 10% post-war refund) which would yield only $1/2 billion; or (d) repeal of the 80% over-all corporation tax limit with a 100% excess profit tax which would yield $1-1/2 billion, or (e) the doubling up of all excise taxes as per the rates pro- posed by the Treasury including the doubling up of Mr. Willkie's own industry rates -- admission to movies -- which even if TO assumed no shrinkage in the tax base so 2/T-2# PIOTA PInom (f) . 10 percentage point increase, over the individual sur- tax rates proposed by the Treasury, which would yield $5.5 billion: It must be borne in mind that to get such revenue, income taxes would have to be increased to begin at 37% and rise to 40% on surtax income below $2000 -2- in order to get about $5.5 billion above the Treasury Program. I assume that Mr. Willkie knows that there is no money to amount to any- thing left in the upper brackets of individual income taxes because if we took everything above $25,000 income it would only amount to $600 million above the Treasury request; or (g) further increases in estate and gift tax rates, I assume that Mr. Willkie knows that if a 100% rate were to be im- posed on taxable estates over $100,000, revenues would be increased by only 450 million dollars above the Treasury request. Moreover, increasing the gift tax rate to 100% on taxable gifts over $100,000 would probably decrease ourrent revenues because large gifts no longer would be made; or (h) perhaps Mr. Willkie has in mind increasing Social Security taxes over the present 1% freeze; or (1) perhaps he feels: (1) capital gains can be taxed as ordinary income; (11) tax exempt securities should now be taxed in full, (111) that there should be an excess profits tax against individuals, or (iv) that separate returns should not be permitted for a husband and wife; or (J) maybe Mr.Willkie thinks that states should give up the income tax 0.8 a source of revenue and leave the Federal Government alone in this tax field. If Mr. Willkie won't give us his lines of a tax program, maybe your newspaper would help us in this direction. PSF Ernst frear 3-44 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST will It HOUSE LAWRENCE a. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD a. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N. Y. MORRIS ..ERNST - MAR 21 11 31 AM *44 JONAS al. SHAPIRO SAMUEL J. SCHUR TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 8-1582 ALEXANDER LINDEY RECEIVED JEROME HANDLER THEODORE JAFFIN March 20, 1944 BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROBEN HAROLD STERN HARRIET F. PILPEL SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RAYMOND HERZOG CASSRELL GREENBERG MONROE R. LAZERE JEROME G-GREENE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D. C. Tidbits Dear Governor: (1) What about Surrogate Foley in case the army wont let you have Bill O'Dwyer for 30 days? Foley laoks the education in Spain which 0'Dwyer o had but otherwise could do a terrific job. Let me know if I should throw Foley's name at Pehli? For a fleeting moment I thought maybe Jim Farley could be called in to do the job. Shall I lay off that one? (2) The enclosed clipping showing the split between Crump and McKellar on TVA may be worth a fleeting glance in case the attempt to destroy TVA gains headway. If it does, it will be interesting to watch Willkie's pattern. (3) I have been asked to come back to England for a. couple of weeks around the middle of April. I wonder if you would mind again dropping a line to Rd Stettinius' office or to Mrs. Shipley suggesting that I get my old government passport back. I will be over in England working on a lot of Anglo-American trivia, which you know about. (4) I expect to hear from Pa Watson about seeing you on Friday on my may through Washington to TVA, where Margaret and I are going with Dave Lilienthal to see if I can help him in any way. Yours, MLE:EE Ene. -267 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 3, 1944. MEMORANDUM FOR HON. HENRY MORGENTHAU, JR. I am told that the recent Tax Bill contains a lot of loopholes -- and as one example, several dozen people received over $10,000 a piece owing to the abolition of the windfall tax alone. How would 1t do to get Randolph Paul to do a special job for us on a subject of this kind? I would be glad to see him if you would get him down to Washington. F.D.R. PSF 3-44 GREENBAUM, WOLFF & ERNST LAWRENCE s. GREENBAUM 285 MADISON AVENUE EDWARD 5. GREENBAUM HERBERT A.WOLFF NEW YORK 17, N.Y. MORRIS L. ERNST - JONAS di SHAPIRO SAMUEL J. SCHUR ALEXANDER LINDEY JEROME HANDLER Permel TELEPHONE CALEDONIA 0-1582 IS ISION PECEIVE ns 11 71 11AM 62 033 THEODORE JAFFIN February 28, 1944. AM W BENJAMIN KAPLAN LEO ROBEN HAROLD M. STERN HARRIET F. PILPEL - SYLVESTER BENJAMIN RATHOND HERZOG CASSRELL GREENBERG MONROE . LAZENE JEROME G-GREENE Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House Washington, D.C. Tidbits My dear Governor: 1. I had Pehle for the week-end. He needed half a million dollars of outside money for collateral purposes which even the Presidential fund should not be used for. I got it for him but would like to see you sometime to tell you the source, which 1a perfectly O.K. I'm handling the fund in a personal bank account. 2. Re O'Dwyer. I understand that your Order to Show Cause to Patterson lifted many eye-brows to a new high with the remark - "guess we cannot stand up against that heat". 3. There istalk around that you are urged to let Randolph Paul down and make him the scapegoat. As a matter of fact he is swell and tough and if he had had his way tactically throughout in selling his program to the people, there would not have been half, the trouble. Why isn't the best move to go forward on the theory that offense is the best defense? I suggest a program with a three point message based on a report which Randolph can prepare for you. (a) Proposals for immediate simplification. (b) Re-examination of the present tax program with particu- lar reference to phonies in the present bill. I know a dozen people already who were handed a present of over $10,000 a piece due to the abolition of the windfall tax provision alone. (c) An outline of en after-war tax program including incon- tive taxation for new industry, reduction of excise taxes and other measures to induce spending. I GREENBAUM. WOLFF & ERNST -2- Randolph knows this stuff end I would love to work on it with him. Since Randolph is a presidential appointee, what 18 the harm in your seeing him and letting him send you a report which you could make public for consideration of the Congress? Yours, wither wedy " greedy! things.