August 15, 1960
Dear Mary:
I had a talk with Senator Kennedy yesterday - an hour alone during lunch, and at the very
end he called in Mr. Walton for a few minutes before going over to address the Golden Ring
Clubs.
I want to report that at the airport he was met by a very large group and the enthusiasm
was great. I did not go myself to meet him but sent Edna and David. Edna circulated among the
people and asked them if they were Democrats or just curiosity seekers. Almost invariably they
answered they were Democrats. The enthusiasm at the big house was tremendous, and I think he
made a very good speech on the expansion of Social Security.
I did not ask the Senator for any definite promise as I felt that this would be almost
impossible. But I told him that he needed the Stenvenson votes in New York and California and
that he had to carry these two states or he would be in trouble because he probably could not
hold the solid South. This was brought about by his telling me that he had not realized before
the fragmentation of the Democratic party and the fact that the majority in Congress did not give
the leadership that holds the party together, and that since my husband's time there was no unity.
The newly elected governor of Florida came in to see him and said: "I want you to know that I
am a conservative, I am against integration, and I am for the Right-to-Work Law". Whereupon
Sen. Kennedy said: "Why don't you join the Republicans?"!
I gather that his understanding of the difficulties of the campaign that face him have
matured him in a short time. He told me that he had phoned Adlai this past week and asked him
to set up a small group to do research in the area of foreign policy. I told him that this was not
enough, that he would have to give the people who were for Adlai the assurance that they were
working together. All of us know that unless Adlai felt their philosophies were similar he would
not accept the Secretary of State post. Therefore, I felt that he had to prove by working in the
campaign and appearing on the same platforms, and perhaps by references and quotation, that
there was close cooperation. Bringing both Chester Bowles and Adlai in whenever he could
would mean that these were the men he was counting on for advice. He agreed and said he
would try to do this.
We then spoke about Chester Bowles and he said he had
asked Chester not to resign. I had had a letter Saturday
from Chester in which he gave me his reasons for resigning.
He said he thought Adlai was the best man for the Secretary
of State post, that he (Chet) would rather be in the executive
than the legislative branch, so he would rather work for
Kennedy than be a candidate for Congress.
Kennedy likes Chester Bowles and finds him easy to work with. He also seems to realize
that his own mind is so quick he may perhaps be hasty in making decisions and he needs Adlai
there.
Now, I have no promises from him, but I have the distinct feeling that he is planning to
work closely with Adlai. I also had the feeling that here was a man who could learn. I liked him
better than I ever had before because he seemed so little cock-sure, and I think he has a mind that
is open to new ideas.
I agreed that I would go on the citizens committee here as honorary chairman, and that I
would do what I could here. Whether I would take any trips or become more involved will
depend on whether or not I am happy with the way he progresses as a person in the campaign.
My final judgement is that here is a man who wants to leave a record (perhaps for
ambitious personal reasons, as people say) but I rather think because he really is interested in
helping the people of his own country and mankind in general. I will be surer of this as time
goes on, but I think I am not mistaken in feeling that he would make a good President if elected.
Much love, and I hope this report will help you make up your mind.
Affectionately,
(signed) Eleanor Roosevelt
(Mrs. F. D. Roosevelt)
Mrs. Albert D. Lasker
Villa Fiorentina et Jean
Cap Ferrat, France
