Excerpt from column dated January 6, 1959
A few days ago I received a letter from Senator John Kennedy telling me that I had been
completely misinformed as to the fact that his father had any paid representatives working for
him in any state of the union, or that he has spent money around the country on Senator
Kennedy's behalf. My statement to the Senator had been that it was commonly accepted as a
fact that these things had been done and that while it was obligatory on anyone to build up an
organization if they wished nomination or election, in any case an extravagant use of money to
achieve these results was not looked upon with favor. This brought forth from the Senator the
statements paraphrased above and he writes: "I am certain no evidence to the contrary has ever
been presented to you. I am aware, as you must be, that there are a good many people who
fabricate rumors and engage in slander about any person in public life. But I have made it a
point never to accept or repeat such statements unless I have some concrete evidence of their
truth. Since my letter to you, I assume you have requested your informants to furnish you with
more than their gossip and speculation. If they have been unable to produce concrete evidence
to support their charges or proof of the existence of at least one "paid representative" in one state
of the union, I am confident you will, after your investigation, correct the record in a fair and
gracious manner..."
Since my information came largely from remarks made by people in many places, I think
I should give my readers Senator Kennedy's own statement. That is the fairest way I know of
dealing with a situation of this kind.
Eleanor Roosevelt
