July 20, 1944.                       
 
                                                            
 
 
                         Dear Max:                          
 
      This is dictated in California where I am on my way on another 
      "inspection trip". These good people out here seem 
      to feel a little neglected for to them the Pacific operations 
      seem at least as important as those in Normally. Their turn will 
      come soon, I hope, and they do not realize that most of the Navy, 
      plus over a million men are now fighting in the Pacific. Incidentally, 
      this last operation of taking Saipan has been an outstanding 
      success in spite of 15,000 casualties. From there, we will be 
      within thirteen or fourteen hundred miles of the Industrial part 
                 of Japan -- easy bombing range.            
 
                                                            
 
 
I do hope the flying bombs will slow down for I can fully 
      realize that they are more than annoying. I hate to have you 
 all compelled to go through this at such a late time in the
 
                                                            
 
 
The day before I left Washington, the collection of Roosevelt 
      papers arrived and I had little more than time to glance through 
      them. I have them safely locked up in my desk and I am eagerly 
      awaiting a chance go through them all. They are most truly interesting 
      and give me new leads in some family researches I am making. 
                    I am very grateful to you.              
 
                                                            
 
 
My own great grandfather had slaves at Hyde Park. He manumitted 
      them about 1822, but the slave quarters were in existence when 
      I was a small boy.