Big Jim Explains

Franklin D. Roosevelt and big, bluff Jim Farley made one of the most effective U.S. political teams of all time. Farley did the spadework; F.D.R. sowed the political and sociological gardens. Then the team fell apart. Last week, 26 months after Roosevelt's death, Big Jim began to explain "Why I Broke with Roosevelt," in Collier's magazine.

"Actually," he wrote, "there was no sharp, clean fracture of friendship, but rather a slow, imperceptible drifting apart of political principles."

The relationship had never been social. "Strange as it may seem, the President had never taken me into the bosom of his family, even though everyone agreed I was more responsible than any other single man for his being in the White House. Never was I invited to spend the night in the historic mansion. Only twice did I make a cruise on the Presidential yacht. . . . Never was I asked to join intimate White House gatherings. . . . Mrs. Roosevelt once said: 'Franklin finds it hard to relax with people that aren't his social equals.' I took this remark to explain my being out of the infield."

In the Dark. "Looking back through the years, I find it hard to put the finger of memory on the beginning. Almost before I knew it, I was no longer called to the White House for morning bedside conferences, my phone no longer brought the familiar voice in mellifluous familiarity, and months dragged between White House luncheon conferences. Soon I found I was no longer being consulted on appointments, even in my own state. . . White House confidence on politics and policies went to a small band of zealots, who mocked at party loyalty and knew no devotion except to their leader."

In the 1936 campaign, Farley shared an ovation in Chicago with the President. The next day Presidential Secretary Marvin Mclntyre came "to tell me that 'they thought it best' " Farley should not appear on a platform with Roosevelt "because of the Tammany situation."

Wrote Farley: "I bristled with indignation." He was told that the President thought he was nursing presidential aspirations for 1940. Roosevelt, he said, found fault with everyone he "suspected" of wanting to be President. "They were either too old or too young; too ambitious or too unknown, too conservative or too radical, or too poor in health or too lacking in personality."

To celebrate the overwhelming 1936 victory, which Farley had predicted, the Democratic National Committee staged a testimonial dinner for him. Publicity Chief Charles Michelson wanted to reproduce on the dinner program a letter from Roosevelt thanking Farley for his services. Wrote Farley: "I told him [Michelson] I hadn't received such a letter since 1930. Charley growled that, knowing Roosevelt, he wasn't surprised to hear it, but he decided to demand a predated letter of gratitude. This turned up a few days later, and Charley brought it in with a wry smile. It read:

November 4, 1936

'Dear Jim,

You were right--so right that I thought you were more of an optimist than a prophet. I find I am the one who needs to have his long-range spectacles adjusted. But in this instance, Jim, I don't mind being wrong at all.

'Very sincerely yours,

'Franklin D. Roosevelt'

"There was no mention of my services, even after a special request."

"It's Me." When Majority Leader Joe Robinson died, Roosevelt assured Farley that there would be no White House intervention in the fight between Mississippi's Pat Harrison and Kentucky's "Dear Alben" Barkley for Robinson's job. On the way to Arkansas for the funeral, Farley duly told both men what Roosevelt had said.

After the funeral, he returned to Washington and his Mayflower Hotel apartment. Sometime after midnight the phone rang. Farley continued:

" 'Hello,' said the voice at the other end.

'Who is it?' I asked somewhat impatiently.

'It's me,' the voice responded, none too clearly.

'Who the hell is "me?"' I shouted.

'The President.'

'Oh,' said I, entirely mollified. 'What's keeping you up?'

'Jim, I want you to call Ed Kelly of Chicago right now. Get him to put the pressure on Senator Dieterich [of Illinois] to vote for Barkley.'

'Boss, I just can't,' I protested. 'I gave my word--my word to Harrison, Barkley, Byrnes and Guffey on the train.'

'Very well,' he said curtly. 'I'll get Harry Hopkins to do it.'

"He hung up before I could say 'goodnight.' " Two days later, Barkley was elected Senate leader by one vote. Dieterich voted for Barkley.

The first real break in "principle" came with Roosevelt's "disastrous attempt to purge the Democratic Party of those who had opposed his will." Said Farley: "I could not and did not go along with him. . . . I believe that deep down inside, he never forgave me for putting party welfare above the personal allegiance he considered his due."

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