3 "The fruit is so beautiful": William E. Dodd to Martha Dodd, Oct. 15, 1926, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers. "The fruit is so beautiful": William E. Dodd to Martha Dodd, Oct. 15, 1926, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers.

4 "sudden surprise": Dodd to Westmoreland Davis, June 22, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers. "sudden surprise": Dodd to Westmoreland Davis, June 22, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers.

5 he pleaded for heat: Dodd to Lester S. Ries, Oct. 31, 1932, Box 39, W. E. Dodd Papers. he pleaded for heat: Dodd to Lester S. Ries, Oct. 31, 1932, Box 39, W. E. Dodd Papers.

6 "embarra.s.sing": Dodd to Charles E. Merriam, Aug. 27, 1932, Box 39, W. E. Dodd Papers. "embarra.s.sing": Dodd to Charles E. Merriam, Aug. 27, 1932, Box 39, W. E. Dodd Papers.

7 "hard men": Bailey, 6. "hard men": Bailey, 6.

8 "Monk Dodd": Dallek, 6. "Monk Dodd": Dallek, 6.

9 Other students indulged: Ibid., 9. Other students indulged: Ibid., 9.

10 "How helpless": "Brief Note," 6, Box 58, W. E. Dodd Papers. "How helpless": "Brief Note," 6, Box 58, W. E. Dodd Papers.

11 "There was too much": Ibid., 7. "There was too much": Ibid., 7.

12 at Randolph-Macon: Bailey, 3536; Dallek, 3132. at Randolph-Macon: Bailey, 3536; Dallek, 3132.

13 In October 1912: Dallek, 70; Dodd to Mrs. Dodd, March 26, 1930, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers. In October 1912: Dallek, 70; Dodd to Mrs. Dodd, March 26, 1930, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers.

In this letter to his wife, composed one fine night while on his farm, Dodd wrote, "I am sitting by the dining room table in work-a-day clothes, the old-red sweater and the easy-slippers-a great oak log on the fire and a bed of hot coals three inches deep, all surrounded by white ashes. The old andirons ('firedogs' of my boyhood parlance) lean their solid black heads back in contented contemplation of their efficient service-the old red-brick fireplace as dignified as George Washington and the eighteenth century, when men had time to be dignified."

14 Dodd also discovered: Bailey, 9799; Dallek, 8889. Dodd also discovered: Bailey, 9799; Dallek, 8889.

15 More and more he considered: Dodd to William Dodd, Jr., Dec. 9, 1932, Box 39, W. E. Dodd Papers. More and more he considered: Dodd to William Dodd, Jr., Dec. 9, 1932, Box 39, W. E. Dodd Papers.

16 "These are posts": Ibid. "These are posts": Ibid.

17 "As to high diplomacy": Dodd to Mrs. Dodd, March 25, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers. "As to high diplomacy": Dodd to Mrs. Dodd, March 25, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers.

18 Hull was tall and silver haired: Messersmith, "Cordell Hull and my personal relationships with him," 7, unpublished memoir, Messersmith Papers. Hull was tall and silver haired: Messersmith, "Cordell Hull and my personal relationships with him," 7, unpublished memoir, Messersmith Papers.

Messersmith writes, "When I heard this strong language from this saintly looking man and who was in so many ways a saint, I almost fell through the floor from surprise." See also Graebner, 193; Weil, 7677, 87; and, of course, Hull's own Memoirs Memoirs.

One of Hull's memorable aphorisms, directed at Hitler and his allies as war loomed, was this: "When you're in a p.i.s.sin' contest with a skunk, make sure you got plenty of p.i.s.s." Weil, 77.

19 "After considerable study": Dodd, pocket diary, March 2, 1933, Box 58, W. E. Dodd Papers. "After considerable study": Dodd, pocket diary, March 2, 1933, Box 58, W. E. Dodd Papers.

Chapter 2: That Vacancy in Berlin.

1 No one wanted the job: Noakes and Pridham, 180; Rurup, 8486; Wheaton, 428; Ladd, 123; Evans, No one wanted the job: Noakes and Pridham, 180; Rurup, 8486; Wheaton, 428; Ladd, 123; Evans, Power Power, 11; Stackelberg and Winkle, 132; Wise, Servant Servant, 177.

2 "It is not only because": Roosevelt, "It is not only because": Roosevelt, Personal Letters Personal Letters, 33738.

3 c.o.x said no.: Ibid., 338. c.o.x said no.: Ibid., 338.

4 Roosevelt set the matter aside: Dallek, 18789; Flynn, 148. Roosevelt set the matter aside: Dallek, 18789; Flynn, 148.

5 "You know, Jimmy": Warburg, 124. "You know, Jimmy": Warburg, 124.

6 " "ROOSEVELT TRIMS PROGRAM": New York Times New York Times, June 8, 1933.

7 Thus, he now found himself: Dallek, 187. Thus, he now found himself: Dallek, 187.

8 On Wednesday, June 7: Ibid., 189. On Wednesday, June 7: Ibid., 189.

9 Polls showed: Herzstein, 77. Polls showed: Herzstein, 77.

10 Secretary Roper believed: Roper, 335. Secretary Roper believed: Roper, 335.

11 "I want to know": Dodd, "I want to know": Dodd, Diary Diary, 3.

12 Roosevelt gave him two hours: Ibid., 3. Roosevelt gave him two hours: Ibid., 3.

13 His wife, Mattie, understood: Mrs. Dodd to William Dodd Jr., April 19, 1933, Box 1, Martha Dodd Papers. His wife, Mattie, understood: Mrs. Dodd to William Dodd Jr., April 19, 1933, Box 1, Martha Dodd Papers.

14 "There is no place": Dodd to Mrs. Dodd, March 25, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers. "There is no place": Dodd to Mrs. Dodd, March 25, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers.

15 Even had he been present: Messersmith, "Cordell Hull and My Personal Relationships," 17, unpublished memoir, Messersmith Papers. Even had he been present: Messersmith, "Cordell Hull and My Personal Relationships," 17, unpublished memoir, Messersmith Papers.

Messersmith wrote, "As Secretary of State he should have had really the deciding voice in determining who occupied the princ.i.p.al as well as the secondary posts of chief of mission." Instead, Messersmith wrote, Hull abdicated and gave Roosevelt a free pa.s.s. "Some of us always felt that some of the more unfortunate appointments which were made during the time that Mr. Hull was Secretary could have been avoided if Mr. Hull had directly intervened in the matter."

16 "get out of bounds": Hull, "get out of bounds": Hull, Memoirs Memoirs, 182.

17 "Telephone Book Dodd": Flynn, 148. See also Martha Dodd to Flynn, Oct. 17, 1947; "Telephone Book Dodd": Flynn, 148. See also Martha Dodd to Flynn, Oct. 17, 1947; New York Times New York Times, Nov. 2, 1947; and New York Herald Tribune New York Herald Tribune, Nov. 9, 1947, all in Box 13, Martha Dodd Papers.

18 "My dear child": Dodd to Martha, Dec. 16, 1928, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers. "My dear child": Dodd to Martha, Dec. 16, 1928, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers.

Chapter 3: The Choice.

1 "William is a fine teacher": Dodd to Mrs. Dodd, April 20, 1933, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers. "William is a fine teacher": Dodd to Mrs. Dodd, April 20, 1933, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers.

2 "It would never do": Dodd to Mrs. Dodd and Martha Dodd, April 13, 1933, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers. "It would never do": Dodd to Mrs. Dodd and Martha Dodd, April 13, 1933, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers.

3 Her very first word: "Baby Book," 1908c. 1916, Box 1, Martha Dodd Papers. Her very first word: "Baby Book," 1908c. 1916, Box 1, Martha Dodd Papers.

4 In April 1930: In April 1930: Chicago Daily Tribune Chicago Daily Tribune, April 25, 1930.

5 "I want nothing from life": W. L. River to Martha Dodd, c. 1927, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers. "I want nothing from life": W. L. River to Martha Dodd, c. 1927, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers.

6 "kisses soft": James Burnham to Martha Dodd, n.d., Box 4, Martha Dodd Papers. "kisses soft": James Burnham to Martha Dodd, n.d., Box 4, Martha Dodd Papers.

7 "His face is smooth-shaven.": "His face is smooth-shaven.": Cincinnati Times-Star Cincinnati Times-Star, n.d., but likely Jan. 13, 1932, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers.

8 "It was pain and sweetness": Martha to Ba.s.sett, Feb. 19, 1976, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers. "It was pain and sweetness": Martha to Ba.s.sett, Feb. 19, 1976, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers.

9 "What fun it was": Ba.s.sett to Martha, Sept. 19, 1931, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers. "What fun it was": Ba.s.sett to Martha, Sept. 19, 1931, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers.

I love these letters in large part because they are so full of Jimmy Stewartesque prose. In this letter Ba.s.sett deploys the greeting "Honeybuncha mia." His first line reads, "I had the swellest love letter from you this morning." And I, personally, had the swellest time reading all these letters. To quote Ba.s.sett again, "Yes, you bet, I have."

10 "Never before or since": Martha to Ba.s.sett, Nov. 1 ("more or less," she writes), 1971, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers. "Never before or since": Martha to Ba.s.sett, Nov. 1 ("more or less," she writes), 1971, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers.

11 "Either you love me": Ba.s.sett to Martha, Feb. 21, 1932, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers. "Either you love me": Ba.s.sett to Martha, Feb. 21, 1932, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers.

By this point, things are getting a little tense. Ba.s.sett begins this letter with a more sober "Martha dearest." The "honeybuncha-mia" days are gone.

Three days later (Ba.s.sett to Martha, Feb. 24, 1932) he tried again: "Surely you cannot feel bound to go on and marry some one you do not love, merely because of a mistaken promise, when we both know how deeply, irrevocably, we are bound to each other."

He began this letter with the greeting: "Dearest of women." For a return address, he wrote: "The Bank."

Honestly, we men can be so tone deaf.

12 "I desperately loved": Martha to Ba.s.sett, Feb. 19, 1976, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers. "I desperately loved": Martha to Ba.s.sett, Feb. 19, 1976, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers.

13 It was bad enough: Ibid. It was bad enough: Ibid.

14 "show some nervousness": Ibid. "show some nervousness": Ibid.

15 She acknowledged later: Martha to Ba.s.sett, Nov. 1, 1976, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers. She acknowledged later: Martha to Ba.s.sett, Nov. 1, 1976, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers.

16 "That was IT for me": Ibid. "That was IT for me": Ibid.

17 "flirting": Ibid. "flirting": Ibid.

18 "I love you past telling": Carl Sandburg to Martha, n.d., Box 63, W. E. Dodd Papers. "I love you past telling": Carl Sandburg to Martha, n.d., Box 63, W. E. Dodd Papers.

19 "I was busy": Martha to Ba.s.sett, Nov. 1, 1971, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers. The greeting on this letter is "My dear Ex." "I was busy": Martha to Ba.s.sett, Nov. 1, 1971, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers. The greeting on this letter is "My dear Ex."

20 "Do you know really": Martha to Ba.s.sett, Feb. 19, 1976, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers. "Do you know really": Martha to Ba.s.sett, Feb. 19, 1976, Box 8, Martha Dodd Papers.

21 "I had to choose": Ibid. "I had to choose": Ibid.

Chapter 4: Dread.

1 Roosevelt, smiling and cheerful: Dodd, Roosevelt, smiling and cheerful: Dodd, Diary Diary, 45.

2 "But our people are ent.i.tled": Ibid., 5. "But our people are ent.i.tled": Ibid., 5.

3 For Roosevelt, this was treacherous ground: Breitman and Kraut, 18, 92; Wise, For Roosevelt, this was treacherous ground: Breitman and Kraut, 18, 92; Wise, Servant Servant, 180; Chernow, 388; Urofsky, 271.

4 Even America's Jews: Urofsky, 256; Wise, Even America's Jews: Urofsky, 256; Wise, Challenging Years Challenging Years, 23839; Wise, Servant Servant, 226.

5 "If he refuse [sic] to see me": Wise, "If he refuse [sic] to see me": Wise, Personal Letters Personal Letters, 221.

6 On the other side: Chernow, 37273; Leo Wormser to Dodd, Oct. 30, 1933, Box 43, W. E. Dodd Papers. On the other side: Chernow, 37273; Leo Wormser to Dodd, Oct. 30, 1933, Box 43, W. E. Dodd Papers.

7 As Ron Chernow wrote: Chernow, 373. As Ron Chernow wrote: Chernow, 373.

8 In early June 1933: Quoted in Breitman and Kraut, 227. In early June 1933: Quoted in Breitman and Kraut, 227.

9 a a Fortune Fortune poll: Ibid., 230. poll: Ibid., 230.

10 Within the Roosevelt administration: Ibid., 1215. Within the Roosevelt administration: Ibid., 1215.

11 "my little Jewish friend": Phillips, Diary, April 20, 1935. "my little Jewish friend": Phillips, Diary, April 20, 1935.

12 "The place is infested with Jews": Phillips, Diary, Aug. 10, 1936; Breitman and Kraut, 3637. "The place is infested with Jews": Phillips, Diary, Aug. 10, 1936; Breitman and Kraut, 3637.

Breitman and Kraut are rather direct in their description of Phillips. They write on page 36: "Phillips hated Jews."

13 "kikes": Gellman, 37. "kikes": Gellman, 37.

14 "They are filthy Un-American": Breitman and Kraut, 32. "They are filthy Un-American": Breitman and Kraut, 32.

15 "dust, smoke, dirt, Jews": Gellman, 37. "dust, smoke, dirt, Jews": Gellman, 37.

16 "In all our day's journey": Carr, Diary, Feb. 22, 1934, Carr Papers. "In all our day's journey": Carr, Diary, Feb. 22, 1934, Carr Papers.

17 "How different from the Jewish atmosphere": Ibid., Feb. 23, 1934. "How different from the Jewish atmosphere": Ibid., Feb. 23, 1934.

18 "an anti-Semite and a trickster": Breitman and Kraut, 36. "an anti-Semite and a trickster": Breitman and Kraut, 36.

19 "likely to become a public charge": Wilbur Carr offers a detailed, bloodless discussion of the "LPC clause" and other immigration rules in his memorandum "The Problem of Aliens Seeking Relief from Persecution in Germany," dated April 20, 1933, Carr Papers. "likely to become a public charge": Wilbur Carr offers a detailed, bloodless discussion of the "LPC clause" and other immigration rules in his memorandum "The Problem of Aliens Seeking Relief from Persecution in Germany," dated April 20, 1933, Carr Papers.

20 "It seems quite preposterous": Wolff, 89. "It seems quite preposterous": Wolff, 89.

21 Jewish activists charged: Breitman and Kraut, 15. Jewish activists charged: Breitman and Kraut, 15.

22 "an almost insuperable obstacle": Proskauer to Phillips, July 18, 1933, vol. 17, p. 35, "an almost insuperable obstacle": Proskauer to Phillips, July 18, 1933, vol. 17, p. 35, Archives of the Holocaust Archives of the Holocaust.