Washington, D.C. January 3, 1941 [postmarked January 3, 1942]
Dear Bess:
Just seven years ago I was being interviewed, photographed, and sworn in as the junior United States Senator from Missouri. It has been an interesting and hectic experience. Railroads, airlines, campaigns, holding company death sentences, Supreme Court reorganization, defense tours, and the investigation--quite a list.
The Washington Post comes out this morning and says the committee has been keeping very busy officers of the I.M. off the job and hampering the defense program. It's a shot in the dark to stop our activities. Well I'd much rather be a Colonel of F.A. Harry Vaughan is out at Walter Reed now taking his physical and if he passes he goes to Camp Robert Calif. I took Mrs. S. and Drucie to the train last night and then took John back to work. Then went over to Fulton's Apt. and went with him and Mrs. F. and a Mr. and Mrs. Bishop from Detroit and Mr. Bishops aunt a nice old lady by the name of Walters to the Shoreham for dinner. I left about eleven o'clock after a good steak dinner and a nice show. Was in bed at eleven and down here at seven this morning.
Paul McNutt called me and told me that the Nurserymen's Association had called him and asked him to recommend Lloyd Stark for appointment to the National Garden Committee. He wanted to know if I thought he should. I told him that the ex-governor is a self-made S.O.B. and I didn't think he's fit for dogcatcher in a Philippine village. Paul said O.K. he won't be appointed. Guess I've got a mean disposition. See you Tuesday.
Kiss Margie, love to you, Harry