THE ADMINISTRATION: The Hopkins Letter

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So rare in high political places was this particular sort of sensation that Washington had almost forgotten the name for it. The last notable roorback* in U.S. history had been the forgery of a James A. Garfield letter in 1880. Last week as a Washington grand jury pursued its investigation it was clear to everybody that "The Hopkins Letter" was indeed a roorback. But a fascinated nation still wondered who wrote it. And why?

Tiny, trim, hatchet-faced C. Nelson Sparks had published the letter because he thought it proved that "Mr. Willkie is close to the New Deal. . . . Willkie is just a stooge. . . ." Also, the letter added sales value to his book, One Man —Wendell Willkie, in which it appeared.

"Dear Umphrey," the letter ran, "What has been done in the Alamo matter? Will you write me, please. What developments in the other situation? Willkie is going to be the man, in my opinion, and I can promise you good cooperation from that quarter if you think it would be helpful." It was typewritten on White House stationery, dated August 17, 1943, and signed "Harry Hopkins" in ink. Sparks said it meant that Hopkins wanted Willkie to get the Republican Presidential nomination.

The book had scarcely appeared before Harry Hopkins denounced the letter as a forgery. On second thought he set the FBI asleuthing. Republican Senator Wil liam Langer of North Dakota thought the Senate ought to investigate, too. He said he wanted to find out if Hopkins was "now dabbling in Republican politics." He made a 57-page speech in the Senate, illustrating it with photostats of letters Sparks had given to him. These were let ters between Sparks and a man named George N. Briggs. If they were genuine, they indicated that Briggs had given Sparks "The Hopkins Letter." Who Was Briggs? He was a fat-faced little man of 57 with a nice big house in the country and reputed money troubles.

He was also a $5,600-a-year assistant to Secretary Harold L. Ickes. He earned his pay mainly by giving a polish to Ickes' literary style — touching up the boss's let ters and speeches. Briggs told the press: "I don't know who is back of this or where it is leading, but I think Langer is getting into a pretty tight spot." The letters Langer held suggested that Briggs had got "The Hopkins Letter" from Ickes. The "Umphrey" of "The Hopkins Letter," it appeared, was Dr. Umphrey Lee, president of Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Dr. Lee was supposed to have shown the letter to Frank Phillips, an Oklahoma oilman, who took the letter to Ickes.

All these men had dates in Washington with the grand jury. Said Dr. Lee to the press: he never saw the letter, did not know Harry Hopkins, had no interest in politics. "I don't know Mr. Phillips, Mr. Briggs, nor Mr. Ickes," he added. Said Oilman Phillips: "I don't know Briggs and never heard of the letter. ... I haven't the slightest idea of what it's all about. . . . I'm just a country boy. . . ." Said Ickes: "I do know Mr. Briggs but I do not know Mr. Sparks. I do not know Dr. Umphrey Lee. ... I know nothing whatsoever. ... I doubt if I can shed any light. . . ."