Nuff Said

Monday, Dec. 13, 1954
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Onetime Interior Secretary Harold Ickes had the venom of a John Adams and the gossipy nature of a Gideon Welles, but, unlike those famed governmental diarists, he lacked the sense of standing witness to history in the making. Harold Ickes was primarily interested in great events in so far as they soothed or ruffled Harold Ickes. Nevertheless, The Lowering Clouds (Simon & Schuster; $6), third published volume of Ickes' sometimes fascinating diary, does make a contribution to historical accuracy: it should go far to correct the deep public impression that Harold Ickes was a lovable and forth right "old curmudgeon." He reveals himself as a devious old egotist.

In point of time, The Lowering Clouds covers the two momentous years leading up to Pearl Harbor, yet Ickes was largely concerned with his efforts to achieve "the real ambition of my public service." That ambition was to effect the transfer of the Forest Service from the Agriculture Department to Interior. "If Forestry is not transferred," wrote Ickes, "I will feel that I am a bankrupt intellectually and emotionally, and I undoubtedly will resign." His wife, Jane Dahlman Ickes, thought that "I ought not to resign in any event because, as she sees it I am too valuable to the country in this time of crisis. However, I regard this as the overestimation that a sweet wife who is in love is likely to place upon her husband's activities and importance." So, when the Forestry transfer was not approved, Ickes sent President Roosevelt a letter of resignation—neither for the first nor the last time. The President replied: "We—you & I—were married 'for better, for worse'—and it's too late to get a divorce & too late for you to walk out of the home%#151;anyway. I need" you! Nuff said." Ickes confided to his diary: "It is pretty difficult to do anything with a man who can write such a letter." Ickes stayed on.

The Hobbyists. Harold Ickes collected federal agencies just as F.D.R. collected stamps and Justice William Douglas collected new poker-type games to name for his Supreme Court colleagues (one was called "Bushy" after bearded Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes). Aside from Forestry, for example, Ickes made a grab for power over TVA, and when TVA Administrator David Lilienthal protested, Ickes wrote: "He is the type that wants his own little stick of candy to suck in the corner without anyone's being allowed to go anywhere near him." When a Roosevelt order deprived Ickes of some of his precious agencies, Ickes moaned: "I really believe that I am better physically when I am overworked. Ever since the President took PWA and other agencies away from me, I have felt a distinct loss in energy and initiative."