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[[caption]]UN mediator Ralph Bunche became close friend of Mrs. Roosevelt through work at United Nations. She has often been present at occasions honoring Bunche for his work in settling Palestine war. She calls him "one of the grandest people I know."[[/caption]]

In the first year of her Division, Mrs. Bethune travelled more than 40,000 miles visiting 70 centers in 21 states preaching the gospel of interracial cooperation, the recognition of Negro needs, and the efficacy of trained Negro leadership. As a result of her activities, she was responsible more than any other individual for the full integration of an agency. She prodded the other Negroes who would be or could be in responsible positions to "go thou and do likewise."

Mrs. Bethune used her influence and friendship with Mrs. Roosevelt not for herself, but for others. Because of that relationship she stood out in prestige and had a personal connection with practically every high New Deal official. With that prestige and those connections, she became the guiding spirit among the higher New Deal Negroes, and formed them into a Federal Council, which became popularly known as the "Black Cabinet." She installed herself as chairman; Bob Weaver as Vice Chairman and Dutton Ferguson as secretary. She admitted the Black political office holders such as Dr. Thompkins as members, but let them hold no office. She didn't want the group turned into a political machine.

So that the political office holders could not run back and tell "Mr. Jim" or anyone else what the Negroes were thinking and planning, she kept no minutes and, as a matter of fact, wouldn't allow any letterheads to be printed. She became fondly known as and called "Mother Bethune" by members of the Black Cabinet, many of whom used her as their mother confessor, and in conclusion would report to her on their stewardship rather than their bureaucratic bosses.

Walter White was never able to obtain a strong hold on the President or any high official at the White House during Roosevelt's first term. Mr. Roosevelt, when he became President, brought to the White House with him the man who had been his valet and barber while Governor of New York. His name was Claude McDuffie. He permitted Claude to bring along to live with him in the White House, his wife, Elizabeth, and had Mrs. Roosevelt engage as her personal maid.

Walter would be seen visiting the McDuffies in the basement quarters of the chief cook, she would talk to McDuffie as if he was talking to the President himself, with the though in mind that McDuffie, while trimming the President's hair one morning, or while preparing him for bed, would impart White's thinking on grave social issues. When he learned that the valet was not permitted to do this, he wrote a note to the President asking to see him, and gave it to McDuffie to give to the President after he had tried through regular channels and been turned down by Marvin McIntyre, the President's appointment secretary.

McDuffie passed the note on to the President who told McIntyre to arrange for Walter to see him. McIntyre wanted to know of the President how he came to know of Mr. White's desire, and was told that it came through McDuffie. In less than a week, McDuffie found himself transferred to the State Department as a messenger on order from Louis McHenry Howe, the Presideny's chief of staff, and the one who practically ran the government prior to his death. Walter White never got to see the President.

Walter then went to work on Mrs. McDuffie who remained in her job as maid to Mrs. Roosevelt.

Mrs. McDuffie was a professional dramatic reader. A profession which flourished during the depression years, especially among women who wanted to augment their husband's income. Walter White, aware of her ability as a platform speaker, would invite Mrs. Roosevelt's maid to various rallies being held by Negroes in protest of one thing or another. Invariably, Mrs. McDuffie would accept and would be given a seat of honor on the platform. walter, presiding, would always saver her for the last speaker, and would introduce her by saying:

"And now I bring to you the piece d'resistence, who needs no introduction. I give to you Mrs. Elizabeth McDuffie, of the White House."

Mrs. McDuffie would respond by saying she was bringing greetings from Mrs. Roosevelt, who, when she told her that morning where she was going that night, had told her to assure the meeting that "she believes in your cause."

After a series of these meetings, starring "that lady from the White House," Mrs. McDuffie was found a job in the mail room of one of the

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