The Pittsburgh Press (September 28, 1944)
Ickes to resign Cabinet post if Dewey wins
Washington (UP) –
Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes notified Governor Thomas E. Dewey today that he would resign his Cabinet post “effective if, as and when the incredible comes to pass and you become the President.”
In a letter to Mr. Dewey, Mr. Ickes said it became apparent that he had annoyed the Republican nominee.
Mr. Ickes said Mr. Dewey should have known “the primary school fact that the cabinet of an outgoing President automatically retires with its chief.”
He added:
But your campaign utterances indicate that if there is one thing you dislike more than Harold Ickes, it is facts.
Mr. Ickes concluded:
Now that [my resignation] is off your mind, Mr. Dewey, please throw away the red herrings that you have been using and get down to honest issues.