Trim, grey James Francis Byrnes tasted long denied sweets. Franklin Roosevelt had bypassed him as his choice for Vice President in 1944; for what it was worth, he was now next in line of succession to the U.S. Presidency. More important, Franklin Roosevelt had bypassed him as his Secretary of State, and Harry Hopkins had short-circuited much of Byrnes's advice when Byrnes was "assistant president." Jimmy Byrnes was now the President's chief adviser and chief policymaker.
Last week Jimmy Byrnes took the oath as Secretary of State, kissed the Bible, passed it on to...
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