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Answer to a Desire. After Harry Truman's re-election and the triumphant upsurge in Washington of the Fair Deal, Keyserling began to move in. Almost any time Nourse opened his mouth in public, Keyserling, from his adjoining office, wrote him a long-winded and challenging letter, keeping carbons for the record. Patiently Nourse replied by letter—also for the record. Increasingly Nourse dissented from Harry Truman's economic views; consistently Keyserling agreed with them, supported them. Finally Nourse wrote his resignation, remarking to a friend after the President's 1949 Economic Report to Congress: "I'm too old for such nonsense. I haven't many years left and I ought to live them out honestly."
But Mr. Truman took no notice of his resignation then. He liked Dr. Nourse personally, even if he disregarded his advice. Twice again Nourse tried to get action on his resignation and received no answer from the White House. Then last week Nourse made his speech.
The day after, a letter came to Dr. Nourse from the White House. Wrote Harry Truman: "I have been increasingly aware of your desire to retire ... I must assent to your request to be relieved of your duties as of Nov. 1."
Unless the President found a man of equally strong mind and good wind to take Nourse's place, Leon Keyserling from now on would be in full charge of economic advice.