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In creating good will, Stettinius had been successful, too, in his whirlwind London trip in April, where he spent Easter with Churchill, took a fine Virginia ham to the Prime Minister's wife, conferred with General Eisenhower, had a fireside chat with the King, and shook hands with every top diplomat in sight. (In England he was even more tweedy than the British.) Home again, he worked long on an elaborate chart "reorganizing" the State Department. The only major changes proved to be the disgruntled departures of such able men as Dr. Herbert Feis and Laurence Duggan, but this was the fault of feuding Cordell Hull, who was not keen on reorganization, anyway. Stettinius is proud of his attempt to redecorate the department's archaic architectural monstrosity. He created a pretty press room, increased the wattage of lights and removed the desks of messengers from the halls. But Cordell Hull balked at repainting doors in pastel shades.
More important than these amiable efforts, Stettinius in 14 months had again proven himself a loyal underling. He was certainly not so capable nor informed as previous Under Secretaries—Sumner Welles, for example. But he had been a faithful executor of the Secretary's will, as they had not.
A usual comment on the Stettinius appointment was that "Franklin Roosevelt will continue to be Secretary of State." Even so, the old State Department would never seem the same, for which citizens could be thankful. Ed Stettinius had begun with a bang (see above). When the smoke cleared, the U.S. would see new faces in high places. And in its new Secretary, the State Department had a man who had a powerful resolution to do well. Ed Stettinius is not only friendly, energetic and loyal, but he has still another valuable trait, which was rooted in the days when he had wanted to become a parson. It was a solemn, almost reverential, respect for the responsibility of his new high office. Besides this he has one enormous asset: the general good will of the people of the U.S., who are most anxious for him to succeed, and are willing to give him every support.