Some Contributions of Harold L. Ickes

Abstract

H AROLD L. ICKES, the self-styled old curmudgeon of American politics, died in February, 1952. Many of those who had disputed his policies and views nevertheless paid their respects to a man who, although he might be reviled, could never be ignored. Even after leaving public office, he continued vigorously to express his opinions as a political columnist for the New York Post syndicate and for the New Republic. Ickes was rarely satisfied with any phase of public policy which he did not personally assist in formulating. His tremendous energy, coupled with an acid disposition and the ability to turn a neat phrase, made him a respected adversary. Few people maintained a neutral opinion of Ickes. The reactions to his public utterances were vigorous, whether they were laudatory or denunciatory. Even his bitterest critics, however, usually conceded Ickes' honesty and concern for the general welfare. His arch rival, Harry Hopkins, once wrote to Ickes: No one has battled so consistently for the New Deal and for the President, week in and week out, as have you. You have never failed the President and liberals of this country in a single instance that I can recall and I think that is important and nothing can ever take that away from you. There must go with such a record a personal intellectual integrity that few people possess.' Considering Ickes' long tenure as Secretary of the Interior, his close relationship with Roosevelt, and the great volume of his public pronouncements, remarkably little effort has been made to report his contributions to the American scene.2 It is no easy task to portray accurately Ickes' role in American life because there are many intangible factors involved. For example, assessing the degree of influence which Ickes had on Franklin D. Roosevelt is difficult. If it is correct to say, as Sherwood has said, that Harry Hopkins was the eyes, the arms, and the ears of Roosevelt, then Ickes may, in a very real sense, be called the President's conscience. Perhaps Ickes' greatest contributions were the intangibles--a high degree of morality in his concept of public office, honesty, and a passion for public service. The fact that he assigned these virtues to himself, with no apparent modesty, does not obviate his possession of them. Many of the charges leveled against him were caused by his refusal to hide his light