Short on time, Dart writes the first page of this brief letter in telegraph style – 92 and 97 on recent tests, boring liberty on Saturday and Sunday, swimming practice, caught up on washing,  loafed for hours.

Then he gets a little more focused. He is dismayed at Dot’s political practices – not her choices, but how she makes them. “I think my reasons for being ‘for’ Roosevelt outweigh my reasons for being ‘against’ him, and also outweigh my reasons for liking Dewey. Dewey has many good ideas, makes a good speech, is as colorful a character as was FDR in 1932. A few of his statements ‘don’t hold water’ while a few of his plans are very good. The same goes for Roosevelt. His arguments this year have not been good. He made a great mistake with that humorous talk he opened his campaign with. His very existence makes some people wince. But he has Cordell Hull, and he has a post-war plan for which I think I am fighting. There’s my point of view. I said I’d say no more, but you goaded me into it.”

I’m impressed by the balanced, reasoned thinking this young man has put into this topic. It’s even more impressive when you think that he’s not even old enough to vote! This paragraph foreshadows the man I knew growing up. He maintained that even-keel persona in nearly all aspects of his life; able to see the pros and cons of every angle, yet equally able to select a course and stick with it. He was a middle-of-the-road guy who turned somewhat more liberal with age, but was always able to see why others might believe differently.

He closes with his eternal assurance of his love for Dot.

He doesn’t write again until the 11th, and neither does Dot, so I’ll join you again here in a couple of days.