OPERATION DEMOCRACY, Inc.
369 Lexington Avenue
New York 17, N. Y.
Telephone MUrray Hill 6-4986

Executive Secretary
CHARLES L. TODD

Executive Assistant
MARGARETH B. SIMS

August 22, 1949

Dear Velma,

I have two wonderful letters from you lying on my desk - both shamefully unanswered. I notice that Sims has sent you one of her "Indeed we are still here" letters - but that doesn't make me less of a heel. No use apologizing though. You'll just have to believe me when I say I'm sorry. This summer has been mostly a matter of estivating, trying to be a family man and trying to dope out a way to get a lot of money for OD.

First, I want to make some belated comments about your letters.

UNESCO expects both too much and too little of the people. I have used that fine sentence over and over again. It was pure genius. Meanwhile, UNESCO (in the person of an incredible character named Patton (N. Y. Office) seems to have adopted a policy of being terribly nice to O.D. Relations, I should say, couldn't be better. No matter how hard I try, however, I can never quite figure out what they are trying to do. So much running back and forth to Paris. I can't help being cynical. All of which leads up to the fact that I can't answer your question about Bodet's question (Remember - you asked Bob, Scales and myself to comment?) The problem with me is that I never can answer questions about what the State, or government, should do. I can't even think what people should or shouldn't do. From too much delving into general semantics, maybe, I have developed a complete incapacity for knowing what words like "educational rehabilitation" etc. mean. Therefore, I looked at Bodet's Paris question and didn't understand it. Rather, it resolved itself into "No - if the State goes too far", and "Yes - if it doesn't go too far." Bob, who lives in a Campus world worse than mine, says he can't even decide whether to put butter on his toast or not. Poor guy, he "decided" recently to go back into his Phd. He took courses in Anglo-Saxon from a visiting professor at Columbia all summer and found the shock of going to classes again too great. He is now very undecided. I tried to get him to go up to the Farm with me this weekend, for there the decisions are very easy. For example, I walked out on the hill at five-thirty am yesterday morning after the cows, and found that I was possessed of great wisdom. I knew, empirically and in my blood, that Fall was coming. The creek was choked with water cress and barely breathing. Blackberries dropped when you walked by the bush; the air had debated all night between fog and frost; and the cows came down faster than usual. I felt extremely bright and confident, for once in my knowledge. I recommend the cultivation of such wisdom.

Does that answer your question about UNESCO?

All your kind words to Martha and Mrs. King and to Clare and myself, have been deeply appreciated. It is good to know that Morganville really feels that way. Clare and I feel much more than we can say about Morganville. I realize that Morganville is partly myth, but it�s a comfortable, good myth - and I believe it. It is the same with OD. Not for a moment do I really believe that people can be made to be decent to one another over long stretches of time, but I do believe that they can take stabs at it from time to time - often enough, that is, to keep the tradition alive.

OD hasn't had the nerve to be very communicative this summer, or to initiate any projects. We cannot continue it beyond the Fall tied solely to Mrs. Kings pocketbook, and it would be dishonest to create the impression that we could. Three foundations - Heritage, Commonwealth, and George Baker Trust, have shown active interest, but none of them can make decisions until October. Therefore, it is a matter of hanging on until then, maintaining a dignified silence, and collecting ammunition with which to face the Foundationists. Included in the evidence should be certain expressions from the towns themselves as to the value of the services performed by OD. I hate to ask for that sort of thing, but I am. There are difficulties, however. As you know, we try to leave the towns alone; our services are free, and therefore often unappreciated. We encourage them to forget their "middleman" as soon as possible. For example, Bert Hedges has, with complete justification, turned all credit for the Wichita operation to UNESCO. He has been very fair, of course, with O.D., but the story is a UNESCO story, not O.D.s. In Westchester County, the good Mrs. Sparkman is thoroughly jealous of her method of working. It includes no mention of O.D., for she says (and I believe her) that people up there are suspicious of national organizations. We feed her the material on the side, and ask nothing. Personally, I know of no other way. The success of many a town affiliation has been built on the power complex, the desire for local prestige, or the lust for forgiveness, of individuals and of groups. Morganvilles appear once in a blue moon. We are, therefore, in a very peculiar position. So many people ask us, "Why if this is so good, don't the people themselves contribute to its support? Surely a town would want to belong to, and support, an organization which helps it in this fashion." Well, maybe, but then again, we have always said, "You will be under no obligation to OD. This is your baby" etc.

I would so much rather go on this way, but the only way out is through foundations. I, for one, couldn't face the thought that any part of Homer Christianson's $15.00 went to pay salary overheads etc. for an organization that just gave some friendly advice.

What do you think?

The letter from Billie Utley was wonderful. I want desperately to use it, but where, and how. Lord, they are wonderful people there in Feves. And they are trying so hard. We will try with Semecourt, but if you can find a town out there, so much the better.

Clare and the kids have had a good summer. I had two weeks on the Cape myself. The kids put out a fine little newspaper called the Beachcomber, and made great sums of money. In my spare time, I have been trying to outline a novel about all this town-town business. What I really want to do is take a year off in a little Cape Salt-box which is available, and try once more to write. I am finally convinced that I dislike New York more than almost anything. If you should tell me to do it, I might try.

Robert appears shortly for lunch. I'll tell him about having decided that Fall is coming. Maybe it will give him strength.

My love to Morganville. Here are some stamps for Monsieur le Maire.

Yours,