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Nile Kinnick correspondence, January-May 1940
1940-04-10: Page 01
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Omaha, Nebraska April 10th, 1940 Dear SB: Enclosed are the two letters and the two folders from Mr. Baum. The former were read with much interest. Assuming that His face appears on the one folder, I will say it is an interesting one and he looks like a right sort. In his letters, however, there appears to be a nervous energy and an enthusiasm that could do with abit of coordination and. stabilization. Maybe it is his ebullience that gets 'em. It is clear that he is wrapped up in his business. I would doubt if he has cooled off on you as much as his last letter might be interpreted to indicate, tho I detect no note of insincerety in either of them. He speaks of the good profits to made in his enterprise, but I have seen no figures on rates, wages or commissions. His sales figures for March do not mean much without such percentages, except to show the comparative sales results of his force. Has he really made any pass at you? I should keep in touch with him arid try to arrange the week-end conference that he seems to want. In the meantime I should follow up your inquiry for information on his firm, and products. Why not ask Frank Williams to inquire of Dunn and Bradstreet, perhaps for a regular report if it is available and without much cost. If you are serious about a connection with him you ought to have that information. It would also seem wise to have a serious talk with Joe Weaver. All this leads me to say that your comment on not going into the law is not a complete surprise to me. It would appear reasonable that a good business offer might change your mind on that; but I have been very willing for you to get a law degree even tho you did not actually practice. It would not surprise me to see you in public life sometime and a law back ground would possibly stand you in good stand there. But this is always my wish and advice; that you get into the field that you seem best fitted for by your education, aptitudes and temperament, and most certainly into something that you like. If you feel that you really don't want law don't take it from any sense of duty. As you suggest, your form of service may take another channel, and I am sure that you will have ample opportunities and that you will rise to any real challenge that comes to you. I believe that the really sincere and competent men who go into public life deserve far more than they ever receive. They have to take so much abuse it requires an understanding mind to let it fly by while keeping in view the larger picture of what is best for the whole. Personally I would have no ambition for it, at least not very much. The only real interest of that sort that I ever had was the school board job in Adel. Perhaps a state legislature post would have been alright, but afterall a business of my own in the agricultural field would have more appeal. To return to Baum. I wonder where these16 salesmen of his are located and what fields they serve. Surely all of them donot flit about the country by air as he does. He speaks of dryrot in his sales force, but I should doubt that all of the 16 are ready for the social security league. There is plenty I should want to about his set-up before abandoning entirely your educational plans with the view of a possible permanent attachment. On the other hand it may be assured as to future and have an appeal for you that make you want to start in at the bottom and go right up. If Baum is the
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Omaha, Nebraska April 10th, 1940 Dear SB: Enclosed are the two letters and the two folders from Mr. Baum. The former were read with much interest. Assuming that His face appears on the one folder, I will say it is an interesting one and he looks like a right sort. In his letters, however, there appears to be a nervous energy and an enthusiasm that could do with abit of coordination and. stabilization. Maybe it is his ebullience that gets 'em. It is clear that he is wrapped up in his business. I would doubt if he has cooled off on you as much as his last letter might be interpreted to indicate, tho I detect no note of insincerety in either of them. He speaks of the good profits to made in his enterprise, but I have seen no figures on rates, wages or commissions. His sales figures for March do not mean much without such percentages, except to show the comparative sales results of his force. Has he really made any pass at you? I should keep in touch with him arid try to arrange the week-end conference that he seems to want. In the meantime I should follow up your inquiry for information on his firm, and products. Why not ask Frank Williams to inquire of Dunn and Bradstreet, perhaps for a regular report if it is available and without much cost. If you are serious about a connection with him you ought to have that information. It would also seem wise to have a serious talk with Joe Weaver. All this leads me to say that your comment on not going into the law is not a complete surprise to me. It would appear reasonable that a good business offer might change your mind on that; but I have been very willing for you to get a law degree even tho you did not actually practice. It would not surprise me to see you in public life sometime and a law back ground would possibly stand you in good stand there. But this is always my wish and advice; that you get into the field that you seem best fitted for by your education, aptitudes and temperament, and most certainly into something that you like. If you feel that you really don't want law don't take it from any sense of duty. As you suggest, your form of service may take another channel, and I am sure that you will have ample opportunities and that you will rise to any real challenge that comes to you. I believe that the really sincere and competent men who go into public life deserve far more than they ever receive. They have to take so much abuse it requires an understanding mind to let it fly by while keeping in view the larger picture of what is best for the whole. Personally I would have no ambition for it, at least not very much. The only real interest of that sort that I ever had was the school board job in Adel. Perhaps a state legislature post would have been alright, but afterall a business of my own in the agricultural field would have more appeal. To return to Baum. I wonder where these16 salesmen of his are located and what fields they serve. Surely all of them donot flit about the country by air as he does. He speaks of dryrot in his sales force, but I should doubt that all of the 16 are ready for the social security league. There is plenty I should want to about his set-up before abandoning entirely your educational plans with the view of a possible permanent attachment. On the other hand it may be assured as to future and have an appeal for you that make you want to start in at the bottom and go right up. If Baum is the
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