Mr. Knox does not love
Mr. Lodge but he refused to consider the proposal. He was
indifferent. His last great political opportunity went glimmering.
As I have said Mr. Knox can be very charming but I doubt that he
sincerely admires any of the public men with whom he has been
associated, or can call any of them, from the purely personal
viewpoint, his friends, with the possible exception of Andrew
Mellon, whom he caused to be appointed Secretary of the Treasury.
Of course, he likes many of his colleagues, after a fashion,
especially those who admire him, but that is another matter. The
intimacy usually implied in the term friendship does not enter into
such relations.
For some of the more important men he has known, he has shown a
very distinct dislike. It is said of him that he thought President
Harding overlooked a real opportunity when he failed to invite him
to become Secretary of State, but his disappointment was somewhat
mollified by the fact that Mr. Root was not asked to take the post.
Mr. Knox prefers to look upon Mr. Root as a lucky lawyer who has
taken to himself much of the credit of John Hay's great work. He
shows an even less regard for Mr. Lodge's talents. And he is
doubtful of Mr. Hughes.
His attitude towards the Secretary of State dates back to the
insurance scandals. At that time Mr. Frick asked Mr.
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