Our rooms were bugged, our phones were tapped, and our lawyer’s rooms were broken into and their files stolen. We finally had to hire armed guards with pistols to be able to maintain our records. It was hard to believe we weren’t in Russia.

You almost had to live through it to really know the gut ripping misery of the depression during the early thirties which led to labor’s bloodiest and most violent days.

They all know I’m back, very much back, and that I will be the general president again come hell or high water.

When you go to prison they forget it’s your Constitution, too.

I’ve said consistently that no employer ever really accepts a union. They tolerate the unions. The very minute they can get a pool of unemployment they’ll challenge the unions and try to get back what they call managements prerogatives, meaning hire, fire, pay what you want.

A slab of bread “buttered” with lard and, if you were lucky, seasoned with salt and pepper, was a luxury.

Hell, I’m not saying I’m an angel, but when it came to dirty tricks I couldn’t hold a candle to the Irish Mafia.

I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again. The strong survive and the weak disappear. We do not intend to disappear.

I don’t need a bodyguard.

To the best of my recollection, I must recall on my memory, I cannot remember.