The Department of State as it existed at the turn of the century, and as it still was
in large measure in the 1920’s when I entered it, was a quaint old place, with its
law-office atmosphere, its cool dark corridors, its swinging doors, its brass
cuspidors, its black leather rocking chairs, and the grandfather’s clock in the
Secretary of State’s office. There was a real old-fashioned dignity and simplicity
about it. It was staffed in those earlier days by professional personnel some of
whom were men of great experience and competence. And it was headed more
often than otherwise by Americans of genuine stature and quality.