Hoover Dam

"Ickes was renowned for his prickly personality; his nickname was “Old Curmudgeon.” Kaiser learned one secret of getting along with him, consistently flattering Ickes and keeping him informed of developments at Hoover Dam. In March 1936, Ickes wrote to Kaiser, “Your company has made a remarkable engineering record in overcoming the obstacles incident to constructing such a difficult project and in advancing the time of completion so materially.... I have been very impressed with the fair attitude of you and other officials, which resulted in a satisfactory working relationship.” 54 This was probably as close to sentiment as the dour Ickes got, at least in correspondence with those other than President Roosevelt."

"Ickes was renowned for his prickly personality; his nickname was “Old Curmudgeon.” Kaiser learned one secret of getting along with him, consistently flattering Ickes and keeping him informed of developments at Hoover Dam. In March 1936, Ickes wrote to Kaiser, “Your company has made a remarkable engineering record in overcoming the obstacles incident to constructing such a difficult project and in advancing the time of completion so materially…. I have been very impressed with the fair attitude of you and other officials, which resulted in a satisfactory working relationship.”54 This was probably as close to sentiment as the dour Ickes got, at least in correspondence with those other than President Roosevelt."