2- thus could speak from first-hand knowledge of your accomplishments. Mailliard protested that this put the speaker at an obvious disadvantage but he, like you and your predecessors in office, ended up doing exactly as Marie told him. Now before you begin to criticize Mr. Mailliard or the Committee for assigning this task to the second string, I'd just like to remind you that you weren't our first choice either. Speaking seriously, Jack, it was greatly to your credit that you were willing to take on in mid-term the assignment that Jess Tapp had so ably begun. It was really more difficult than starting from scratch, for you had to take over an existing committee organization and carry forward a program already launched. This you did ably and in a manner that earned you the admiration and friendship of all those of us privileged to work with you. The job of President of the Chamber is a demanding one in the extreme. It may have its lighter moments such as kissing Miss America in the line of duty (if you think this was tough duty, put yourself in her place). However, for the most part the President's job is just hard work. The myriad of luncheons, cocktail parties, receptions and dinners takes heavy toll of the digestive tract. Like the heavy industrial hose and conveyor belt you manufacture you fortunately brought to the job intestinal plumbing virtually immune to the corrosive effects of martinis or seafood cocktails and roast beef. The hundreds of speeches puts mileage on the vocal cords and wear on the wits. With the subjects so varied and often beyond the experience of any one individual, it's a toss up as to whether it's easier to write your own speech or to struggle through the one prepared by someone on the Chamber's staff who has more time and less knowledge than you and who writes as if you were either Maurice Evans or Jerry Lewis.