James E. Webb
Some members of Dewey's staff had communications with some officials of the Truman administration about preparing for a prospective transition. For instance, Dewey's budget advisor John E. Burton held regular communications with members of the Bureau of the Budget, including its director James E. Webb. This sort of communication was taking place independently of Truman. While Truman was aware that some subordinates in his administration were holding some communication, and he did not act to stop them for doing so, he himself had not sanctioned this conduct. He believed that actively facilitating such discussions would diminish the image of confidence he was seeking project about his chances for reelection.