Interview with Alben W. Barkley, July 21st, 1953

Partial Transcript: We were in the midst of a depression. And unemployment, low prices, business stagnated, factories shut, everything happened. And naturally, uh, I...

Segment Synopsis: Barkley recounts giving the keynote speech at the 1932 Democratic National Convention, in which he addressed Prohibition.

Keywords: Depression era; Eighteenth Amendment; prohibition era; speech

Partial Transcript: What was the first, uh, direct connection with him you had after he became President?

Segment Synopsis: Barkley discusses his first days working with Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Keywords: Presidents--Franklin Roosevelt; legislation; oratory

Partial Transcript: By, uh, 1937, after he was inaugurated the second time, the court fight had, uh, grown to the point where he recommended in a message to Congress that...

Segment Synopsis: Barkley discusses Roosevelt's legislative proposals and the Supreme Court.

Keywords: Agricultural Adjustment Act (Triple A); American presidents; FDR; National Recovery Act (NRA); Supreme Court; economy

Partial Transcript: And then he wrote you the letter that... the "dear Alben" letter at some time.

Segment Synopsis: Barkley discusses a letter sent to him by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the stir that it caused.

Keywords: Judiciary Committee; Supreme Court; Supreme Court--nominations

Partial Transcript: Wasn't there some story that Roosevelt, uh, had pledged himself to Harrison? Or am I confused?

Segment Synopsis: Barkley recounts being elected majority leader of the Senate.

Keywords: majority leader--Senate

Partial Transcript: You have told me in the past of your deep and abiding respect for the... Supreme Court as an institution, and your conviction that men appointed...

Segment Synopsis: Barkley discusses the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Hughes' foray into politics.

Keywords: Supreme Court; partisanship; political attitudes

Partial Transcript: Well, getting back to your relations with Roosevelt, they were generally harmonious until the veto message, is that correct?

Segment Synopsis: Barkley discusses working to pass Roosevelt's proposed legislation.

Keywords: Presidents--Franklin Roosevelt; collegial relations; political committees

Partial Transcript: Uh, reel number 5, side 1. Senator Barkley continuing with his story of explaining the significance of the veto message to President Roosevelt.

Segment Synopsis: Barkley discusses the tax bill that Roosevelt vetoed.

Keywords: Presidents--Franklin Roosevelt; collegial relations; intra-party disagreements; presidential vetoes

Partial Transcript: Was it possible, as you became, uh, uh, observant of Roosevelt's habits and ways of reasoning, to tell when he was getting his Dutch up and you were...

Segment Synopsis: Barkley further discusses the negotiations over the tax bill legislation.

Keywords: collegial relations; intra-party disagreements; presidential vetoes; presidents--Franklin Roosevelt

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Partial Transcript: Did you put on your dressing gown and, uh...

Segment Synopsis: Barkley recounts giving the speech in which he resigned from the position of Senate majority leader, with the help of Senator McKellar.

Keywords: Kenneth McKellar; Senator McKellar; speeches

Partial Transcript: Well, of course, uh, pell-mell, the Senate rose and cheered me, applauded, the galleries applauded, and, uh, all that, which didn't create any particular...

Segment Synopsis: Barkley discusses reactions to his resignation.

Keywords: US Senate; intra-party disagreements; majority leader--US Senate--resignation

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Partial Transcript: Now, where shall we jump to now? Uh, shall we go up to the next convention, when... I, I, I, think I got off my chronology when I referred to your being...

Segment Synopsis: Barkley tells how he was asked to nominate Roosevelt for a fourth term at the 1944 Democratic National Convention.

Keywords: DNC; Democratic National Convention--1944

Partial Transcript: Well, uh, there was a meeting held at the White House before the convention, uh, on the nomi-... on the vice presidency. I wasn't present, but I've heard about it.

Segment Synopsis: Barkley recounts the various people considered for the position of Roosevelt's vice president for his fourth term.

Keywords: Democratic National Conventions--1944; vice presidential nominees

Partial Transcript: Well, it turned out then that at the White House there was a conference before the convention on the... the, uh, vice presidential nomination... and the, uh...

Segment Synopsis: Barkley tells how a conference at the White House resulted in Truman's becoming the vice presidential nominee for Franklin Delano Roosevelt's fourth term.

Keywords: Democratic National Conventions--1944; vice presidential nominees

Partial Transcript: Did, uh, Roosevelt ever talk to you, uh, uh, after that about your role at the convention or about your speech? Did he thank you for your...

Segment Synopsis: Barkley remembers Roosevelt's gratitude for the nomination speech, as well as his appearance. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Democratic National Conventions--1944; collegial relationships; presidential nominees