Interview with Edward F. Prichard, Jr., October 11, 1974

Interview Summary

Edward F. Prichard, Jr. first met Fred Vinson in the company of his father, who attended Centre College and was on the same baseball team as Vinson. He relates his impressions of Vinson - physical presence and as a speaker. Prichard goes into the relationship between his family and Vinson's family as well as discussing Vinson's relationship with his wife, Roberta, and his sons. He goes into some detail on Vinson's role in Kentucky politics and Kentucky Democratic politics in the 1920s and 1930s. Vinson's relationship with A. B. "Happy" Chandler is discussed as is his association with Joe Bates (district politics) and other Kentucky politicians. His relationship with Sam Rayburn, James Byrnes and other members of Congress are looked at, as well. Prichard gives his opinions of what Vinson's strengths were as a politician. He relates what Vinson's attitudes toward Franklin D. Roosevelt were and how Vinson supported and worked with Roosevelt. Vinson's interest in tax legislation is discussed. Prichard relates the general staff operations of the Office of Economic Stabilization and gives his impressions of war-time Washington and various federal agencies of the time. Prichard states that Vinson's guiding philosophy showed a broad view of executive power that influenced his judicial decisions as well as his executive branch decisions. He discusses how Vinson's relationship with Harry Truman changed over time. Some depth is given to what Vinson's view on war control demobilization was, his assessment of wartime economics, and the role of the Excess Profits Tax. Prichard comments on Vinson's role at the U.N. Monetary and Financial Conference at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire during the years of 1944 - 1945. He gives his opinions on what Vinson's view of the U.S. post-war role would have been. Prichard tells his assumptions of why Vinson moved to the judicial branch and why he was appointed. He then gives his view of the relationship between Vinson and Felix Frankfurter. There is a discussion about the Supreme Court views under Fred Vinson on cases such as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, Sweatt v. Painter). Vinson views on civil rights. Prichard gives his evaluation of the Vinson Court and Vinson as chief justice. Possible reasons for Truman picking Vinson for the position of chief justice are discussed, as are Prichard's opinion of Truman's court appointments.

Interview Keyword

Fred M. Vinson Politics and government United States Government Political parties Votes Conventions Campaigns Offices

Interview LC Subject

Law and legislation Vinson, Fred M., 1890-1953 Prichard, Edward F., Jr., 1915-1984--Interviews Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972 Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945 Congress United States. Supreme Court Prichard, Edward F., Jr., 1915-1984

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.