Interview with Frederick Moore Vinson, Jr., May 22, 1973

Interview Summary

Fred Vinson, Jr. starts off this interview with his earliest recollections of his father and their mutual love of baseball. Fred Vinson, Sr.'s baseball career is touched upon. There is some discussion of his relationship with his wife, Roberta, and an anecdote of her campaigning with him in Kentucky. The forces that shaped Vinson's political philosophy are looked at as well as some of the legislation associated with Vinson (social security, veterans' pensions). His ongoing association with Sam Rayburn is discussed as is his relationship with Franklin D. Roosevelt. Vinson talks about his father's work in the Office of Economic Stabilization, the Office of Price Administration, the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion, and the post-war reconstruction effort in Europe. He mentions his father's views of Communist Russia and our policy toward China, and his father declining a trip to Russia in 1948. Fred Vinson, Sr.'s relationship with Harry Truman is touched on, especially in regards to Vinson as a potential presidential candidate in 1952. The qualities and attributes Vinson brought to the Supreme Court are reviewed. Vinson, Jr. explains the "Vinson Club", the "only chief justice that a club was organized around." Vinson, Jr. is asked to characterize his father's judicial philosophy which leads to discussion of Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer. His father's stand on civil rights cases (for example Sweatt v. Painter, Shelley v. Kraemer) is discussed. Vinson, Sr.'s love of cards is recalled as well as some of his friendships. Fred Vinson, Jr. talks about living as the child of a "famous American" and his father's influence on his son.

Interview Keyword

Fred M. Vinson Politics and government Supreme Court United States Government Franklin D. Roosevelt Chief justice United States House of Representatives Kentucky Washington, DC World War II Great Depression Cold War

Interview LC Subject

Law and legislation Politicians Life Work World War, 1939-1945 Depressions--1929--United States

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.