Interview with Alben W. Barkley, November 3, 1953

Interview Summary

Alben W. Barkley describes Franklin D. Roosevelt's views on limiting the influence and power of aggressor prior to World War II and specifically discusses a speech in which Roosevelt used the term "quarantine the aggressor speech." He recalls that Roosevelt was called a "war monger" for this speech. He describes Roosevelt's views on balancing the government's budget, and how his attempts had to be reversed to combat the Great Depression.

Barkley remembers campaigning in statewide elections, and states that he gave as many as sixteen speeches in one day. He talks about his membership in the Elks Lodge and tells a story being nominated to be the Exulted Ruler of the Elks Lodge.

Barkley talks about interesting family members like his Aunt Betty who married her childhood sweetheart at the age of 80, his "Aunt Pus," and his brother John who was a salesman and worked in the Atomic Plant in Paducah. He mentions his associations with Harry Hopkins. He talks about techniques for getting a good bargain on goods.

Barkley talks about the close friendship between Senators William Edward Borah and James Hamilton Lewis and how this began when Lewis was horsewhipped by a woman and Borah helped him to keep it out of the press. He describes Senator Capper of Kansas, a widower who had hearing problems. He discusses a James Hamilton Lewis' retort to Huey Long, and George Holden Tinkham, a Congressman from Massachusetts. Barkley describes his home "Angles" in Mayfield, Kentucky and how he acquired it.

Interview Keyword

Alben Barkley Biography Government politics Public Policy United States Vice presidents

Interview LC Subject

Barkley, Alben William, 1877-1956 Barkley, Alben William, 1877-1956--Interviews United States--Politics and government

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.