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Oral History Interviews with
Matthew Connelly
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Chief investigator for the Senate
Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program
(the Truman Committee), 1941-44, Executive Assistant to Senator
and Vice President Truman, July 1944-April 1945; and Appointments
Secretary to the President, 1945-53.
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[Notices and Restrictions | List
of Subjects Discussed]
NOTICE
These are transcripts of tape-recorded interviews conducted for the Harry
S. Truman Library. A draft of each transcript was edited by the interviewee
but only minor emendations were made; therefore, the reader should remember
that these are essentially transcripts of the spoken, rather than the
written word.
As an electronic publication of the Truman Library, users should note
that features of the original, hardcopy versions of the oral history interviews,
such as pagination and indexing, could not be replicated for the online
version of the Connelly transcripts.
See also Matthew Connelly
Files.
RESTRICTIONS
These oral history transcripts may be read, quoted from, cited, and reproduced
for purposes of research. They may not be published in full except by
permission of the Harry S. Truman Library.
List of Subjects Discussed
A B C
D E F G
H I J K
L M N O
P Q R S
T U V W
X-Y-Z
Abels, Jules
Acheson, Dea
cabinet member for Harry S. Truman
Adams, Sherman
Air Corps
Air Force
Alabama
Albany, Indiana
Alcoa Company
Allen, George
in the administration of Harry S. Truman
Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa)
Amberg, Julius H.
American Federation of Labor (AFL)
American Legion
American Overseas Air Line
American Trust and Banking Company
Americans for Democratic Action (ADA)
Truman, Harry S., attitude toward
Anderson, Clinton P. J.
Anderson, Howard S.
Anderson, Jack
Andrews, Russell P.
Ansberry, Peter
Argentina
Arizona
Arlington National Cemetery
Army Camps, construction of:
Connelly, Matthew J., investigates
Truman, Harry S., investigates
Arvey, Jacob M. (Jake)
Associated Gas and Electric Company
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
Ayers, Eben
Ball, Senator Joseph, H.
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore Sun
Barkley, Vice President Alben W.
and the Democratic National Convention, 1948
Democratic National Convention, 1952, difficulties with delegates
Barnes, James M.
Barrows, Roberta, on staff of Harry S. Truman
Barry, Francis (Frank)
Batt, William L., Jr.
Battery D, 129th Field Artillery
Bell, David E.
Bethesda Navy Hospital
Biddle, Francis
Biffle, Leslie
Big Four Powers
Bilbo, Senator Theodore
Birkhead, Kenneth
Bixler, Catherine
Blair-Lee House
B'nai B'rith
Boston, Massachusetts
Boyle, William M., Jr.
Bradley, General Omar N.
Brandt, Pete
Brannan, Charles F.
as Cabinet member for Harry S. Truman
Brannan Plan
Bray, William J. (Bill)
Truman, Harry S., on staff of
Brazil
Brewster, Senator Owen
Bridges, Senator Styles
Brightman, Sam, 3
Brown, Tillie
Brown, Wilson
Brownell, Herbert
Bruce, James
Budget Bureau
Burton, Harold
Byrnes, James F.
Truman, Harry S., in Cabinet of
relationship
Cadillac Square, (Detroit)
California, University of
Campaign Expenditures, the Gillette Committee to Investigate
Canfil, Fred A.) 1
Truman Committee, investigates the Hanford, Washington, Plant
Cannon, Clarence
Canol project
Carey, Idaho
Carton Hotel (Washington, DC)
Carr, Albert
Carroll, John A.
Carter, John Franklin
Casey, Joseph
Chandler. Albert B., investigation of the swimming pool of
Chandler, Mrs. Albert B.
Chapman, Oscar
Truman, Harry S., in the Cabinet of
Chicago-American
Chicago, Illinois
Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB)
Civil rights
Truman, Harry S.;
delivers message on
importance of his support for
views on Civil rights
Civil War
Clark, Bennett
Clark, Charles Patrick
Clark, Tom C.
Clayton, William C.
Cleveland, Mississippi
Clifford, Clark
Israel, involvement in the recognition of
TransWorld Airlines (TWA), as a lawyer for
Truman, Harry S.:
chances for victory in the 1948 Presidential election
Clifford serves on staff of
resignation of Clifford
Cole, William S.
Collett, John Caskie
Colorado
Committee to Investigate Campaign Expenditures
Congress, Eightieth
Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)
Congressional liaison during the Truman Administration
Connally, Senator Tom
Connelly, Matthew J.
Appointments Secretary, duties as
Army camp construction, investigates
Cabinet meetings, duties at
campaign expenditures, involved in the investigation of
Chandler, Albert B., swimming pool of, investigated by Connelly
charges against, a discussion of
clipping file of
Committees in Congress, serves on
Democratic National Committee, discusses the various chairmen of
Kelley-Nash machine in Chicago, investigates
MacArthur, Douglas, a discussion of the dismissal of
non-political trip of June 1948, duties during
Presidency, ideas for changing the
Presidential election of 1944, part played in
Presidential election of 1948:
election evening activities of
Truman, Harry S., a discussion of his confidence in winning
relief programs for Washington, D. C., an investigation of
Roosevelt, Franklin D., learns of the death of
State Department, a discussion of
Truman, Harry S.:
assassination attempt on
congressional liaison for
evaluation of
executive assistant to
first meeting with Connelly
influence On Connelly
Postmaster General position, offers to Connelly
in Presidential campaign, 1944, accompanied by Connelly
Presidential election, 1948, confident of victory in
staff of, Connelly reports jealousies among
Vice Presidential campaign, assisted by Connelly
and Truman Committee
and Vinson, Fred M., comments on the proposed mission of
and Willow Run Plant, investigates
Constitution Hall
Cox Broadcasting Company
Cox Enterprises
Cox, James
Currie, Lauchlin
Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Daniels, Jonathan
Daniels, Joseph
Daniels, Josephus
Dawson, Donald
Truman, Harry S., on staff of
Defense housing investigation
Democratic National Committee
chairman of, discussed
Research Division of
Democratic National Convention of 1948
Presidential contenders
Vice Presidential contenders
Democratic National Convention of 1952:
Barkley, Alben W., and labor delegates
Democratic Policy Committee
Dennison, Admiral Robert L.
Detroit, Michigan
Dever, Paul
Dewey, Thomas
and Presidential campaign of 1948
Dexter, Iowa
Diary of Democracy
Dill, Sir John
Dixiecrats
Dollar-a-year-men
Donaldson, Jesse M.
Douglas, William 0.
Dryden, Mildred
Dubinsky, David
Dunn, Eugene
Early, Stephen
Eightieth Congress
Eisenhower, Dwight David
Truman, Harry S., transition between administrations
Elsey, George
Evans, Tom L.
Ewing, Oscar R.
Excelsior Springs, Missouri
Farley, James
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Federal Power Commission
Feeney, Joseph
Feinberg, Abraham
Ferguson, Senator Homer
Finletter, Thomas K.
Fitzgerald, James
Flynn, Ed
Ford Motor Company
Forrestal, James
Truman, Harry S., as a Cabinet member for
Fort Davis, North Carolina
Fort Stewart, Georgia
Foskett, James A.
Frederick, J. Lawton, on staff of Harry S. Truman
Friendship Airport
Fritchey, Clayton
Fulton, Hugh
background of
political problems, ability to deal with
Truman, Harry S., difficulties with
Gallup Poll
Garvin, Tom
Georgetown, University
Georgia
Gillette Committee
Gillette, Senator Guy M.
Godwin, Earl
Goldwyn, Sam
Grand Coulee Dam
Gray, Gordon
Greece
Green, Shirley
Green, Theodore
Griffis, Stanton
Halleck, Charles
Halley, Rudolph
Halverstadt, Dallas
Hanford, Washington
Hannegan, Robert
Democratic National Committee, as chairman of
Truman, Harry S.:
Cabinet member for
Vice President, 1944, supports for nomination as
Harlem, New York
Harriman W. Averell
Harvard University
Hassett, William C.
Truman, Harry S., duties during the administration of
Hatch, Senator Carl A.
Hayden, Senator Carl
Hechler, Kenneth
Hehmeyer, Walter
Henderson, Loy
Hercules Powder Company
Herring, Senator Clyde L.
Higgins, Eddie
Hill, Senator Lister
Hillman, William
Hoeber, Johannes
Hollywood, California
Hopkins, Harry L.
Houston Chronicle
Hume, Paul
Humphrey-Biemiller civil rights plank (1948 convention)
Humphreys, Bob
Hyde Park, New York
Ickes, Harold L.
Illinois
The Independence (Presidential aircraft)
Independence, Missouri
Indian Treaty Room
Indiana
Indiantown Gap, PA.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Investigation of Campaign Expenditures, Committee for
Iowa
Irvin, Robert L.
Israel, recognition of
Jackson, Charles
Jackson, Robert H.
Jackson, Samuel
Jacobson, Edward (Eddie)
Jenner, Senator William E.
Jewish vote, in the 1948 Presidential election
Johnson, Louis A.
Military budget cuts
Truman, Harry S.: in Cabinet of
Treasurer for the Presidential Campaign of 1948
Jones, Jesse
and Reconstruction Finance Corporation
Justice Department
Kansas City, Missouri
Kayser Company
Kayser Roth
Keech, Richmond B.
Kelly, Frank
Kelly-Nash "machine" in Chicago
Kentucky
Keyserling, Leon
Key West, Florida
poker playing at
Truman, Harry S., vacations at
Kilgore, Senator Harley
Killion, George
Kimball, Dan
Knowles, Miles
Knudsen, General William S.
Korea
Krug, Julius A.
Ku Klux Klan
Labor Department
Lamar, Missouri
Landry, Robert B.
Lasker, Morris
Lathrom, Donald M.
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Leahy, Admiral William D.
Leviero, Anthony
Liberal Party
Lloyd, David D.
Locke, Edwin A., Jr.
Lockwood, Paul
Lord and Thomas Advertising Co.
Los Angeles, California
Louisville, Kentucky
Lovett, Robert A.,
Lowe, Frank E.
Lowenthal, Max
Lucas, Senator Scott
MacArthur, General Douglas
dismissed by President Truman
at Wake Island Conference
McCarthy, Senator Joseph R.
and staff of President Truman
McCormack, Representative John W.
McFarland, Senator E. W.
McGranery, James P.
McGrath, J. Howard
in Cabinet of President Truman
as Chairman of Democratic National Committee
McHale, Frank
McIlwain, Sam
McIntyre, Marvin
McKim, Edward D.
on staff of President Truman
McKinney, Frank E.
McReynolds, William
on staff of President Truman
Madison Square Garden
Mager, Harry
Maine
Maletz, Herbert N.
Maloney, James J.
Map Room
Martel, Frank
Martinez, Joe L.
Marshall, General George C.
in Cabinet of President Truman
Marshall plan
Martin, Representative Joseph W.
Massachusetts
Matthews, Francis
Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D. C.
Maylon, Charles
Meader, George
Mead, Senator James
Memoirs, by Harry S. Truman
Messall, Victor
Michigan
Michigan, University of
Military, budget cuts in
Military Affairs Committee
Miller, Ray
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Missouri, U. S. S.
Mr. President
Mitchell, Stephen,
Morgenthau, Henry, Jr.
Morgenthau plan
Morris, Newbold
Moscow
Muehlebach Hotel, (Kansas City, Missouri)
Murphy, Charles S.
on staff of President Truman
Murphy, Frank
Murray, Tom
Nash, Philleo
on staff of President Truman
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
National Plowing Contest, Dexter, Iowa
Navy Department, relations with the Truman Committee
Nelson, Donald M.
Neustadt, Richard E.
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New Orleans
Newsweek
New York
New York Times
Niles, David K.
and recognition of state of Israel
Truman, Harry S., as political adviser for
Non-political trip of June 1948
North Carolina
Noyes, David M.
Odum, Reathel
O'Dwyer, William
Ohio
Okinawa
Oklahoma
Omaha, Nebraska
Oregon
Out of the Jaws of Victory
Pace, Frank
Pan American Airways
Parks, Franklin N.
Patterson, Robert P.
in Cabinet of President Truman
Pauley, Edwin W.
Pawley, William
Pearson, Drew
Pendergast, Thomas J., funeral of
Pennsylvania
Pentagon
Peoria, Illinois
Pepper, Senator Claude
Perkins, Francis
Perlmeter, Irving
Philadelphia
Phillips, Cabell
Point IV
Pontiac, Michigan
Porter, Paul
Postmaster General of the United States
Potsdam, East Germany
Presidential election campaign, 1944, Harry S. Truman as a campaigner
Presidential election campaign, 1948:
Cabinet members of President Truman, involvement in campaign
Campaign train:
local politicians aboard
speech writing aboard
visitors, treatment of
Clifford, Clark speculates on outcome of
Connelly, Matthew J., belief that Truman would win
contributions, shortage of,
crowds, reaction of
Democrats, opposition from
Dewey, Thomas, campaign train of
Election evening
Harlem; New York
Itinerary
Jewish vote, the importance of
Maloney, James J., joins the Dewey campaign
Wallace, Henry A., campaign of
writers assisting in the campaign
Presidential election campaign, 1952:
Stevenson, Adlai E., relationship with Harry S. Truman
Truman, Harry S.:
choice for a successor
decision not to run
Stevenson, Adlai E., relationship with
President's Committee on Civil Rights
Price Administration, Office of
Progressive Party
Public Papers of Harry S. Truman
Pulitzer. Joseph
Pulitzer Prize
Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company
Rayburn, Representative Sam
Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC)
Truman Committee, relationship with
Redding, Jack
Reinsch, J. Leonard
Relief programs in the District of Columbia, an investigation of
Research Division of the Democratic National Committee
Reuther, Walter
Reynolds Aluminum Company
Reynolds, Ed
Rhode Island
Rigdon, William M.
Roach, Neale
Robeson, Paul
Robinson, Harold G.
Roosevelt, Franklin D.
Cabinet of
Connelly, Matthew J., learns of the death of
health of, 1
Presidential election campaign of 1944, communication with Harry S.
Truman
speech making
Truman, Harry S.,
communication with
and death of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Roosevelt Hotel (New York City)
Roosevelt, James
Rose, Alex
Rosenman, Judge Samuel I.
as speech writer for President Truman
Rosenthal, Louis
Ross, Charles G.
death of
as Press Secretary to President Truman
Rowley, Jim
Royall, Kenneth C., as a member of the Truman Administration
Rusk, Dean
Saint Louis, Missouri
Saint Louis Post-Dispatch
San Francisco, California
Sawyer, Charles
Sawyer, Haven
Schenley Liquor
Schoeneman, George J.
Schwellenbach, Lewis B.
Secret Service
Seattle, Washington
To Secure These Rights
Shangri-La
Sherwood, Robert
Shoreham Hotel (Washington, D. C.)
Short, Joseph
on staff of President Truman
Short, Mrs. Joseph (Beth)
Simmons, William D.
Somervell, Brehon B.
Snyder, John W.
in Cabinet of President Truman
and relationship with Truman
South Carolina
Spain
Sparks, Wilbur D.
Spingarn, Arthur
Spingarn, Joel
Spingarn, Stephen J.
Springfield, Illinois
Sproul, Robert G.
State Department
States' Rights Party
Steelman, Dr. John R.
on staff of President Truman
Stettinius, Edward R., Jr., in the Cabinet of Harry S. Truman
Stevenson, Adlai E.
campaigns for Truman
relationship with Truman
Stimson, Henry L.
Stowe, David H.
Sullivan, Gael
Sullivan, John L.
Sun Flower Ordance Plant
Suydum, Hendrick
Symington, Senator W. Stuart
and administration of President Truman
Tabor, Representative John
Taft-Hartley Act
Ten Point Civil Rights Message
Tennessee Valley Authority
Texas, 1
Thomas, Senator Elbert
Thurmond, Senator J. Strom
Tobin, Maurice
Toomey, Marion
Toulmin, Harry Aubrey, Jr.
TransWorld Airlines (TWA)
Treasury Department
Truman, Harry S.
Acheson, Dean, in Cabinet of
administration of, his conduct of the office
Allen, George E., in the administration of
Americans for Democratic Action, opinion of
Anderson, Clinton P., in the Cabinet of
army camp visits
assassination attempt
Ayers, Eben, in the administration of
Barnes, James M., on the staff of
Barrows, Robert A., in the administration of
Bell, David E., on the staff of
Biddle, Francis, in the Cabinet of
Boyle, William, Jr., relationship with
Brannan, Charles, in the Cabinet of
Bray, William, on the staff of
Brown, Wilson, in the administration of
Brynes, James F., in the Cabinet of
Cabinet of
and Chandler, Albert B.
Chapman, Oscar, in the Cabinet of
Clark, Bennett, relationship with
Civil rights:
importance of his role in
support for
views on
Clifford, Clark:
assessment of Truman's chances in 1948 election
role in Truman administration
resignation of
Collett, John Caskie, in the administration of
Congressional liaison during the administration of
Connelly, Matthew J.:
and congressional liaison
evaluates Truman as President
as an executive assistant
first meeting with Truman
influence on Truman
Postmaster General position, offer of
Currie, Lauchlin, on the staff of
and Daniels, Jonathan
and Davies, Joseph
Dawson, Donald, on the staff of
decision maker, as a
Democratic National Convention, 1948
and Dennison, Robert L.
Donaldson, Jesse M., in the Cabinet of
Eightieth Congress, recalled for a special session by
Eisenhower, Dwight D., transition from administration of
Elsey, George, on the staff of
and Finletter, Thomas
Forrestal, James, in the Cabinet of
and Foskett, James A.
Frederick, J. Lawton, on staff of
Fritchey, Clayton, on the staff of
Fulton, Hugh, difficulties involving
Government operation, views on
Grand Coulee Dam, attends rededication of
Hannegan, Robert E., in the Cabinet of
Harriman, W. Averell, in the Cabinet of
and Hassett, William D.
and Hillman, William
and Hopkins, Harry L.
and Hume, Paul
Ickes, Harold L., in the Cabinet of
Johnson, Louis A., in the Cabinet of
Keech, Richmond B., on the staff of
Key West, Florida, vacations at
and Kimball, Dan
Korean invasion, attitude concerning
Krug, Julius A., in the Cabinet of
and Landry, Robert B.
and Leahy,William B.
Lloyd, David D., on the staff of
Locke, Edwin A., Jr., on the staff of
Lovett, Robert A., in the Cabinet of
and Lowenthal, Max
MacArthur, General Douglas, and Wake Island conference with
McCarthy, Joseph, makes charges against Truman staff members
McGrath, J. Howard, in the administration of
McKim, Edward D., on the staff of
McReynolds, William, on the staff of
Marshall, George C., in the Cabinet of
Matthews, Francis, in the administration of
Meader, George, on the staff of
Morganthau, Henry, Jr., in the Cabinet of
Murphy, Charles S., on the staff of
Nash, Philleo, on the staff of
Niles, David K., on the staff of
non-political trip of June, 1948
Pace, Frank, in the administration of
Parks, Franklin N., on the staff of
Patterson, Robert P., in the Cabinet of
Pendergast, Thomas J., funeral
Perkins, Francis, in the Cabinet of
Perlmeter, Irving, on the staff of
press conferences
pre-press conferences of
press leaks during the administration of
and pressure groups
public opinion mail
Presidential election campaign, 1944: campaigns during
Roosevelt, Franklin D., communications with Truman during
and Presidential election campaign, 1948 Also see main entry: Presidential
election campaign 1948
Presidential election campaign, 1952:
choice for a successor
decision not to run
Rigdon, William M., in the administration of
Roosevelt, Franklin D.:
communication with Truman in 1944 campaign
communication with Vice-President Truman
death of
health of
Rosenman, Judge Samuel I., in the administration of
Ross, Charles G., on the staff of
Royall, Kenneth C., on the staff of
Sawyer, Charles, in the Cabinet of
Schwellenbach, Lewis B., in the Cabinet of
and Senators involving the Truman Committee
Schoeneman, George J., on the staff of
Short, Joseph, as a staff assistant to
Snyder, John W.:
in the Truman Cabinet
relationship with Truman
Somervell. Brehon B., relations with
speaker, as a
and speechwriting
Spingarn, Stephen J., on the staff of
staff members
Connelly, Matthew J., comments on reported jealousies between
discussion of
meetings of
staffing problems
Steelman, Dr. John R., on the staff of
Stettinius, Edward R., Jr., in the Cabinet of
Stevenson, Adlai E., Presidential election campaign, 1952:
recruited by Truman
relationship with Truman
Stimson, Henry L „ in the Cabinet of
Stowe, David H., on the staff of
and Sullivan, John L.
Symington, Senator W. Stuart, in the administration of
Tobin, Maurice, in the Cabinet of
Tubby, Roger, on the staff of
and Vice-Presidential nomination in 1944
Vinson, Fred, in the Cabinet of
Wake Island conference
Walker, Frank, in the Cabinet of
Wallace, Henry A.:
n the Truman Cabinet
relationship with Truman
Walsh, Senator David, relationship with
White House reorganization
Wickard, Claude R., in the Cabinet of
Zimmerman, Raymond R., on the staff of
Truman, Mrs. Harry S. (Bess)
Truman Committee
Anskerry, Peter, on the staff of
assignments, procedure for
atomic energy, research plant at Hanover, Washington
budget for
committee reports
Connelly, Matthew J., hiring of and chief investigator for
defense housing investigation
field investigations
and Lasken, Morris
and Locke, Edwin A., Jr.
and Maletz, Herbert
and Mead, James
members of
meetings of
and Navy Department
and Nelson, Donald M.
and press
and Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC)
recruiting for
Robinson, Harold G., on the staff of
Sawyer, Haven, on the staff of
Senators on the committee and their relationship with Committee members
Sparks, Wilbur, on the staff of
staffing of
and Suydum, Hendrix
Toomey, Marion on the staff of
Truman, Harry S.:
as chairman of
discussion on the purpose of
relationship with the staff
War Department relations
War Production Board, relations with
Truman Doctrine
Truman, Margaret
Truman Presidency, The
Tubby, Roger
Tully, Grace
Turkey
Turner, Roy
Twenty-one point message
Tyree, John, Jr.
United Nations
University of California
University of Michigan
Vandenberg, Senator Arthur H.
Vardaman, Commodore James K.
Vaughan, Harry H.
Veterans Affairs, as coordinator for
Vinson, Fred M.:
as a Cabinet member
proposed mission to Moscow
Wake Island
Walker, Frank C.
Wallace, Henry A.
Madison Square Garden speech
as Secretary of Commerce
in Truman Cabinet
and Truman, Harry S.
Wallgren, Senator Mon C.
Walsh, Senator David I.
War Department
War Mobilization and Reconversion, Office of
War Production Board
Locke, Edwin A., Jr., as a member of
Truman Committee, relationship with
Warren, Earl
Washington, D. C.
Watson, General Edwin M. ("Pa")
Webb, James E.
West Virginia
Wheeler, Senator BurtoD K.
White House, reorganization of
White House Sailor
Wickard, Claude R.
Williamsburg, U.S.S.
Willkie, Wendell
Willow Run plant
Wilson, Arthur
Wilson, Woodrow
Windom, Jim
Wolf, Agnes Strauss
Wolf Creek Ordnance Plant
Worcester, Massachusetts
Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Yale Law School
Yalta
Young, Lauretta
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and Restrictions | List of Subjects Discussed]
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