Fred M. Vinson began his political career as a small-town Kentucky lawyer and rose to positions of authority in all three branches of the federal government, ultimately becoming Chief Justice of the United States. In this first major biographical treatment, James E. St. Clair and Linda C. Gugin offer an in-depth analysis of one of the few Kentuckians to reach the highest levels of government in the twentieth century.
Born in Louisa, Kentucky, in 1890, Vinson credited his humble upbringing on the Big Sandy River for instilling in him his well-known warmth and generosity, traits that contributed to his success. He earned undergraduate and law degrees from Centre College in Danville before launching his political career in earnest in 1921, when he was elected Kentucky's commonwealth attorney.
Vinson entered the sphere of national politics in 1923 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. During his twelve years in the legislature, he compiled a solid record of service and achievement, gaining the respect of Republicans as well as Democrats. He was at center stage in the formative years of the New Deal, and his expertise in tax and fiscal matters helped him shape such pivotal legislation as Social Security.
In 1938, Roosevelt appointed him Judge of the Federal Appeals Court for the District of Columbia, the first of several assignments. Because of his willingness to undertake even the most difficult jobs given to him by Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, he earned the nickname "Available Vinson." He tackled a succession of key executive-branch positions, including Director of Economic Stabilization, in which he presided over nearly every facet of the home-front economy during World War II. He also served as Federal Loan Administrator and Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion.
When Harry Truman assembled his cabinet in 1945, he selected Vinson as his Secretary of the Treasury. He became one of Truman's closest confidants, and in June 1946, Truman appointed him the thirteenth Chief Justice of the United States, hoping that Vinson's amiability and reputation as a mediator could bring harmony to the badly splintered court. During Vinson's tenure, the court was embroiled in critical issues of individual rights, especially questions of freedom of expression and association and the legality of racial discrimination.
Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson of Kentucky: A Political Biography offers a wealth of insight into one of the most significant and highly regarded political figures to emerge from Kentucky. The biography sheds light not only on a politician but also on the pivotal era in the country's history in which he flourished.
James E. St. Clair is associate professor of journalism at Indiana University Southeast. Linda C. Gugin is professor of political science at Indiana University Southeast.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
ix
Introduction
xi
1.
A Long Journey from "Jail"
1
2.
The Capitol as His Oyster
20
3.
Rapid Recovery and Rise
47
4.
The Loyal Lieutenant
65
5.
Vinson's Transition from Legislator to Jurist
94
6.
Available Vinson
125
7.
The Chief Justice and His Court
156
8.
The Chief Justice, the President, and the Politics of Economic Stabilization
190
9.
Individual Rights in the Cold War Climate
231
10.
The Dilemma of Due Process and the Promise of Equality
