The Oyez Project: William O. Douglas Interview Tapes

Tape 1, Side A

This is the first of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Selection for the court: Nomination by Roosevelt; Senate confirmation; Conference under Hughes' chief justiceship; Harlan Stone was critical of Hughes; Hoover offered Hughes the Chief Justiceship expecting him to turn it down and then give it to Stone; An icy relationship between Stone and Black.

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G.Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 10, Side A,B

This is the 11th of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: The decision on the Nazi saboteurs case, the Ex Parte Quirin in 317 U.S. 1.; Justice Jackson's telegram to the chairmen of the judiciary committees and the appointment of Chief Justice Vinson; Jewell Ridge case; Comparison of Chief Justice Vinson to other Chiefs Douglas had worked under; Vinson's relationship with Justices Jackson, Black and Frankfurter

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 11, Side A,B

This is the 12th of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Justice Frankfurter's stroke; How Douglas selected law clerks; Associate Justice's role in the judicial conference of the United States; Douglas' views on extra-judicial work for Supreme Court Justices; The strained relationship between Frankfurter and Vinson; Chief justice's ability to unify the court is limited

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 12, Side A

This is the 13th of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: How justices negotiate and secure a majority behind a particular opinion; Douglas' opinion of Justice Reed as a man and a judge; Brandeis' economic philosophy and it's effect on his judgments; Background on the appointments of Justices Clark and Minton; Details on the conference discussion on Dennis v. United States; Discussion of the steel-seizure case (Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer)

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 13, Side A,B

This is the 14th of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Background on the appointment of Chief Justice Warren; Warren's voting record and willingness to dissent; Douglas' opinion on the first amendment as an absolute bar to libel suits; The conference discussion on United States v. South-Eastern Underwriters; The conference on Brown v. Board of Education and how the decisions were made unanimously; Douglas' opinion of Thomas Corcoran as a person or public servant; Douglas' experiences with Harry Hopkins; The defeat of Frank Graham

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 14, Side A,B

This is the 15th of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: The positions of Justices Reed, Frankfurter, Clark, Black and Douglas on the necessity of unanimity on the school-segregation issue; Roosevelt's summer tasks for Douglas; Justice Black's offer to resign and help Roosevelt in his third-term campaign; Background on the appointments of Justices Harlan and Stewart; Douglas' process for dealing with petitions for certiorari; Discussion of why Stanley Reed retired; How supreme court staff positions are filled; How the Chief assigns opinion writing

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 15, Side A,B

This is the 16th of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Discussion of a mandatory retirement age; Douglas' preferred style of oral argument; Conference discussion on Jackson v. Alabama and Naim v. Naim; Conference on the Rosenberg case

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 16, Side A,B

This is the 17th of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Discussion of the conference on both Williams v. Georgia decisions; Discussion of the conference on Watkins v. United States; Discussion of the conference on Barenblatt v. United States; Discussion of the conference on the New York school prayer case, Engel v. Vitale; Douglas' "confidential missions" for President Truman in the Near and Middle East; Douglas' letter to Truman on his decision to relieve General MacArthur; Douglas' opinion of the Truman presidency

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 17, Side A

This is the 18th of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Douglas' recollection of Hughes' role in Vinson's nomination; Discussion of the conference on N.A.A.C.P. v. Button; Discussion of the conference on Gideon v. Wainwright; How decisions were dealt with while Brennan was being confirmed by the Senate; Douglas' opinion of Henry Morgenthau; Why Douglas joined the majority on the Korematsu case even though he had drafted a dissenting opinion

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 18, Side A

This is the last of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Douglas' level of participation in conference; Differences between Stone and Vinson conferences; The development of Frank Murphy's ideology; Murphy and Black's relationship; How Justice Black changed his mind on the Martin v. Struthers doorbell ringing case; Order of opinion circulation in Adamson v. California; Justice Murphy's original vote in the milkwagon drivers case; Douglas' opinions in the Thomas v. Collins and Terminiello v. Chicago cases

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 2, Side A,B

This is the second of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: A comparison between Hughes' and Stone's Chief Justiceship; How the docket was subdivided; Differences between how the court handles cases that arise on certiorari as opposed to appeal; Personal feelings on being a Supreme Court justice; Douglas' first opinion: the Powers case; Seriatim opinions; Opinions of Justices McReynolds and Butler; Recollection of the conference on the Gobitis, flag-salute case

Tape 3, Side A

This is the third of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Rationale for decisions in the Gobitis and other flag-salute cases; Rationale for the decision in the Jones v. City of Opelika, religious; Douglas' opinion writing methodology and how it changed over time; How Douglas and Black became friends; Jackson as a Solicitor General; The Sunshine Anthracite Company case; Hughes and the "direct-indirect effects doctrine"; Douglas' opinion of Chief Justice Hughes' career

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 4, Side A

This is the fourth of 19 files, a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Douglas' opinion of Chief Justice Hughes' career; Douglas' opinion of Justice Roberts; Chief Justice Hughes impact on the nomination of Stone for Chief Justice; Cantwell v. Connecticut

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 5, Side A

This is the fifth of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Douglas' opinion on the role of the Court in protecting interstate commerce; Douglas' opinion of Jimmy Byrnes as a justice; Douglas' recollection of Rutledge's appointment; Explanation of Douglas' deference towards administrative agencies; Resignation of Justice Roberts; Hughes' "Special List"

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 6, Side A,B

This is the sixth of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Retirement of Chief Justice Hughes; Prediction of the South-Eastern Underwriters decision in 1944 and it's effect on Justice Roberts; Background on the appointments of Justices Black and Frankfurter; Douglas' relationship with Joseph Kennedy; Douglas' opinion of Mariner Eccles

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 7a, Side A,B

This is the seventh of 19 tapes, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Douglas' opinion of Justice Murphy as a judge; The Right Reverend John Scherl; Douglas' role in the creditor's rights and corporate reorganization cases; United States v. Pink and Douglas' views on executive prerogative; Justice McReynold's anti-Semitism; The Bridges v. California decision process; The relationship between Justices Hughes and Black

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 7b, Side A,B

This is the eighth of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

Tape 7b Side A, B;

TOPICS: Douglas' views on Baker v. Carr; Background on the appointment of Byron White; Buck v. Bell

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 8, Side A

This is the ninth of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Conference discussion of Hirabayashi v. United States and Korematsu v. United States; Background of Justice Burton's appointment; Douglas as a possible Vice-presidential nominee

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.

Tape 9, Side A,B

This is the tenth of 19 files, from a collection of interviews recorded from 1961 to 1963 between Justice William O. Douglas and Professor Walter F. Murphy of Princeton University. More details on the interviews can be found here.

TOPICS: Douglas as a possible Vice-presidential nominee; Douglas' opinion on the value of Amicus Curiae briefs; Douglas' opinion of Justice Rutledge as a man and judge; Douglas' friendship with and opinion of Harold Ickes; Douglas reminisces about Franklin D. Roosevelt; The change in minority opinion on Kramer v. U.S.

These interviews are subject to a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" license. In sum, the terms of the license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work so long as: (1) you give the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University credit; (2) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and (3) you do not make derivative works from this work.