John Anthony Danaher papers

The John Anthony Danaher Papers consist primarily of Danaher's files for his one term in the United States Senate (1939-1945). The files, which include political and constituent correspondence, speeches, back-ground material, copies of legislation, and clippings, document Danaher's service on the Judiciary, Finance, and Banking and Currency Committees. The papers highlight Danaher's efforts to prevent United States involvement in the war in Europe, his questioning of the aims of post-war foreign policy, and his actions to safeguard domestic liberty against possible incursions by the wartime government. The papers also contain files relating to Danaher's service as a Republican national committeeman, congressional aide, executive director of the Republican U.S. Senatorial Campaign (1948), and director of the special activities division for the 1952 Republican presidential campaign. In addition the papers include scrapbooks and a few files which document Danaher's pre-senatorial career.

The papers, which Danaher gave to the Yale University Library in 1969, 1978, and 1979, are arranged in three series and two additions: I. U.S. Senate Correspondence Files, 1936-1945; II. U.S. Senate Subject Files, 1919-1953; III. General Files, 1916-1979.

The first two series, which comprise the bulk of the papers, document Danaher's senatorial career; both contain materials on topics of Danaher's concern such as neutrality, lend-lease legislation, money and monetary policy, and Connecticut politics. The two series, however, include only a relatively small and select portion of Danaher's files from his senatorial office. At the time, Danaher left office in 1945 he had no place to deposit or preserve his files. He estimated that some six tons of material from 96 file drawers were destroyed. Series III contains material from Danaher's pre- and post-senatorial careers and relates primarily to his campaign efforts for the Republican Party between 1945 and 1952.

Series I, U.S. SENATE CORRESPONDENCE FILES, contains political and constituent correspondence, speeches, clippings, background material, political memorabilia, and legislation files, which are arranged according to a filing system established by Danaher's senatorial office staff. The system included ten filing categories: 1. General material; 2. JAD personal material; 3. Legislative files; 4. Position file; 5. Immigration and naturalization files; 6. Documents file; 7. Veteran's cases; 8: Bills introduced by JAD; 9. Post office; and Committee files, which were not given a numeric designation. The filing system is described fully in memoranda and notes included in folders 634 and 635 Portions of files 1-3, 8, and Committee files are included in Series I. The section heading General correlates with 1; Personal with 2; Legislation with 3; Bills with 8; and Committeeswith Committee files. Each section contains material from the 76th, 77th, and 78th Congress. The staff made pink cross-reference sheets to identify related material in other files. These are not comprehensive, however.

The General section includes cases, complaints, and inquiries concerning political and military affairs. The staff also made special files for important people and organizations and frequent correspondents. Many headings are topical and correspondence with friends and colleagues may be filed under a topical heading as well as a personal name. The files include correspondence with political associates such as Nathan Schatz, Raymond E. Baldwin, and J. Kenneth Bradley; representatives of the Connecticut press such as Maurice Sherman, Stewart Hoskins, William Downey, George Clapp, and Robert Byrnes; and Danaher's law partner Alex W. Creedon. Danaher's views on neutrality are reflected in correspondence with George K. Whitney of the Hartford America First Committee. Public response to Danaher's speech at an America First rally is included in folders 117-121. Edwin Borchard, of the Yale Law School, a well-known exponent of neutrality, acted as an adviser to Danaher on foreign affairs as well as Judiciary Committee matters. His correspondence is filed in numerous places in Series I but is concentrated in folders 63-65 and 152-153. For additional Borchard-Danaher material see the Edwin M. Borchard Papers (MS 670). Opposition to Danaher's isolationism is reflected in files for the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies (folder 68), Connecticut United Nations Association (folder 177), and Eleanor Taft Tilton (folders 274-275a). For additional papers on this topic see the papers of the Hartford and Connecticut Chapters of the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies (MS 66).

The Personal section includes some exchanges with Danaher family members, invitations, requests for autographs and photographs, and compilations of and quotes from Danaher's speeches. The section does not include any business or confidential correspondence.

The Legislative category was established by the staff for constituent correspondence on any legislation except that handled by one of Danaher's committees. The correspondence reflects public concern on neutrality issues, lend-lease proposals, conscription, and post-war foreign policy. Danaher's replies are often thoughtful reflections on issues and detailed explanations of his position. Correspondents include James Rowland Angell, Charles Beard, and Irving Fisher.

The Committees section documents Danaher's service on the Committees on Banking and Currency, Judiciary, Finance, and Patents. The files do not contain routine constituent correspondence; any correspondence present relates background information on proposed legislation. Many items were sent by the offices of other senators, the Department of Justice, or the Treasury Department. The files also include notices of committee meetings, agendas, hearing transcripts, and background printed material. There are sizeable files on the various war powers acts, insurance regulation, the Office of War Information, the Board of Economic Warfare, and the yearly tax bills. Folder 363 contains a daily diary showing Danaher's research and actions on one such piece of legislation.

The section Bills relates to very specific pieces of legislation introduced by Danaher. The files contain copies of the bills as well as correspondence pertaining to them.

The last section in Series I, Campaign 1938, contains the correspondence from Danaher's successful senatorial campaign, which is composed primarily of letters of congratulation and Danaher's acknowledgements. The files are arranged in weekly chronological divisions and correspondence is alphabetical therein. Correspondence is filed according to the date of Danaher's reply.

Series II, U.S. SENATE SUBJECT FILES; contains a small quantity of additional correspondence as well as more printed material, clippings, press releases, speeches, and legislative bills. This material is all, arranged by topic. The collected material represents a wide spectrum of political thought, and there are standard government and Republican Party publications, as well as pamphlets of politically active Catholic organizations; virulent anti-Semitic groups such as the American Tribunal; isolationist organizations such as American First; and pro-British groups such as Union Now. Although the series is not described in the memoranda of the office filing system some files contain the office's pink cross-reference sheets which locate similar topical material in other files. Major topics in the series include: U.S. foreign policy, neutrality, aid to the allies, banking and currency, Connecticut politics, monetary policy, and the Republican Party. These subjects are also reflected in the collection of Danaher's speeches filed in folders 677-690. Materials in folders 700-703 summarize Danaher's senatorial voting record. The folders contain sheets giving the outcome of voting on individual bills and Danaher's position. To these sheets Danaher often attached a memo to further record and explain the position he had taken.

Series III, GENERAL FILES, contains the only material in the papers documenting Danaher's pre- and post-senatorial career. The correspondence, printed matter, speeches, and scrapbooks primarily concern Danaher's work as a congressional and campaign adviser for the Republican Party. Campaign material is included in folders 712-735, 742-746, 750-751, 796-807, and 842 and in box 74. The Chronological section of the series includes some personal papers relating to Danaher's appointments to various offices, property, legal matters, letters of recommendation, and reminiscences. The scrapbooks in boxes 72 and 73 are the best source of information on Danaher's pre-senatorial career. Folders 808-809 also concern this period.