Hannegan, Robert E. Papers

Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1943-45; Postmaster General of the United States, 1945-47; Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, 1944-47

The collection primarily documents Hannegan's career in the above mentioned positions and is likely the remnant of a larger group of papers, most of which have not survived. Slightly over half the collection is composed of such commemorative materials as scrapbooks and albums holding letters from famous people, including Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, photographs, mimeographed copies of speeches, and newspaper clippings.

[Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List]

Size: 6.4 linear feet (about 12,800 pages and 875 photographs) 
Access: Open, with the exception that a small amount of material has been closed in accordance with the provisions of the donor's deed of gift.
Copyright: Mrs. Irma P. Hannegan donated her copyright interest in any of Robert E. Hannegan's unpublished writings in this collection or any other collection in the custody of the United States Government to the people of the United States. In addition documents prepared by United States Government employees in the course of their official duties are also in the public domain. Copyright interest in documents that do not fall in the above two categories is presumed to remain with the writers of the documents.
Processed by: Patrick Lynn, Dennis Bilger, and Sharie Simon (1993); Dennis E. Bilger, Sue Linhardt, and Randy Sowell (2001).

The papers of Robert E. Hannegan document primarily his work as Commissioner of Internal Revenue from l943 to l945, as Postmaster General of the United States from l945 to l947, and as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from l944 to l947. There is also some information about Hannegan's family and early life, and his position as head of the St. Louis Cardinals. The collection is probably the remnant of a larger group of papers, most of which have not survived.

The collection consists of six series. The Correspondence File contains letters, notes and telegrams sent to Hannegan by Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, and by many other notable people. The correspondence was mounted in albums by the Hannegan family. Much, though by no means all, of the correspondence is ceremonial in character. Among the topics covered are the l944 Democratic National Convention, the l944 campaign, Hannegan's resignations from his government positions, and his death.

;The Subject File documents primarily Hannegan's position as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. The many files on government agencies are concerned mainly with appointments. The series also contains materials that reflect Hannegan's special interest in labor legislation. Photocopies of materials relating to Hannegan in the holdings of several other repositories are filed under the names of the repositories. A list of presidential nominations and of confirmed appointments is filed at the beginning of the series.

The Speech File contains reading copies, mimeographed copies and a few transcripts of speeches that Hannegan made primarily as Democratic Party spokesman during the l944 and l946 campaigns. His work as Postmaster General is also documented. The series also includes printed versions of a few speeches of James A. Farley, and a press release of President Truman's address to Congress of August l6, l945. Audio recordings of a few of Hannegan's speeches, which came to the Library with his papers, have been transferred to the audiovisual collection. Cross reference sheets for these recordings are in the Audiovisual File.

The Scrapbook and Printed Materials File contains newspaper clippings, mimeographed copies of speeches and statements, press releases, a small amount of correspondence, and several other types of material relating primarily to Hannegan's government career. The first scrapbook in the series, which is present only as a photocopy , contains information about Hannegan's father and his early life. One scrapbook, entitled, "Washington's Birthday Party" documents a Democratic Party fundraising event in Dallas, Texas that both Harry S. Truman and Lyndon Johnson attended; another scrapbook contains memorabilia from the l944 Democratic National Convention; yet another has mimeographed copies of speeches and press releases that document Hannegan's government service. The remaining scrapbooks in the series are collections of invitations and souvenir printed items. Most of the rest of the series is composed of newspaper and magazine clippings. An attendance register listing people who attended Hannegan's funeral is filed near the end of the series.

The Audiovisual File contains photocopies of photographs that have been transferred to the audiovisual collection, and a cross reference sheet for several sound recordings of Hannegan's speeches. The series maintains the arrangement in albums that Hannegan gave the photographs. In the first seven albums the photographs are arranged chronologically. In the remainder the arrangement is by subject. Subjects covered include honorary dinners given for Hannegan and Truman by the Knights of the Cauliflower Ear, a testimonial dinner given by the Association of Postal Supervisors, Hannegan's trip to Tokyo in July l946, his attendance at "Flying Post Office Ceremonies" in September l946, and his vacation in Miami Beach in about l946.

A new series, the General File, was added to the Robert E. Hannegan Papers as an accretion in 2001. It consists mostly of personal correspondence to Robert Hannegan and to his widow, Irma Hannegan, along with newspaper clippings, other printed material, and additional items. Included in the series are many Christmas messages, wedding announcements, and letters of condolence following Robert Hannegan’s death in 1949. Much of the correspondence is from officials in the Truman administration and other prominent persons. There is relatively little documentation in this series of Hannegan’s official duties. The General File does contain some information about Hannegan’s relations with Roosevelt and Truman, and the role he played in the nomination of Truman for Vice President at the 1944 Democratic National Convention. Copies of many of the documents in the General File can also be found in an earlier series, the Correspondence File.

Other collections at the Truman Library relating to Robert E. Hannegan and the Post Office Department include the papers of Harry S. Truman (White House Central Files: Official File l9), Paul Aiken, and Jesse Donaldson. Collections pertaining to Hannegan and the Democratic National Committee include the papers of Harry S. Truman (President's Secretary's Files: Political File), William M. Boyle, Jr., India Edwards, Edward H. Foley, Jr., and John M. Redding; and the records of the Democratic National Committee.

The famous note from President Roosevelt to Robert E. Hannegan, dated July l9, l944, indicating Roosevelt's willingness to have Truman as his vice presidential running mate in l944, was given to President Truman by Mrs. Hannegan in l960. The note exists in two forms, one handwritten by President Roosevelt, the other typed and signed by the President; both versions were given to Truman by Mrs. Hannegan. They were in the possession of the Truman family until l985, when they were deeded to the Truman Library. They were filed at that time in the Miscellaneous Historical Documents Collection (#4l5), which had included for many years a copy of the carbon copy of the typed version of the note, which is in the holdings of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library. The original notes and the copy of the carbon copy have all been transferred to this collection; they are filed in the Subject File under the title, "President Roosevelt's Note to Robert E. Hannegan, July l9, l944."