Interview with Frank Lenihan

Partial Transcript: How did they become such friends?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan explains the friendships between her parents and the Callahan's over politics and community work.

Keywords: convention; newspaper; press

Subjects: Good Shepherd Church Benedict Elder The Record

Partial Transcript: Did Elder and Callahan get along?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan details P.H. Callahan's relationship with Elder and their trip to the 1928 Houston Democratic Convention, which saw wet-Democrat Al Smith nominated for president.

Keywords: democratic convention

Subjects: Benedict Elder Al Smith prohibition William McAdoo

Partial Transcript: How old was your father in relation to Callahan?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan discusses the political relationship between Callahan and Boldrick, reviewing events when they clashed with one another on some topical matters. She later recalls Callahan's friendship with other notable Louisvillians and some of his progressive stances.

Keywords: polio; democratic party; civil rights; distillery

Subjects: Charles Boldrick Franklin D. Roosevelt Wendell Wilkie William McAdoo Charles Farnsley

Partial Transcript: Tell you what, I hope to start writing a book on Callahan and I might well borrow some pictures... who's Mr. McAtee?

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Ellis discusses his plans to write a book about Callahan, and Mrs. Lenihan shares photos, poems, and other documents relating to Callahan as well as detailing some of his hobbies.

Keywords: delegates; corespondence; trips; politics; opera

Subjects: Ella Cromwell Archdiocese of Louisville

Partial Transcript: Why did Callahan become such a strong figure?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan explains why Callahan became such a dominant figure in Louisville politics, discussing part of his family and upbringing as well as his relationship with the press.

Keywords: alcohol; family

Subjects: John Herchenroeder Courier-Journal Robert Callahan Louisville Varnish Company

Partial Transcript: Callahan, as far as I know, he said he had very little say about Prohibition until the '20s.

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan talks about Callahan's dry politics and his travels across Kentucky, recounting their visit to Harlan county during the coal strike throughout the 1920s.

Keywords: school; secretary; dry; coal; trial

Subjects: Elizabeth Yeager Columbia, KY Will Rodgers Lynch, KY Bloody Harlan Courier-Journal

Partial Transcript: What sort of speaker was Callahan?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan describes Callahan's personality and ideals, recounting some of the stories he'd tell as well as his connection to the Binghams of the Courier-Journal.

Keywords: humor; wealth distribution; lawyer; folklore

Subjects: profit-sharing Louisville Varnish Company Elizabeth Yeager Tom Kellerman Filson Club William Jennings Bryan Ireland Barry Bingham Sr. Edith Callahan Glenview Robert W. Bingham

Partial Transcript: What, how is Mrs. Edith?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan discusses the life of Edith Callahan following her husbands death, explaining her living situation as well as social events. Mrs. Lenihan then details P.H. Callahan's brief stint at baseball.

Keywords: nurses; socialite; interview

Subjects: River Valley Club Billy Sunday

Partial Transcript: I didn't know the Bingham's and the Callahan's were close?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan discusses the main political figures her father and Callahan supported or disapproved of, mentioning the main events of the time. She later talks about Callahan's relationship with some notable politicians and how one of them landed him in some trouble with the press.

Keywords: local; republicans; democrats; correspondence; letters; gambling; prohibition

Subjects: William Jennings Bryan Filson Club Watergate Charles Farley Kentucky Derby Courier-Journal Louisville Varnish Compay

Partial Transcript: Callahan liked sweets so much, is that what you remember?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan recalls Callahan's love of sweets and their Thanksgiving dinners, sharing that Mrs. Callahan even made treats for the police dogs.

Keywords:

Subjects: Robert Callahan Edith Callahan

Partial Transcript: Did Callahan say much about his ancestry?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan discusses Callahan's Irish ancestry and the ways it connected him in Louisville. She later talks about Callahan's views of the Irish and his unusual stance on alcohol as a Catholic.

Keywords: poets; "you-all"; monastery; evolution

Subjects: County Mayo Ireland Edith Callahan Robert Emmet Kentucky Colonel Knights of St. John Kentucky Irish-American Mike Berry

Partial Transcript: He came to Eastern several times, and maybe you might have traveled to Richmond a few times?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan recalls Callahan's visit to college campuses and her own education. She comments that Callahan was more conservative in his outlook, and had problems with some curriculum.

Keywords: evolution

Subjects: Morehead State University William Jennings Bryan

Partial Transcript: What did other Catholics think of Callahan?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan discusses Callahan's relationship with other Catholic leaders in Louisville, and mentions times where he clashed with some papers over his views. She later comments on Callahan's opinion of the Bishops and Archbishops of Louisville.

Keywords: prohibition; dry; radio

Subjects: Kentucky Irish-American Mike Berry Courier-Journal John Berry Al Smith William George McCloskey John Floersh

Partial Transcript: How do you remember the correspondence?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan recollects on the Callahan Correspondence when she was young, and tries to remember certain people Callahan would send letters too. She later talks about his involvement in the community and charities, as well as his love of opera.

Keywords: secretary

Subjects: Sam Boldrick Louisville Varnish Company Marvin McIntyre Federal Coal Board

Partial Transcript: At the Varnish Company, what was the image of the Louisville Varnish Company?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan discusses some of the employees at the Varnish Company, and later details Callahan's hiring strategy.

Keywords: seminarian; catholic

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: How many secretaries did he have?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan adds more details on the Varnish Company, and recalls the 1937 flood that destroyed the company's first warehouse.

Keywords: WWI; chicago branch; fire; flood; explosion; radio

Subjects: Elizabeth Yeager Sam Boldrick

Partial Transcript: Did you know that H.L Mencken and Callahan corresponded?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan details Callahan's contacts with major local and national political figures and the kind of issues he discussed with them. She later talks about how Callahan handled the Varnish Company and political campaigns and talks about his activism in state politics.

Keywords: memorial; amendments; governor; WWI; business; race

Subjects: Franklin D. Roosevelt William Jennings Bryan Alben Barkley

Partial Transcript: John became president after Callahan died, and then who took over after?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan briefly discusses Callahan's sons and successors, John and Robert, and recalls their personality and hobbies.

Keywords: press

Subjects: John Callahan Robert Callahan

Partial Transcript: In the tape, you had mentioned the Catholic Conversation...

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan shares details on the Catholic Conversation and Callahan's own role and potential problems with the organization.

Keywords: ministers

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: What about baseball?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan discusses some of Callahan's favorite hobbies, and talks about his first dream of becoming a professional baseball player.

Keywords: records

Subjects: Billy Sunday

Partial Transcript: As far as Louisville churches, or Catholic churches... [inaudible] any differences?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Lenihan discusses the difference between the German Catholics and Irish Catholics in Louisville, and discussing Callahan's involvement in some Irish groups.

Keywords: germantown; WWI; sermons; brigade; order

Subjects: St. Louis Bertrand Catholic Church St. Vincent de Paul