Biography: Homer E. Capehart

Claude Billings, formerly a prominent member of the Republican Editorial Association, recalls and discusses the political career of Homer E. Capehart. Billings speaks of Capehart's rise to political power in the context of the Indiana state political framework, the organization of the Indiana state Republican Party, national and international politics and events, and he discusses other politically powerful individuals and groups in Indiana. Billings recalls his relations with Ralph F. Gates, William E. Jenner, and Wendell L. Willkie, and how Homer Capehart was associated with each of these Indiana political figures.

Born on September 3, 1895, Arch N. Bobbitt was a judge of the Indiana Supreme Court beginning in 1951. In this interview, he recalls and discusses the political history and career of Homer E. Capehart. Bobbitt speaks of the Republican Party, its changing status in the state of Indiana, the dynamics of the Indiana Senate, and how each of these things affected Capehart's political aspirations. Bobbitt managed Capehart's senate campaign. Bobbitt also discusses the 1938 Cornfield Conference of Republicans organized by Capehart, and he speaks of other prominent players in Indiana state politics including Wendell L. Willkie, Charlie Jewett, and William E. Jenner.

Marion C. "Bill" Borders was a school mate and life-long friend of Homer Capehart, United States senator from Indiana from 1945 to 1963. Borders reflects on their boyhoods together and Capehart's many business ventures and early political career.

Born on September 6, 1893, John W. Bricker is a former United States senator from Ohio who served with Homer E. Capehart in the United States Senate. In this interview, Bricker recalls Capehart's personality and character, the Senate committees he served on, the stands he took, and aspects of his personal life. In addition, Bricker recalls his own political past, including the proposed Bricker amendment. He emphasizes the influence of the fear of communism in Congress in the nineteen fifties, but gives a different, more forgiving portrayal of Joseph R. McCarthy. Finally, Bricker talks of Robert A. Taft and others, and the inter-relations of Capehart within the United States senate.

Born on October 29, 1922, Homer E. Capehart, Jr. speaks of his father, Homer E. Capehart, Sr., and of his family in this interview. He gives insight into his father's personality and character, and his father's career as a businessman and politician. For example, Capehart, Jr. recalls his father's patent on phonographs, his organization of the Cornfield Conference and the beginning of his association with the Republican Party, and his relations with various politicians, senators, and United States presidents.

Homer Earl Capehart was born in Algriers, Indiana, in 1897, to parents Susan Kelso and Alvin Capehart. He attended public schools in Indiana and graduated from high school in Polo, Illinois, in 1916. During World War I, he enlisted as a private in the United States Army, was promoted to sergeant, and served in the 12th Infantry from 1917 to 1919. He married Irma Mueller in 1922, with whom he had three children, Thomas, Earl Jr., and Patricia. Capehart served in the United States Senate from Indiana from 1945 to 1963. He was defeated for re-election in 1962. He describes his early life, and business and political careers.

Benjamin R. Cole discusses Homer E. Capehart's relations with the press throughout his political career. In the process, Cole reveals some of the characteristics of Capehart's personality and his political messages and methods. He discusses the impact of communism and the Cold War on Capehart's senate career and also speaks of Joseph R. McCarthy. In addition, Cole relates how Capehart described the making of his fortune through the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company.

Larry Conrad, the campaign manager of Birch E. Bayh, Jr. in the 1962 senate campaign against Homer E. Capehart, discusses his recollections of the election. He describes his ideas on the reasons why Bayh won and Capehart lost, in addition to outlining Bayh's campaign strategy. Conrad discusses the needs and interests of the citizens of Indiana at that time, the input and actions of John F. Kennedy during the campaign, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the influence of fear of communism. In addition, he speaks of other political figures, including Matthew Welsh and Albert B. "Happy" Chandler.

In this interview, W.R. Deaton, a regional manager and salesman, discusses his association with Homer E. Capehart and comments on the manufacturing of music systems and equipment in the Holcomb and Hoke Manufacturing Company, the Capehart Phonograph Corporation, and the Rudolf Wurlitzer Company. In addition, he speaks of Capehart's political career in the United States Senate

Ray S. Donaldson, born 1910, was an Indiana native who, after graduating from Harvard Law School in 1935, returned to Indiana to practice. In 1936, he met Homer Capehart. The two became friends and when Mr. Capehart became a congressman in 1946, Donaldson went to Washington, D.C. along with him, serving as his administrative assistant for the next four years. Mr. Donaldson primarily discusses his years in Washington, D.C., Mr. Capehart's congressional agenda, and important issues in national politics at the time.

Born on March 26, 1892, Paul H. Douglas served as a United States senator from the state of Illinois. In this interview, he discusses his fellow senator, Homer E. Capehart. Though the two were on opposing sides of many issues, Douglas describes his later conciliation and friendliness with Capehart. He discusses Capehart's voting patterns and political history, putting these into the context of the political dynamic of the senate and the events of the times. Specific issues, which both senators tackled include environmental legislation, the Indiana Dunes, the basing point system, and the Federal Housing Administration investigation. In addition, Douglas speaks of other political figures such as William Simon, William E. Jenner, and Burnet R. Maybank.

Born on July 28, 1904, Charles Leroy Egenroad was a former newspaperman who discusses the years he spent as senator Homer E. Capehart's administrative assistant and personal business representative in this interview. From his position as a member of the professional staff for the Senate Banking and Currency Committee, Egenroad shares his perceptions of Capehart's political career and associations, including Hubert H. Humphrey, Herbert H. Lehman, and Charles W. Tobey. Egenroad discusses Capehart's political actions and/or positions including those related to the Cornfield Conference, export-import bank legislation, and foreign aid.

Ralph Gates served as governor of Indiana from 1945 to 1949. He met Homer Capehart in 1937. Mr. Gates primarily talks about Capehart's political career and the Republican Party of Indiana.

Homer E. Capehart and his sister, Bessie Haskins, born in 1897 and died in 1979, discuss their youth and family in Illinois and Indiana. They speak extensively about their father and other close relatives. Mrs. Haskins recalls her brother's love of and talent for baseball as a boy, while Mr. Capehart remembers his high school success in track and field. In addition, Mr. Capehart comments on enlisting during World War I, the practice of tenant farming, his employment history, and his salesmanship skills.

Born in 1898, John S. Hastings discusses his relationship with Homer E. Capehart, Capehart's political career, and his character. Hastings attributes his own rise to the position of senior judge of the United States court of appeals, seventh circuit in Chicago, directly to the sponsorship and support of Homer E. Capehart. In this interview, Hastings speaks of Indiana politics, the revivification of the Republican Party in Indiana by means of the Cornfield Conference, and many of Capehart's closest colleagues, including Paul Bausman and James W. Carr.

Born in 1914, John L. Ingoldsby, Jr., a successful attorney, speaks of his relationship with and thoughts about former United States senator, Homer E. Capehart. Through Ingoldsby's active involvement in the legal end of international business and Capehart's interest in this area, especially in Latin America, the two men shared many opinions and interests. In this interview, Ingoldsby comments on Capehart as a man, a senator, a friend, and a politician and also discusses Capehart's defeat in the 1962 senatorial campaign.

William H. Krieg and his wife, Virginia B. Krieg, speak about their close connections to and perceptions of Homer E. Capehart. Mr. Krieg ran Capehart's company for him from 1946 to 1949 during several of Capehart's years in the United States senate. The Kriegs and the Capeharts vacationed together in Europe in the post-World War II era, an experience which revealed to the Kriegs the respect and special treatment United States senators such as Capehart received in Europe at that time. In addition, the Kriegs discuss Capehart's business history including commentary on the Capehart Phonograph Corporation and the Packard Manufacturing Company. Finally, the Kriegs describe Capehart's character, personality, and the events surrounding Capehart's 1962 loss to Birch E. Bayh, Jr. in the United States senatorial race.

Born in 1898, Adeline C. Lehman attended school with senator Homer E. Capehart during his childhood and adolescence. In this interview, she recalls physical impressions, memories of events, and political and general opinions about Capehart. Overall, the interview reveals her pride in and respect for senator Capehart and the job he had done.

Frank McHale, an active lifetime Democrat, speaks about Homer E. Capehart and Capehart's career in this interview. McHale had a great respect for Capehart's representation of business interests in Congress. He also speaks of Capehart in the context of both national and Indiana state politics and the Democratic and Republican political parties. In addition, McHale describes his perceptions regarding World War I, World War II, the importance and decline in patriotism in American society, and Prohibition. He also details his experiences regarding the Ku Klux Klan activities in the state of Indiana.

Felix M. McWhirter, born in 1886, tells about his first meeting with Homer Capehart while interviewee was treasurer of State Republican Committee. He tells about Capeharts donations to the party and how he funded the Cornfield Conference held in 1938. He speaks highly of Capehart as a person and his ability to get things done.

This is an interview with William F. Merchant, a former regional manager for Homer Capehart. Merchant chronicles his experience as a regional manager overseeing distribution and sales of coin operated phonographs for both the Capehart Phonograph Company and the Rudolf Wurlitzer Company. He also talks about how Capehart got into politics and how both Democrats and Republicans who worked for him helped fund his campaign.

Wilma Miller, the longtime secretary of Homer E. Capehart, recalls her years working for Capehart during his terms as a United States senator. She speaks of exciting moments, such as Capehart's nomination to run for senator, and sad times, such as the deaths of Capehart's son and daughter-in-law in a plane crash, and the death of Robert A. Taft. In addition, Miller discusses the organization of Capehart's office and staff in Washington, D.C., his character and work ethic, and some of the experiences gained under his employ.

In this interview, Carlton and Earle Mueller, brothers-in-law to Homer E. Capehart, recount memories and observations of the Capeharts. They recall Capehart's wedding to their sister, Irma, and the Capeharts' children and family life. Also included are brief descriptions of means of transportation in the first few decades of the twentieth century. In addition, they comment on the progress of Capehart's career, both in business and politics, but with an emphasis on the former, and on his character and work ethic.

Patricia Capehart Pearson, the daughter of Homer E. Capehart, speaks of her father in the context of her youth, family life, discipline, and his business and political careers. She recalls memories of events which made a large impression on her, including the Cornfield Conference, the Senate Daughters Club, and miscellaneous perks associated with Capehart's status as a United States senator. In addition, Pearson reveals different aspects of her father's character and personality, including his generosity, punctuality, and lack of pretension.

Mrs. John Sellman, acquainted with Homer E. Capehart since her youth in Washington, Indiana, shares some of her memories of Capehart as a boy and young man, including aspects of his physical appearance and personality. Mrs. Sellman remembers Capehart as a shy but well-liked boy. She later sang at his Cornfield Conference and continues to respect and admire Capehart and his actions as a United States senator.

Born in 1912, William Simon served as Homer E. Capehart's legal counsel during two United States Senate investigations. In this interview, he discusses his association with the former senator. Included are Simon's observations, memories, opinions, and knowledge of Capehart and Capehart's political and business careers. Simon speaks about the federal housing investigation and the basing point pricing investigation, two Senate matters which were milestones in Capehart's senatorial career. In addition, Simon comments on Capehart's relations with other senators including William E. Jenner and Burnet R. Maybank.

Born on April 21, 1908, James M. Tucker discusses Indiana state politics, his changing role in the Republican Party, and his association with and observations about former United States senator, Homer E. Capehart, a fellow Indiana Republican. A attorney by profession, Tucker discusses his quick rise to the top of Indiana's Republican Party, his participation in World War II, and his loss of the Republican senatorial nomination to Capehart. In addition, he speaks of the impact of the Cornfield Conference and Capehart's senatorial campaigns.

Born on June 25, 1906, Kenneth F. Valentine recounts his experiences working with and for Homer E. Capehart in the late nineteen twenties and early nineteen thirties in the Holcomb and Hoke Company and the Capehart Automatic Phonograph Company, respectively. Valentine discusses Capehart's business interests and acuity, as well as his extraordinary salesmanship skills. In addition, he describes Capehart's closest peers in the business world, including Edward E. Collison and Gerald E. Crary. Valentine also describes the mechanics and popularity of the Capehart Orchestrope, the most advance phonograph of its time.

Born in 1920, Edward H. Ziegner is a political writer who had numerous dealings with and the trust of former United States senator, Homer E. Capehart. In this interview, Ziegner speaks of Democratic, Indiana state, and national politics, as well as many of Capehart's political contemporaries. In addition, he discusses aspects of Capehart's final senatorial campaign and those of the successful campaign of Capehart's adversary, Birch E. Bayh, Jr.