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Fred Rodell Papers, 1838-1980

Ms. Coll. 827
13 boxes.

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IV. Fred Rodell, Papers. Addition, 1927-80.

Three boxes of papers consisting of 16 letters of Supreme Court Justices in box 10; letters to Fred Rodell arranged alphabetically in boxes 10-12, but concluding with unattributed letters arranged chronologically; and letters written by Rodell (1943-70), arranged chronologically, also in box 12; works written by Rodell in typescript, manuscript and printed formats are in the form of articles, book review, poetry and limericks, an arbitration opinion, speeches, notes and lyrics.

A large part of the correspondence concerns Fred Rodell's published writings and his position as professor of law at Yale University. Correspondents include: Josephine Baker, Roger Baldwin, Charles Beard, Homer Bone, A1 Capp, Bennett Cerf, William O. Douglas, Gerald Ford, Abe Fortas, Nat Hentoff, Eliot Janeway, Edward M. Kennedy, Alfred Korzybski, John V. Lindsay, Carl Sandburg, Robert Taft, Tom Wicker and Charles Alan Wright.

Box 10 | Box 10 | Box 11 | Box 12 | Box 13

Letters of Supreme Court Justices to Fred Rodell. All letters are listed.

  1. Black, Hugo. June 15, 1944. [surprised that Readers' Digest published Rodell's complimentary article about him.
  2. Black, Hugo L. December 31, 1966. [responds to Rodell's Christmas art work; looks forward to his book on the Supreme Court.]
  3. Black, Hugo L. February 6, 1968.
  4. Brennan, William J. to Janet Rodell. June, 1980. [Rodell remembered.]
  5. Douglas, William O. April 17, 1946. [about placing Yale Law School as clerks.]
  6. Douglas, William O. February 2, 1955. [has written (Harry?) Shulman emphasizing aspect of academic freedom; refers to the possibility of getting Shulman, Dean of Yale Law School, fired.]
  7. Douglas, William O. March 2, [1955].
  8. Scanned Image Douglas, William O. March 2, 1957. [agrees with Rodell's analysis of Eisenhower's standard for choosing Supreme Court justices, but that he is wrong about Brenan whom Douglas considers excellent.] (approx. 59K).
  9. Douglas, William O. January 18, [n.y.].
  10. Fortas, Abe, (Under Secretary of Department of Interior). August 31, 1944. [re possible position for Rodell in New Mexico, including for Indian Office.]
  11. Fortas, Abe. September 19, [n.y.].
  12. Fortas, Abe. 1966.
  13. Fortas, Abe. January 6, 1966. See also letter from Fortas in letters to: (1958).
  14. See letter from Arthur J. Goldberg in letters to: (1937).
  15. Stewart, Potter. March 7, 1966. [took law course in "Procedure" from Charlie Clark, in which he received his best mark.]
  16. Stewart, Potter. June 21, 1968. [re clerkship for Hugh Crossland.]

Correspondence to Rodell
(Letters were selected for listing based on contents and/or prominence of the author).

  1. Abrams, Floyd. April 15, 1960. [re Adlai Stevenson, Lewis review in the New York Times and Rodell response to it and other topics.]
  2. Allen, Arthur W. January 23, 1940. [long response to Rodell's Woe Unto You, Lawyers.]
  3. Allison, Robert. September 29, 1944. [sends check for Rodell's CBS radio participation in the People's Platform.]
  4. American Arbitration Assoc. August 11, 1948. [sends check for Rodell's services as arbitrator in Waterbury Brass Workers vs. American Brass Company.]
  5. American Mercury. (Eugene Lyons, editor). January 4, 1940. [would Rodell write a piece on the abolition of lawyers.]
  6. American Mercury. (Laurence Spivak, publisher) March, 1944-July, 1948. [re Rodell's articles for them and other magazines.]
  7. Arendt, F.J. December x, 1944. [re Rodell's article on Hugo Black.]
  8. Arnold and Fortas. (Marguerite O'Brien). June 8, 1946. [sends check for services in connection with Poyntes case.]
  9. Bailey, Mrs. George. [1946]. [angered by Rodell's broadcasted political remarks.] Rodell responds: [indicates sources of his information.]
  10. Baker, Josephine. 4 letters. 1960's. (some in French.) [thanks Rodell for hospitality, etc.; sends on letters written to her by her adopted children.]
  11. Baker, Josephine. La Tribu Arc-en-ciel. Josephine Baker. 1957. Inscribed to "nos amis" (Fred + Janet Rodell). in 1959. Two T.LS. S. by Baker in 1961 and 1964 about conferences held at Les Milandes and her new show in Paris. Laid in are a theatre program starring Baker and 3 newspaper clippings about her art and her children.
  12. Baker, Josephine. April 21, 1964. [sends booklets, (stating her vision and purpose of Les Milandes, her home in France, where she resides with her racially-mixed adopted children; two items in French, " L'ideale de la Fraternite aux Milandes vu par Josephine Baker 1964 Suite' and "...Suite 4", signed).]
  13. Baker, Josephine. (to Pope Paul IV). September, 1964. copy. [relates incident in which she was turned away from a church near her home in Dordogne by the curate.] In French. 5 pages. Also program. "Josephine Baker dans 'Paris Mes Amours'"[ 1950's. ]
  14. Baldwin, Roger. 1962.
  15. Barkley, Alben W. (Senator of Kentucky, Vice-President under Truman). March 23, 1944. [re his Senate address against the president's veto of the tax bills.]
  16. Barnes, Harry Elmer. 1944-1945. [Appreciative comments re Rodell's articles.]
  17. Beard, Charles A. October 19, 1945. [re Rodell's articles on Morris (Ernst?)]
  18. Bell, Daniel. February 29, 1944. [political commentary.] Rodell responds: [a neat parallel between Italy and Germany of the 20's and 30's and United States today cannot be made.]
  19. Bender, John T. October 1, 1945. [ question whether Rodell has incorporated copyrighted material in support of his article in LIFE magazine.] Rodell responds.
  20. Beston, Henry. October 31, 1945. [appreciative comments re Rodell's article on England.]
  21. Brodbar, Harry. (Assistant D.A., Kings County, New York). July 3, 1968. [was opposing counsel in the Tropic of Cancer obscenity case; other cases in which he is involved.]
  22. Bone, Homer T. (Senator, Washington). May 11, 1944. [enjoys Rodell's articles in The Progressive; gives a short autobiography and opinions on several subjects.] Rodell responds: [would like to write an article about Bone.]
  23. Brown, Harold. 6 items. 1940-1941. [letters from a prisoner at Maryland State Penal Farm.]
  24. Burell, David M. December 1, 1939. [Kudos for Rodell's book and the need for it by lawyers.]
  25. Burson, Harold. July 31, 1968. [congratulates Rodell on perceptive article on Abe Fortas, and mentions two other Fortas qualities.]
  26. Byers, J. Harold. 4 letters. 1940-1941. [positive response and questions generated from reading Rodell's Woe Unto You, Lawyers.]
  27. Capp, A1. April, 1945. [discredits statistics Rodell received to write his article on ten most-read comic strips which did not include "Li'l Abner".] Rodell responds: [relays the real method he used to acquire statistics.]
  28. Cassidy, Lewis C. December 3, 1945. [on William O. Douglas, Roosevelt and Pinchot.] Rodell responds: [names labor leaders for and against William O. Douglas.]
  29. Cavers, David. December 5, 1939. [likes and dislikes Rodell's Book, Woe Unto You, Lawyers: likes because it is heretical,-- "your urge to debunk is so irresistible and the process so satisfying that you attach just about as much importance to the practice of theology (read : law ) as the practitioners themselves.]
  30. Cerf, Bennett. October 13, 1954. [thinks Rodell's manuscript on the Supreme Court is the best work he has ever done, and if maintained, would be the best book ever written about the Supreme Court.]
  31. Cherry, Fred. 1968. [on his fears of the spread of homosexuality in America stating that Abe Fortas has a "blatant, pro-homosexual judicial bias".]
  32. Civil Rights Congress. (William L. Patterson) August, 1951. [though Rodell's article on "Our Not So Supreme Supreme Court." was provocative, it has a partisan slant.] Rodell responds: [pronouncements and activities of the Civil Rights Congress are intellectually dishonest.] Patterson responds: [tells nature of Civil Rights Congress work.] Rodell responds: [what real civil liberties should include as represented by American Civil Liberty Union.]
  33. Clynes, Edward. 1968-1970. [Correspondence with Rodell about various Supreme Court justices.]
  34. Clynes, Edmund. February 9, 1970. [has Rodell ever written an article about how William O. Douglas turned down Truman's offer to run as vice-presidential candidate.] Rodell responds: [William O. Douglas would not support some of Truman's practices and policies.]
  35. Coleman, John. May 8, 1970. [thanks for support of the college's stand in the PHEAA controversy.]
  36. Collett, Jon. '60.
  37. Comfort, W.W.
  38. Conant, Michael. June 10, 1960. [about Justice Black's opinion on 14th amendment and Bill of Rights, etc.] Rodell responds.
  39. Curtis, John T. December 8, 1929. [as chairman of the committee on public relations of the Connecticut State Bar Association, discusses Rodell's book Woe Unto You, Lawyers.]
  40. The Daily Telegraph of London. June 18, 1968. [explains Rodell's prospective article's purpose for English reading public.]
  41. The Daily Telegraph of London. July 12, 1968. [Rodell's article on the Supreme Court has been sent on to London.]
  42. The Daily Telegraph of London. August 14, 1968. [Rodell's article on Supreme Court carried in the papers.]
  43. Darrell, Norris. May 19, 1943. [differs with Rodell's review of book by Magill.] Rodell responds.
  44. Dilliard, Irving. April 3, 1966. [praise for Warren Court article.]
  45. Dilliard, Irving. December 18, 1970. [praises Rodell for his courage in his review of Alexander Bickel's book.]
  46. Doubleday, Doran and Company, (John McCaffery). April 27, 1945. [refusal of Katherine Rodell's book on grounds of poor sales possibilities.] Rodell responds: [annoyance at methods of Doubleday.]
  47. Doubleday and Company, (Donald Friede). October 22, 1964. [proposes that Rodell should write a book on the Warren Court. ] Rodell responds: [while he had previously decided not to write any more books, is not refusing to consider so tempting a possibility.] Rodell soon after became ill and the book was not written.
  48. Doubleday and Company (Donald Friede). March 15, 1965. [contract for publication tentatively entitled 36 Women.]
  49. Durr, Clifford. June 15, 1960. [Government of Alabama in a wave of McCarthyism has just fired a black professor at the state college for "Communist" ties.]
  50. Edgerton, Franklin. November 20, 1945. [compliments to Rodell on Sumner Welles article.]
  51. [Ernst, Morris] (correspondence with Life and Katherine Rodell.) 1944. 6 Items. [re article Rodell wrote about Ernst with which the latter found fault.]
  52. Erskine, John. December 2, 1927. [glad Rodell joined Century Co.]
  53. Ephron, Nora. See Greenburg.

Box 11 | Box 10 | Box 11 | Box 12 | Box 13

  1. Fadiman, Clifton (for Writers' War Board. With a Who's Who list of printed names of its editorial committee.) [asks Rodell for a piece on Wall Street.] Rodell declines.
  2. Fay, Bob. February 29, 1968. [limerick upon the naming of Rodell chair.] Rodell penciled a responding limerick on Fay's letter.
  3. Fenton, Frank. (Director of Organization, AFL). May 20, 1947. [agrees with Rodell's opinion of law.]
  4. Finley, Luke. March 6, 1968. [prefers subjects on which Rodell writes to others stirring up protest against Vietnam or the passage of the Civil Rights Act by administrative fiat.]
  5. Ford, Gerald R. November 13, 1969. [re investigation of Justice Douglas and possible impeachment, deliberations of which were inadvertently leaked.] Rodell responds. Appended is letter to Rodell from Charles Wright.
  6. Fortas, Abe. (Under Secretary, Department of Interior). July 18, 1944. [re Wendell Willkie; advocacy of a world organization backed by military might and cooperative world economic order towards international peace; in choice of Vice-President, President said he would not back Wallace, and William O. Douglas is the only progressive alternative.] Roosevelt responds. Fortas responds: [in vice-presidential matter, Rodell's choice of Truman over William O. Douglas.]
  7. Fortas, Abe. December 29, 1958. [very moved by Rodell's piece on Walton Hamilton.]
  8. Frank, Jerome. (New York Circuit Court Judge). January 30, 1947. [quote from Schlesinger's letter.]
  9. Frank, John. June 18, 1948. [in response to Rodell's (uncollected) letter concerning his proposed seminar on prose writing, which latter became the hallmark of his teaching.]
  10. Frank, John P. May 25, 1946. [President has isolated himself from liberal advice.] Rodell responds: [methods to change this condition.]
  11. Fraser, Hugh Russell. [praise for Rodell's article in The Progressive.] Rodell responds: [Fraser was far too easy in a newspaper column on Archibald MasLeish, nominated as Assistant Secretary of State, whose reputation far exceeds his ability.
  12. Gaus, John M. February 16, 1944. [disagrees with Rodell's assessment of Felix Frankfurter in The Progressive.] Rodell responds: [spells out reasons for his opposition to Felix Frankfurter.]
  13. Gillette, Guy M. (Senator from Iowa). May 24, 1944.
  14. Goldberg, Arthur J. March 2, 1937. [praise for two of Rodell's articles.]
  15. Goldwater, Dick. May 14, 1944. [enjoyed Rodell's article on Morris Ernst and comments in detail on Ernst.]
  16. Goldschlager, Seth. December 30, 1970. [a student of Rodell's, he describes in detail meetings with Supreme Court Justices, with descriptions of personalities and views toward the writing of a paper.]
  17. Grant, Walter M. May, 1970. [sends copy of Rodell's article in Vanderbilt law review on the Supreme Court.]
  18. Greenburg, Nora Ephron to Willie Morris. June 1969. [attribution of a limerick to Rodell.]
  19. Griswold, Whit. (President of Yale) January 10, 1955. [is distressed by what Rodell has written, in light of Rodell's assurance of loyalty to him and Yale.]
  20. Groner, David. October 3, 1946. [would like to know why Rodell considers the Nuremberg trials a travesty of United States style justice.]
  21. Haddon, William. [October, 1942.] Rodell responds: [defends himself against charges Haddon made in a radio attack on Rodell stating that he (Rodell) never received any remuneration from the state of Conn. for work for state defense council and demands retraction.]
  22. Harper's Magazine. (George Leighton). March 2, 1944. [Wendall Willkie demanded space for reply to Rodell's article.] Rodell responds directly to Willkie: [Rodell has written a lengthy retort to Willkie's rebuttal to be printed in Harper's, but if Willkie agrees to certain retractions, including that Rodell is not a Roosevelt stooge , he will not send it to Harper's .] Willkie responds: ["I never yield to blackmail."] Also other correspondence with Harper's on this subject .]
  23. Harvard Law Review, (Robert von Mehren). October 2, 1945. [thanks for allowing them to publish his review.]
  24. Harvard Law Review, (President, Robert von Mehren). August 17, 1945 and October 15, 1945. [re Rodell's article for Harvard Law Review and re article on Harvard Law School.] Rodell responds: [best thing about Harvard Law School is Law Review, but states ideas for improvement.]
  25. Hentoff, Nat. December 24, 1970. [appreciation for Rodell's article.]
  26. Hood College (James P. Seymour). April 14, 1967. [requests Rodell to participate in a lecture series.] Rodell agrees.
  27. Hood College (Virginia Lewis). February 2, 1968. [re Rodell's speaking visit at Hood.]
  28. Hulstrand, George. February 1, 1947. [last of Senator Joseph Ball of Minnesota.]
  29. Hulstrand, George. July 5, 1948. [working toward nomination of William O. Douglas at Democratic Convention.
  30. Iowa, State University of, (Richard Albrecht). April 19, 1960. [thanks for contribution of review of Veru Countryman's book in Iowa Law Review.]
  31. Janeway, Eliot. January 23, l947. [re Rodell's response to Schlesinger.]
  32. Kendig, M. December 22, 1944. [invites Rodell to seminar A. Korzybski is to give.]
  33. Kennedy, Daniel. December 5, 1946. [invites Rodell to speak to New York Bar Association.] Rodell accepts.
  34. Kennedy, Ed. November 14, 1939. [articles and reviews he has written.]
  35. Kennedy, Edward M., (Senator of Massachusetts). March 10, 1972. [is dealing with constitutional issues of voter registration legislation and would be grateful for comments by Rodell.]
  36. King, Judson, (Director of National Popular Government League). September 27, 1945. [current administration has learned nothing from Wilson's conduct of World War I and other political issues.]
  37. Knopf, Alfred, Jr. June 24, 1970. [re book on Warren Court.]
  38. Kohan, Daniel, (Cooperative Consumers of New Haven, Inc.). March 9, 1944. [cooperative efforts as useful social activism.] (Rodell was involved in various of these in the war years.)
  39. Korzybski, Alfred. December 18, 1946. [invites Rodell to a meeting of the institute of General Semantics.]
  40. LaFollete, Robert. May 19, 1944 and March 5, 1947.
  41. Lande, Louis. [n.d.]. [Proclamation: "The Lawyer" annotated by Rodell.]
  42. Lang, John L. October 1945. [asks Rodell for advice on best United States College.] Rodell responds: [U.N.C., Chapel Hill is the best in the country; University of Wisconsin has all the Progressive crowd.]
  43. Lee, Katie. February 10, 1971. [needs some information on Senator Kefauver for her book.]
  44. Leech, Margaret, (Chairman, Writers' War Board with listed committee members reading like a Who's Who). March 29, 1944. [would like Rodell to write on American Law and Lawyers for Transatlantic Magazines.] Rodell declines.
  45. Lerner, Max. August 27, 1969. [re writing a story for New York Post on Court appointments.] Rodell responds: [Nixon counted on Harlan to resign and then wanted to replace him with Breitel.]
  46. Levy, Beryl. December 28, 1939. [views on procedure through legal maze.]
  47. Lewis, Virginia.
  48. Lieberman, Joel. July 29, 1968. [as a former student of Rodell's, commends him on a article in New York Times on Justice Fortas.]
  49. Lindsay, John V. August 16, 1972. [sends copy (attached) of his speech "Cities and the New Politics." ]
  50. Lindsay, John V. January 29, 1973. [ask Rodell for counsel after he has read the Times.]
  51. Loeb, Howard. December 9, 1939. [re Rodell's book Woe Unto You, Lawyers.]
  52. Logue, Edward, (Head of New York urban aid program in 1969, etc). July 31, 1948. [at the beginning of his career, lists options.]
  53. [Lyon], Betty. July 15, 1968. [her verse on Philip Kurland.] elicits from Rodell: [two return verses.]
  54. MacLane, John C. December 6, 1944. [re Rodell's book (Woe Unto You, Lawyers).] Rodell responds: [he specifically did not inform Yale before publication because they would certainly be against it and have never forgiven him for the writing of it.]
  55. McMillan, James B., (Judge, Western District of North Carolina). May 7, 1980.
  56. Magee, Gertrude. June 25, 1940. [her correspondence with Rodell concerning her legal case is enclosed and subsequently was published in Mademoiselle.]
  57. Marsh, Benjamin, (Executive Secretary of the People's Lobby, Inc.). April 27, 1944. [they have worked hard toward having Congressmen reveal their stock holdings and wonders whether Rodell would help, based on his article in the Progressive.] Rodell responds: [will keep writing articles.]
  58. Marshall, George, (Acting Chairman, National Federation for Constitutional Liberties). June 10, 1942. [under their letterhead, will be sending a letter to President Roosevelt re case of Harry Bridges to which they would like to add his name as signatory.] Rodell responds: [agrees with the fact that the outcome of the Bridges case was wrong, but their letter was too communistic overtones, so he will not allow them to add his name.]
  59. Marshall, Paull. December 29, 1939. [re Rodell's book, Woe Unto You, Lawyers.]
  60. Mason, Alpheus. October 9, 1946 and November 23, 1964. [appreciation of articles and book review by Rodell.]
  61. Merritt, Marjorie. January 9, 1945. [needs recommendation for J. Howard Marshall for admission to Kentucky Bar.] Rodell responds: [glowingly.]
  62. Monagan, John S. (Congressman from Connecticut).
  63. Morrow, Walter. May 3, 1944. [comments on Rodell.- Wendell Wilkie controversy, specifically on Willkie stand on electrical rate structure.]
  64. Murdock, J. Edgar, (Judge of Tax Court of United States).
  65. Murphy, Edward F. August 14, 1962. [thought Rodell's commencement address at Haverford was memorable.]
  66. National Education Television, (Jim Karayu). June 23, 1969. [asks Rodell opinion of their program on the Warren Court.] Rodell responds: [disagreed with some of panel chosen to make televised comments, one of whom was Tony Amsterdam.]
  67. Navasky, Victor.
  68. New York Law School, (Marvin S. Kramer). November 19, 1970. [re book review Rodell is writing for them.]
  69. New York Times, (Harvey Shapiro and Lester Markel). 1960. 4 Items. [re article requested from Rodell on split in decisions within the Supreme Court and its juxtaposition with Jaffe's article.] Rodell responds with reservations.
  70. New York Times, (Lester Markel). May 23, 1960. [will straighten things out with Tony Lewis and or in re Jaffe piece.] Included here also are letters from Daniel Berman, Tom O'Connor, and Sid Zion with regard to Rodell's article in the New York Times and: O'Connor.] [hour Felix Frankfurter "unwittingly" hastened the process by which Sacco and Vanzetti went to the electric chair.] Zion: [wants to cover the Supreme Court as a journalist.]
  71. New York Times, (Paul Showers). August 7, 1968. [encloses copies of letters from Nat Hentoff and R.L. Auten re Rodell's article on Abe Fortas as Supreme Court Justice and typescript reply to their comments by Rodell stating: [he (Rodell) is a "dedicated dove" and perhaps Abe Fortas is, too.]
  72. New York University Law Review, (Abramson & Hirshfield). March 11, 1968. [would Rodell write a review of Katcher's biography of Earl Warren.] Rodell agrees.
  73. Noble and Noble Publishers, Inc. (Margret Wiest). February 4, 1970. [would like to reprint Rodell article "Can 'Separate' Be Equal"; a copy of which is appended, and which Rodell desclaimed.]
  74. PM Daily, (James A. Wechsler, ed.). December 31, 1943. [finds some points in Rodell's article in The Progressive dishonest and cites these.] Rodell answers charges as well as to a subsequent letter to The Progressive.
  75. Pageant Press, (Seth Richards). 1956 and 1963. [correspondence concerning reissue of Rodell's book, Woe Unto You, Lawyers. and translation of this book into Japanese.]
  76. Pennsylvania, University of, Law Review, (James Paul). March 26, 1951. [rejects Rodell's article on OW. Holmes, citing reasons.]
  77. Perelmutter, Joseph N. October 14, 1946. [on the legal nature of a governor's accepting a retainer from an insurance company.] Rodell responds: [while this is legal, if the governor becomes a Senator, and continues in this practice, he would not be (trusted to be impartial.]
  78. Pinchot, Cornelia Bryce. January 13, 1940. [she and Gifford Pinchot (former Governor of Pennsylvania) are enthusiastic about Rodell's book, Woe Unto You, Lawyers.]
  79. Pinchot, Cornelia Bryce (Leila). January 25, 1944. [disagrees with Roosevelt's statement that New Deal is no longer needed, and with Rodell that electing a "bad" Republican would reinstate New Deal.]
  80. Price, Lloyd E. October 17, 1946. [agrees with Rodell's published disagreement with the handling of Nazi war criminals in the Nuremberg trials.]
  81. Price, Steve. June 19, 1968. [interesting letter about his changes of jobs from copyright law to legal work for Alfred Knopf, Inc.]
  82. Princeton, Pre-Law Society (Ben K. Baer). January 15, [1947]. [invites Rodell to speak to their society.] Rodell agrees.
  83. The Progressive, (Morris Rubin). ca 10 items. 1943-1962. [re Rodell contributed pieces to The Progressive and Reader's Digest as well as that from Katherine Rodell.] Rodell responds including political commentary.]
  84. The Progressive, (Morris Rubin). March 30, 1944. [re the campaign of Wendell Willkie.]
  85. The Progressive, (Morris Rubin). May 4,1948. [much political detail on Harold Stassen.]
  86. The Progressive, (Morris Rubin). July 15,1948. [re William O. Douglas's poor showing at the conventions and that Thomas will probably be The Progressive candidate.]
  87. The Progressive, (Morris H. Rubin, ed.). April 7, 1954. [would Rodell send comment for publication on their issue on McCarthy.]
  88. Prosser, William L. January 5, 1962. [is collecting for publication law school song lyrics and would like to include Rodell's "Non-Negotiable You".]
  89. Proxmire, William. (Senator from Wisconsin). April 7, 1971.

Box 12 | Box 10 | Box 11 | Box 12 | Box 13

  1. Random House, (Robert N. Linscott) March 17, 1955. [Questions re Rodell's forthcoming book, Nine Men, including statement on religion in public schools. Rodell responds: [defends points at issue.]
  2. Readers' Digest, (Paul Palmer). January 26, 1944. 2 Items. 1944-1945. [re articles for Rodell.]
  3. Readers' Digest, (Paul Palmer). June-July, 1944. [re article by Rodell on comic strip.]
  4. Redpath, Bob. May 11, 1946. [shares Rodell's hope that Black might become Chief Justice and his doubt: semantics and Korzybski.] Rodell responds.
  5. Remick, Raymond. October 15, 1946. [Leon Solis-Cohen, a student of Rodell's has given Rodell's name for a recommendation.]
  6. Reynal and Hitchcock, Inc. (Curtice Hitchcock). [ re salability and other aspects of Rodell's book, Woe Unto You, Lawyers., with enclosed copy of letter from Charles E. Clark with comments concerning the book.]
  7. Rhoads, William L, (signed "collossus"). [appreciated Rodell's talk at the annual Founders Club dinner.]
  8. Rhodes, Arthur, (Brook Lyn Eagle, Lit., Editor). [n.d.] [re review of Rodell's book for their publication.]
  9. Ribicoff, Abe. March 29, 1971. [is against the SST.]
  10. Robinson, Edward. March 13, 1946. [will dig up information for Rodell on Robert Hannegan for $75.00.]
  11. Rostow, Eugene. July 15, 1955. [re possibility of Rodell's teaching law to undergraduates.]
  12. Rostow, Eugene. [n.d.] [sends verse.]
  13. Saltonstall, John L., Jr. September 2, 1970. [reasons why he is withdrawing from a political race; returning contribution.]
  14. Sandburg, Carl to Madeleine Weldon. November 9, 1927. [absolutely refuses to make any speeches, "you could not drag me with wild horses or a high powered truck to any speech making.]
  15. Schaffer, Gloria, (Secretary of State of Connecticut).
  16. Schlesinger, Arthur. November 16, 1946. [re article he has written on Felix Frankfurter.]
  17. Seney, Hank. June 9, 1970. [Kudos for Rodell's pieces on Felix Frankfurter.]
  18. Severeid, Eric.
  19. Sisk, Robert. June 13, 1960. [Felix Frankfurter et al do not decide cases of judicial restraints on their own merits and the dissociation of Felix Frankfurter from Hand.]
  20. Skilton, George W. November 6, 1946. [re Rodell's attack on conduct of Governor Ray Baldwin.] December 20, 1946. Rodell responds.
  21. Sports Illustrated, (John Tibby). December 20, 1958. [re Rodell's nomination of William O. Douglas as sportsman of the year.]
  22. Stetcher, William. May 11, 1942. [asks for a copy of Rodell's book.] Envelope bears stamped notice: "exempt from postage under international Convention regarding treatment of prisoners of war".
  23. Stickel, Fred G. January 5, 1944. [Roosevelt knew about likelihood of war, but did not tell public.] Rodell agrees.
  24. Stokes, Thomas, (House of Representative, Press gallery). March 24, 1928. [makes political predictions, especially about Hoover's chances at presidency.] Rodell responds: [re likelihood of Smith and Hoover to be nominated.]
  25. Stokes, William N. November 29, 1939. agrees with what Rodell has said about lawyers in Woe Unto You, Lawyers., and that these same arguments may be used against doctors and other professionals.]
  26. Stryker, Lloyd P. November 1, 1946. [sends court notes and other materials.] These were used by Rodell to write "Trial Lawyer." See Articles.
  27. Sullivan, Frank. January, 4, 1955. [has included Rodell in his Christmas rhyme for the New Yorker.]
  28. Taft, Robert A. (Senator from Ohio). January 16, 1945. [would like suggestion for a lawyer who could assist Republicans in drafting bills, e.g. returning initiative to state and local authorities instead of New Deal bureau.] Rodell responds.
  29. Tenney, Daniel G. March 7, 1968. [asks Rodell to be guest at their 1938 Law School reunion.] Rodell agrees.]
  30. Tichenor, George. (Ed., The Cooperator). December 29, 1943. [encloses rejoinder, for publication, to Rodell's article on cooperatives.] On the reverse on the last of 4 pages, is Rodell's manuscript response.]
  31. Tilley, Winthrop. November 14, 1946. [would Rodell accept initial leadership of a Connecticut Teachers' Guild for all teachers, elementary through university.] Rodell responds: [wife's illness prevents.]
  32. Time, (Henry R. Luce). April 26, 1928. [sorry they cannot offer him a better "gamble".]
  33. Time, (Manfred Gottfried). ca 10 Items. 1944 and 1970. on articles by Rodell for Time.
  34. Time, (Manfred Gottfried). February 20, 1944. [re piece on Europe by Rodell .] Rodell responds: [discussions re.]
  35. Time, (Manfred Gottfried). April 17, 1944. [re piece on Europe and other deliberations.]
  36. The Times (Chicago). March 16, 1944. [in re Rodell's article for Harper's on Willkie, glad that mention was made of original research for The Times.]
  37. Timbers, William H., (Chief Judge, U.S. District, Connecticut). November 4, 1970. [appreciation for Rodell's memorial article on Charlie Clark and for Judge Clark.]
  38. Toor, Bruce, (articles editor, UCLA Law Review). September 16, 1965. [would like very much for review from Rodell.] Rodell responds: [agrees with conditions.]
  39. [Tucker], Pat[ricia]. April 4, 1946. [re stock certificates to found a new magazine.] Rodell buys in.
  40. Valencie, Mathew, (Director, Halt Abolish Legal Tyranny). August 6, 1979. [pleased Rodell has agreed to be a legal advisor. goals of Halt agree in spirit with Woe Unto You, Lawyers.]
  41. Warren, Samuel. November 23, 1945. [re Rodell's book, Woe Unto You, Lawyers.] Rodell responds: [his opinions have not changed since the writing of the book and they were exaggerated for emphasis.]
  42. Watkins, Samuel C. Monrovia, Liberia. November 5, 1940. [re Rodell's book, Woe Unto You, Lawyers.]
  43. Weicker, Lowellk, Jr. (Senator from Connecticut). [speaking out against Watergate is in American tradition.]
  44. Weldon Madeleine. [1927?] [glad Rodell is at Century Co.]
  45. Weldon, Madeleine and John Cowper Powys. [ 2 items of correspondence.] October and November, 1927. [Century would like to publish his book.]
  46. Wernette, J.P., (President, University of New Mexico). April 21, 1947. [responds to Rodell's interest in the deanship of their new College of Law, agreeing with Rodell's proposals for the guidelines for the school, but doubting that remuneration would be sufficient.] Rodell unable to accept.
  47. Wicker, Tom, (New York Times Associate, editor). April 13, 1970. [appreciates Rodell's scathing reference to Alexander Bickel; Tom Wicker compares Alexander Bickel to Pat Moynihan, both of whom, after study, decide nothing works, so recommend no action.]
  48. Wicker, Tom. June 12, 1970. [re "Ford foolishness (proposed of impeachment) on Justice Douglas."]
  49. Wright, Charles Alan. April 19, 1963. [impressions of Supreme Court justices based on having argued and listened to cases before them- -Brennan and Black and Goldberg are by far his favorites.]
  50. Wright, Charles Alan. Letters, 1969-1972, including: May 29, 1969. [re move to impeach William O. Douglas.]
  51. Wright, Charles Alan. October 2, 1969. [re a piece he has written on Supreme Court nominee, Judge Haynsworth, whom he supports and Rodell considers to be a mediocre slob.]
  52. Yale Law Journal, (David Martin). August 24, 1974. [Yale Law Journal would like to dedicate an issue to Rodell on his retirement.]

Unattributed letters:

  1. "Joe". January 2, 1939. [United States going to press; argument against alternatives to lawyers: new political stance.
  2. "Dick". November 13, 1939. [the lawyer whom Rodell recognizes as being important in his career "in preface to Woe Unto You, Lawyers.]
  3. "Al". July 30, 1940. [flaws in Burke-Wadsworth attack on Hitler; Scylla and Roberts, a "political boss in the GOP," etc.]
  4. "Frank". October 1, 1943. [Rodell's article for Time or Fortune on need for international cooperation interested him as we]l as Rodell's other views on foreign policy and Rodell's belief in isolationism.]
  5. "Max". August 17, 1948. ["suggest you check McDougal's new case book beginning page 928 and let me have such of your comments as can be sent through the mail. My paper will be finished in a week. I will decide whether to send it to Dean Sturges later..."]
  6. "Eleanor". August 23, 1965. [apparently a photographer, she has taken pictures for Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, etc.]

Letters from Fred Rodell (1943-1970).

  1. to Mr. Jones. September 20, 1928. [has decided to leave Century Company and take up law and moving to New Haven.]
  2. to Barton. December 30, 1939. [a very biting letter, doneto perfection, about the review Barton, a Harvard professor, wrote about Rodell's book, Woe Unto You, Lawyers. ]
  3. to Eliot Janeway. February 22, 1943. [biographical information on himself.]
  4. to Dwight Eckerman. June 10, 1943. [blasts Eckerman's and Lawrence's anti-labor newspaper columns.]
  5. to Morris Ernst. January 26, 1944. [writing an article about Ernst for Life. "progressive cause is harmed even more by weak men of goodwill then by out and out bastards."]
  6. to Roger Baldwin. February 11, 1944. [wonders whether he answered a letter of Baldwin's, the contents of which he mostly disagreed with "of course."] Roger Baldwin penciled a return note: ["our differences are a matter of emphasis. Your views are stated for black vs. white when the world is mostly grays."]
  7. to Roy E. Larsen, (Time, Inc.). February 24, 1944. [re article on Morris Ernst for Life; includes copy of letter to Ernst in which Rodell reminds him that he informed Ernst he would "slam the little group around the President in course of the piece... from [his] own...conviction."]
  8. to Paul Palmer, (Readers' Digest). March 6, 1944. [re variety of articles he is writing.]
  9. to John L. Lang. March 13, 1944. [things Senator Bone one of the ablest people in Washington.]
  10. to E.D. Williams. April 3, 1944. [replies to William's comments on Rodell's Willkie article.]
  11. to Homer T. Bone. April 5, 1944. [pleased he has been appointed to the bench, "for we need all the judges we can get who know that law is a means to an end instead of an end in itself."]
  12. to William O. Douglas. April 20, 1944. [took up William O. Douglas's suggestion to write about public recording of official incomes.]
  13. to Alfred Korzybski. June 14, 1944. [re article to be written by Rodell on Alfred Korzybski for Life.]
  14. to John G. Evans. January 9, 1945. [re possibility of Rodell's doing some work for the Bureau of Indian Affairs while in New Mexico.]
  15. to Larry [Spivak? American Mercury]. July 5, 1945. [Asks if he has had a chance to read the Douglas piece. Douglas apparently not going into the cabinet -- though he was still get Stimson's job; also re proposed Wallace article.]
  16. to Robert Couglan, (Life Magazine). November 20, 1945. [could write a political article on Fred Vinson who might run for President or Vice-President in 1948.]
  17. to William O. Douglas. March 19, 1946. [recommends Byron White and others for clerkships).
  18. to Thuman Arnold. May 29, 1946. [tips for pursuing a case.]
  19. to James Allan. October 18, 1946. [qualities most important in a public servant are courage and integrity, not political leaning.]
  20. to Hugh Sowards. February 1, 1947. [Pearson report of William O. Douglas resigning from the Court is inaccurate; etc.]
  21. to Bergen Evans. February 4, 1947. [Evans' book, "one of the finest thinking jobs... [he'd] ever come across."]
  22. to Martin J. Hertz, (Harvard Law School Forum). March 18, 1952. [enjoyed stirring up controversy at Harvard.]
  23. to Helen _____. March 23, 1952. [sketches out a plan for a book on the Supreme Court were he to write one.]
  24. to Harry Shulman, (Dean, Yale Law School). January 3, 1955. [reasons why he should resign as Dean.]
  25. to A. Whitney Griswold, (President, Yale Law School). January 10, 1955. [re promotion of Vern Countryman to full professor or a restatement of qualities needed for the rank.]
  26. to Gene [Rostow]. (Dean, Yale Law School). June 8, 1955. [was opposed to his selection as Dean and gives reasons.]
  27. to Bennett Cerf. (Random House). February 27, 1955. [re extending a Supreme Court book deadline.]
  28. to New York Times Book Review Editor. April 6, 1960. [response to Anthony Lewis' review of a book on the Supreme Court.]
  29. to John Ciardi, (Poetry editor, Saturday Review). October 15, 1966. [poem: "The Next Time see I Paris."]
  30. to Eugene Rostow, (Dean of Yale Law School). April-June, 1962. [verbal sparring correspondence.]
  31. to Benjamin Bradlee, (Washington Post, editor). December 28, 1967. [refutes statement by Anthony Lewis in a letter to (the Post of Bradlee) claiming errors in Rodell's articles.]
  32. to John Lindsay, (mayor, New York and former student of Rodell's). August 20, 1969. [feels Lindsay has been right on the mark politically but disagrees with the effort to oust Bob Morgenthan and with his support of Judge Friendly for Supreme Court.] John Lindsay responds: [is supporting Morgenthan and that Haysworth confirmation would make cities the losers.]
  33. to Mike Mansfield, (Senator and Majority leader from Montana). September 27, 1969. [plea for black of confirmation of Haysworth for Supreme Court on grounds he is segregationist, anti-union, has able ethics.] Mansfield responds: [will read over hearings and reports before marking a decision on as he has many questions concerning nominations.]
  34. to Lou Pollack. November 25, 1969. [resents Kingman Brewster's, (President of Yale and Supervisor of the Law School). remarks about a cynical clique of law professors at Yale and legal realism and if this is current Yale philosophy, Rodell will not contribute to international program.
  35. to Gerald R. Ford, (House Minority Leader). August 28, 1970. [re William O. Douglas and impeachment.]
  36. to John Frank. [n.d.] [re Frank's unsuccessful promotion to full professor and reasons for it.]

Box 13: Works by Fred Rodell | Box 10 | Box 11 | Box 12 | Box 13

Articles 1936 - 1943

  1. Goodbye To Law Reviews. [1936?]. 13 pages, annotated, duplicated. (published: Virginia Law Review, Nov. 1936.)
  2. My Debt to the Town Drunk. [1941?]. 3 pages. Ms. (published: Reader's Digest, Nov. 1941, pp. 54-55.)
  3. Wendell Willkie: A Dissenting Opinion. [1943?]. 5 pages. Ts. (published: The Progressive, June 14, 1943.)
  4. Post-War Poppycock. [1943]. Ms (7 pages) and annotated Ts copy (5 pages). (published: The Progressive, July 19, 1943.)
  5. John L., The Miners, and The Lily Liberals. [1943?]. Ms (8 pages) and annotated Ts copy (6 pages) (published: The Progressive, August 2, 1943.)
  6. The New Deal is Dead. [ca. 1943 (sic)]. 7 pages. Ms. (published: The Progressive, August 16, 1943.)
  7. Three Soldiers. [1943]. Ms (3 pages) and annotated Ts copy (2 pages). (published: The Progressive, Sept. 6, 1943.)
  8. Background for Peace ( International Police ). [1943 ?]. 15 pages, annotated, duplicated. (published: Time, Sept. 13, 1943.)
  9. The Nine. [1943]. Ms (7 pages) and annotated, duplicated Ts copy (5 pages). (published: The Progressive, Oct. 4, 1943.)
  10. Co-ops, Cults, and Consumers. [1943?] 6 pages. Ms. (published: The Progressive, Oct. 18, 1943.)
  11. Shall it be a New Holy Alliance. [ca. 1943 (sic)]. Ms (7 pages) and Ts copy (5 pages) (published: The Progressive, Nov. 8, 1943.)
  12. American Success Story. [1943]. Ms (4 pages) and duplicated, annotated Ts copy (3 pages). (published: The Progressive, Nov. 22, 1943.)
  13. The Psychology of General Patton. [1943]. Ms (6 pages) and duplicated, annotated Ts copy (4 pages). (published: The Progressive, Dec. 6, 1943.)
  14. PM: An Experiment in a Free Press. [1943]. Ms (8 pages) and duplicated, annotated Ts copy (5 pages). (published: The Progressive, Dec. 20, l943.)

Articles (1947-1979 + n.d.)

  1. Trial Lawyer. [1947?]. 22 pages, annotated, duplicated. (published: LIFE, 1947)
    1. [notes for Trial Lawyer.]
  2. Stassen: The Most Reactionary Republican of Them All. [1948?]. 10 pages. TS, original. (published. The Progressive? . )
  3. Ideas for Life pieces: [1940's?]. 2 pages. TS.
    1. Escapism, U.S.A.
    2. The G.I.'s Come Back To College.
    3. The Search for Faith in the Face of "Progress".
  4. Justice Holmes and His Hecklers. [1951]. 9 pages, annotated, duplicated. (published: Yale Law Journal, 1951)
  5. Justices Black and Douglas Affirming. [1951]. 10 pages, TS. (published: The Progressive).
  6. Vienna. [1953]. 7 pages, TS. Unpublished.
  7. A Court Divided Against Itself. [1960]. 8 pages, TS. (published- New York Times).
  8. For Roger Baldwin--An Intimate Tribute. [1965]. 4 pages, TS. (published: ?).
  9. The Unflappable Mr. Fortas - Our New Chief Justice. [1967?]. 2 pages, annotated. (published: ?).
  10. Hugo Black: Justice for the Ages. [1967]. 15 pages, annotated. (published: ?)
  11. Fortas Stock (?). [1968]. Galley Proof, corrected.
    1. notes for.
  12. Defense of Justice William O. Douglas. [1979?]. 8 pages, annotated. (published: ?).
  13. The Warren Supreme Court in Perspective. [n.d.] 6 pages, annotated. (published: ?).

Book Reviews by Fred Rodell

  1. Report of the Special Tax Study Committee to the Committee on Ways And Means, House of Representatives. [1947]. 5 pages, TS. (published. Yale Law Journal, 1948.)
  2. Law and Philosophy: A Symposium. Edited by Sidney Hook. [1964]. 2 pages. annotated. (published: ?)
  3. The New Age of Political Reform. By Alexander M. Bickel. [1968?] 4 pages. annotated. (published: Yale Advocate.)
    1. Paperback book heavily annotated by Rodell.
  4. Mr. Justice. Edited by Allison Dunham and Phillip B. Kurland. [n.d.] 2 pages, TS. (published: The Progressive, 1949.)
  5. Marble Palace: The Supreme Court in American Life. By John P. Frank. [n.d.] 2 pages, annotated. (published:----------.)

Poetry and Limericks

  1. 8 items. Tss. and Holograph.
    Scanned Image Untitled poem about the experience of Spring. (approx. 39K).

Arbitration Opinion

  1. American Arbitration Association - Decision and Opinion in the matter of The American Brass Company, Waterbury, Connecticut. [1948]. 9 pages, annotated. (published:------------).

Drafts of speeches by Rodell

  1. Political Speech: [Reelect Governor Hurley of Connecticut.] [1947]. 5 pages, MS.
  2. "Mood - (Indigo)." [1950?]. 3 pages, annotated.
  3. "Can Communism come to the U.S.?" [n.d.]. 7 pages, annotated.
  4. "Stuff---" [n.d.] 3 pages. TS.

Notes

  1. on Supreme Court Justices. 10 pages in a spiral notepad. [n.d.] MS.
  2. on Tax Law Course. 5 pages. MS. [n.d.]

Lyrics

  1. "Say it with songs or Comic opera to perfection." Perhaps for classnight at Haverford College. By Fred Roedelheim,(a.k.a. Fred Rodell), '26

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