Earl Warren and the Republican Party

King

Well, let me just ask you a couple of questions about affiliations that you, maybe, and Mr. Warren had. Were you involved in any of these statewide associations like the Peace Officers? Were you part of those groups? Were you a member of those groups?

Jahnsen

Yes. I was a member of every one of them.

King

You were. What about Republican party?

Jahnsen

No, I was never a member of any of the political parties. I was a Republican, but I was never called upon, and neither was anybody else in the office. Mr. Warren said he was the Republican, and he ran the office. Frank Coakley, as I remember, was very active in the Al Smith fight.

King

Yes. That's right.

Jahnsen

Mr. Warren was very active in the [Herbert] Hoover [campaign.] Some people made a complaint about it or talked about it, and Mr. Warren says, "If Frank Coakley wants to be for Al Smith, that's Frank Coakley's business. And if you want to be for Al Smith, that's your business."

No, Mr. Warren never interfered with your politics or your home. But better you take care of your home, better you be the right kind of fellow at home. He didn't want any scandals.

King

Well, I can understand that.

---

Jahnsen

No, he was a very fine father, and a very fine district attorney. And attorney general and governor.

King

When he went into the Republican state committee--do you get selected for that? Or does somebody stand up for you?

Jahnsen

Well, this is a matter of working your way up on the committee. You start out as a committeeman--

King

I see. But he was interested in the Republican party--

Jahnsen

Oh yes. Sure. He was state chairman and then become national committee chairman. In the attorney general's office, he had these [political] people that would come in, and he would devote a protion of his time, but these were outside people. Or he'd go to outside things. But never do I remember that he had any political meetings, except when he ran for office, and the same way with [Ralph] Hoyt and Coakley and them. Then everybody got in and worked for their own job, their own boss.