Manuscripts Collection
A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Finlay Lewis attended St. Paul Academy and graduated
from Harvard University with a degree in American political history in 1960. After
working for the Army Security Agency (1961-1964) and as a Korean
linguist-cryptographer in Seoul (1962-1964), he began his journalism career as a
reporter for the
The interviews were conducted with Mondale, members of his staff, Jimmy Carter, Hubert Humphrey, other political associates, and family members. They are accompanied by press reports and briefings on his May 1977 European trip, a few periodical articles, some miscellaneous letters and notes, family history materials, and drafts of revisions to a few segments of Lewis' book for the Japanese edition.
The interviews discuss a wide range of Minnesota and national politics, campaigns, current issues of the 1950s-1980s, and Mondale as a person and a politician. They focus in particular on Mondale's youth and family; his entry into politics; Minnesota politics and political figures in the late 1940s through 1960s; Mondale's service in the United States Senate, particularly his work on the Senate Finance Committee; his selection as Jimmy Carter's Vice President, and his relationship with Carter; some specific issues during the Carter Administration, including economic conditions, energy policy, arms control, and the Middle East; the aftermath of Mondale's defeat in the 1984 Presidential election; his decision to move back to Minnesota from Washington in 1987 and to join the law firm of Dorsey & Whitney; and his nomination as ambassador to Japan in 1993.
All of the interviews were conducted by Finlay Lewis unless otherwise noted. Many are ill-identified, or identified only casually. Many are dated only with month and day, not year; some are not dated at all. Year dates for several have been deduced and added (in brackets) based on similarity in format to dated interviews. Although all are typed, many constitute Lewis' rough notes or transcript drafts, rather than a polished final product. Topical foci of individual interviews are noted in the list below.
Finlay Lewis' sound recordings of many of the interviews are also part of the collection, though not all of the sound recordings appear to have transcripts or written notes. In some cases where the sound recordings of the interviews had not been transcribed, transcriptions were made by the Minnesota Historical Society and are included in this collection.
The collection is arranged into the following series:
Master sound recordings are closed to general access (P713, boxes 1-2). User copies of these recordings are available (P2666, boxes 3-4). Please consult the reference staff for more information.
Accession number: 16,112
Processed by: Dorgee Norbu and Lydia Lucas, 2006
Catalog ID number: 6300719
Interviews with Walter Mondale are organized in chronological order. Sound cassette recordings that are related to these interview transcripts and notes are described in the Sound Recordings section of this inventory.
Progress of Carter-Mondale campaign, his love for the Senate (interview with FL, 7/27); remarks/press conference in Akron, Ohio; unidentified news conference, "Hello Walter" [10/27?]; speech at St. Norbert College (10/29). Transcript by MHS.
Leadership, various federal policies and actions. Rough notes.
Childhood, family, youth, personal morality, Macalester College, initiation into DFL politics, 1948 campaign. Transcript.
Political interests as a youth, early campaign work, education, some comments on law career. Transcript.
1968 campaign, Vietnam, Senate Finance Committee, Mondale's outlook on social services. Transcript by MHS.
Statement, followed by questions/answers on various foreign policy issues, including NATO, trade, nuclear energy policy, SALT, VP role. Transcript.
Political matters and current issues; anticipation of 1980 campaign. Rough transcript.
Inflation, economic policies, political climate, price controls, oil, electronic surveillance, intelligence charters, Camp David. Transcript.
A few notes on an interview with Walter, Joan, and Eleanor Mondale about life as Vice President.
Regarding future plans. Rough draft of transcript.
An amalgam of Mondale speeches/remarks and questions/answers with Finlay Lewis, Jim Baker, and others, largely regarding current issues and Reagan Administration policies. Transcript by MHS.
An amalgam of Mondale speeches/remarks and interview with Finlay Lewis, focusing on Reagan Administration economic policies. Transcript by MHS.
Current issues, Mondale's present and future. Transcript by MHS.
Economic crisis, malaise speech, Volcker appointment to Federal Reserve Board, Camp David/energy speech, Nigeria trip, Middle East policy, Iran, arms control, relationship with Carter.
Energy speech, cabinet firings, relationship with Carter, employment by Winston & Strawn law firm, attitude toward special interest groups, current issues, ethnic tensions.
Nomination as ambassador to Japan; Clinton administration. Rough draft of transcription.
Love for Minnesota and decision to return, joining Dorsey & Whitney, international legal work, University of Minnesota, Anita Hill, Japanese ambassadorship, prospects for other public service positions. Rough draft of transcription.
Interviews with others are organized in alphabetical order by the last name of the interviewees. Sound cassette recordings that are related to these interview transcripts and notes are described in the Sound Recordings section of this inventory.
WFM role as Vice President, foreign policy, fortitude, WFM as candidate, energy policy/malaise speech, Edward Kennedy.
Foreign policy administration in re SALT, Mideast, European security, Helsinki. Interview notes.
Various topics, including 1964 civil rights, Hubert Humphrey, Mondale's prospects as presidential candidate. MHS transcript.
Aftermath of 1984 election. Rough draft of transcript.
Includes tax reform, Senate Finance Committee, 1968 Democratic National Convention, personal recollections and comments on Mondale, hunting and fishing trips in northern Minnesota. MHS transcript.
Aftermath of 1984 election. Rough draft of transcript.
Minnesota and national politics, 1946-1960. Rough draft of transcript.
Minnesota politics and elections; personal anecdotes and opinions of Mondale. MHS transcript.
Appears to be largely a discussion between Lewis and Hale regarding a proposal by Hale to develop Mondale's image in Japan. Rough draft of transcript.
1960s politics, foreign affairs, Vietnam War, Hubert Humphrey, Mondale as VP (especially in re foreign affairs and national security). MHS transcript.
Mondale's political character, relationships with Orville Freeman and Hubert Humphrey, Gideon amicus letter, law school, Head's political disagreements with Mondale. Transcript.
Mondale's energy, discipline, demanding nature. Rough draft of transcript.
Minnesota politics. Rough draft of transcript.
1950s Minnesota politics and campaigns, especially in 2nd District, Mondale's involvement, Mondale as Minnesota attorney general, Minnesota labor movement. MHS transcript.
Minnesota politics 1940s and 1950s, 1948 Humphrey campaign, Mondale activities and career exploration. MHS transcript, accompanied by 1 p. of Lewis' rough notes.
Minnesota 1950s and 1960s politics, factionalism, activities of Mondale, Freeman and others, Miles Lord, Mondale as attorney general. MHS transcript, accompanied by 1 p. of Lewis' rough notes.
Transcripts (20 p. and 17 p.) of two reels of tape, probably from a single interview session. Reminiscences of Mondale, his career, and their association. MHS transcript.
1960s politics, 1964 Democratic National Convention and Credentials Committee challenge, Johnson's treatment of Humphrey. MHS transcript.
Mondale's early interest in politics. Rough draft of transcript.
1984 campaign. Much seems to be in press conference format with unidentified speakers in addition to Johnson and Lewis. MHS transcript.
Johnson's career and association with Mondale, his role as gatekeeper, preparations for 1984 campaign. MHS transcript.
Joining Mondale's staff in 1972, 1970s campaign organization. MHS transcript.
Campaign [1984?]. MHS transcript.
Aftermath of 1984 election, other opportunities for public service, relations with Carter and Clinton, decision to return to Minnesota, selection as ambassador to Japan. Rough draft of transcript.
Primarily Mondale in the Senate, particularly Senate Finance Committee. MHS transcript.
Aftermath of 1984 election, return to Minnesota, Mondale fellowship program at University of Minnesota. Rough draft of transcript.
MHS transcript.
Miscellaneous information. MHS transcript.
Mondale involvement in Humphrey Institute programs. Rough draft of transcript.
Aftermath of 1984 campaign. Rough draft of transcript.
College days, early political activities, personality, political beliefs. Rough draft of transcript.
Mondale as Senator, civil rights legislation in 1960s and under Carter, Finance Committee, Mondale as VP. MHS transcript.
Aftermath of 1984 election. Rough draft of transcript.
Aftermath of 1984 election, return to Minnesota, contributions to law firm [Dorsey & Whitney], personal qualities. Rough draft of transcript.
Law school, political activism, relationship to Humphrey, law review, meeting Joan Adams Mondale. Transcript.
Mondale as a person, family, health, aftermath of 1984 election, family participation in Minnesota politics, selection as ambassador to Japan. Rough draft of transcript.
Aftermath of 1984 election, return to Minnesota, Dorsey & Whitney, appointment as ambassador to Japan, relationship with Clinton. Rough draft of transcript.
Aftermath of 1984 election, return to Minnesota, work at Dorsey & Whitney, decision not to seek public office. Rough draft of transcript.
Summer trip to England [in 1949?]. MHS transcript.
Childhood and youth, entry into politics, political opinions, personal characteristics, nature of Vice Presidency. Rough draft of transcript and notes.
Background, marriage, interest in politics, WFM's political relationships. Rough draft of transcript.
Aftermath of 1984 election, return to Minnesota, family, her activities and involvement in the arts, including prospects in Japan during WFM's ambassadorship. Rough draft of transcript.
WFM's half-brother discusses Mondale family background and anecdotes, his own childhood and youth, family relationships, opinions of WFM, Rolvaag vs. WFM nomination for governor of Minnesota. Rough notes of interview, accompanied by biographical data, a newspaper article on Lester, and notes regarding a Nov. 15, 1922 letter about not going to church.
Family and youth. Rough notes of conversation.
Aftermath of 1984 election, return to Minnesota, opinions on current politics. Rough draft/notes of conversation.
Photocopies of selected pages from an unidentified printed work.
Notes from "Davidson's" [illegible] account of WFM's father as a Methodist pastor and his family.
"The Perpetual Campaign," by Gregg Easterbrook. Appears to be a
printout from the
Mondale's youthful prankster nature. Photocopy of newspaper clipping.
Article on Mondale's home town, on his 51st birthday. Photocopy of newspaper clipping.
Primarily printouts of Lewis' correspondence in 1993-1994 regarding the issuance of a Japanese edition of his biography of Mondale. Also, a memorandum to Carter from Jody Powell regarding Carter's upcoming interview with Lewis (April 2, 1979, photocopy); an exchange of letters with John W. Snyder regarding a purported remark by Hubert Humphrey about the relationship between President Truman and Vice President Barkley (December 1978); and an anonymous letter (mimeographed, undated) to Lewis criticizing his plan for a Mondale biography.
Drafts of press pool reports [by Lewis?]; all appear to be from Mondale's May 1977 trip to Europe and meetings with leaders there.
Transcripts of Mondale's remarks to reporters aboard Air Force 2 en route to Vienna (May 18, 1977); of a press conference with South African Prime Minister Vorster (May 20, 1977); of a press conference with reporters on his meeting with Vorster (May 20, 1977); and of a briefing for Minnesota editors and broadcasters on current issues, including SALT, energy policy, Camp David, acid rain, nuclear proliferation, the gas shortage, China policy, the 1980 primary election, and Carter's leadership (October 26, 1979).
Mimeographed transcript of Jimmy Carter's press conference discussing his selection of Mondale as his Vice Presidential nominee (July 13, 30 p.); a pool report on the press conference (2 p.); mimeographed transcript of Mondale's acceptance speech (July 15, 4 p.); mimeographed chronology of the selection process (2 p.); mimeographed candidate questions (3 p.).
Copy of Mondale's memo to Carter with his recommendations for making the Vice Presidency a significant part of the Carter Administration. Other copies of this memo are available in the Mondale papers and on the MHS website ("Collections Up Close").
Newspaper articles, notes on conversations and press conferences with Mondale, other campaign notes, related miscellany.
An assortment of typed, printout, and handwritten notes, many apparently extracted from interviews.
Printouts of revisions to a few segments of Lewis' biography of Mondale, apparently for then Japanese edition.
This CD consists largely of transcripts and notes from 1993-1994; there are also a few items from other years. All appear to have been printed out, and are found in various of the files above.
Sound cassette recordings made by Finlay Lewis of his interviews with Walter Mondale and others. Many of these recordings relate to the interview transcripts, drafts, and notes in the Interviews. In some cases interviews with different people are grouped on one cassette, but separate transcripts may have been prepared for each individual.
Group 1 sound cassettes are primarily duplicate use copies made by the Minnesota Historical Society for preservation and transcription purposes due to deterioration of the originals. In these cases, the original master recordings are closed to general use. A few of the Group 1 recordings are original sound cassettes made by Finlay Lewis and are noted as such.
Sides A and B of source are on side A of copy.
Recording is somewhat garbled and words are difficult to distinguish.Group 1
"Mondale's early years".
"Hughes, Sherman & Frasers,"
"On Mondale."
"Humphrey on Mondale, The Pickup."
"Topic: Walter Mondale, Interviewer: Finlay Lewis, 6/29/1977, Tape 1 of 1."
Muddy sound on side A (note from duplication process).
"fone, politix."
Finlay Lewis original sound recording.
Finlay Lewis original sound recording.
Finlay Lewis original sound recording.
"Boat accident, phone."
Group 2 contains original sound recordings made by Finlay Lewis. Though master recordings, these cassettes are available for use.
Side B appears to come first, with side A relabeled as "2".
2nd interview by phone.
Side B is labeled as "side one" and side A as "side 2".
"Reporting death/HHH".
"White House, West Wing office."
"Pr. Conf. Chic., Russo-Fr.."
"Interview no 2, White House office".
"Interview".
"Breakfast".
"Breakfast in WH mess[?]".
"Breakfast".