John W. Snyder Interviewed by Robert Cochran for a Biography of Snyder, Tape 4 of 10

John W. Snyder is interviewed at his Washington, D.C. apartment by Robert Cochran, who is doing a biography of Snyder, Tape 4 of 10. John W. Snyder was sent to a highly classified war seminar in California in 1939, where he learned of the "Yellow Peril" of the Japanese buildup. He was at the Defense Plant department and conferred with Senator Harry S. Truman about his concerns. Snyder was concerned with availability of strategic materials such as rubber. Truman worked to get legislation prioritizing the materials critical for the war effort. The RFC and other agencies all came into being at the same time under the War Preparedness Board. With the buildup, graft was evident and the Truman Committee was dreamed up at the Army-Navy club at a meeting attended by Truman, Snyder, Harry Vaughn, and several others. End of side one. On side two of the tape Snyder recounts various war industry buildup stories, the Senate elections of Truman in 1934 and 1940. He recounts being called in St. Louis by Robert Hannegan to have him immediately go to Chicago for the 1944 Democratic Convention. Upon arrival, he found Truman writing a nominating speech for James Byrnes as Vice-President. Later, Byrnes stomped into the room, saying President Roosevelt was sending him back to Washington, D.C. and to forget the nomination. Later, Truman got a phone call, asking him to come to the other hotel, where he found out that William O. Douglas had declined the nomination for Vice-President and that he, Truman, was being nominated. Truman was happy in the Senate and his wife was happy. He was not sure that either would be happy as Vice-President. End of Side 2.