Will Rogers: A Political Life

Sources and Acknowledgments

Sources and Acknowledgments  The idea for this book emerged slowly. While doing research covering the first thirty years of the twentieth century for my earlier books and articles, I often came across quotations from Will Rogers. Usually they were humorous one-liners, inserted by authors to liven up otherwise dry manuscripts. But over time I realized there was more to Rogers’s comments, that beneath his humor was a more serious message, and that his involvement in politics may have been more than just making people laugh. Rogers always seemed to be closer to the center of political power than the average journalist. During one incident, for example, he was eating lunch in the Senate dining room with a group of powerful senators. Huey Long joined the group, but was reluctant to talk about inside politics while Rogers was present. Senator Tom Connally turned to Huey and told him to not hold back, that Rogers was one of us. This was only one anecdote, but, over time, the anecdotes became a pattern, and eventually developed into a hypothesis that Rogers was more than just a humorist and truly an influence on politics and policy during his time. Will Rogers’s life has been well documented. Oklahoma State University Press and the University of Oklahoma Press have compiled and published his newspaper articles, radio speeches, and papers into a priceless collection. Several biographies describe Rogers’s life, most notably the fine work of Ben Yagoda. But none of the biographia of Rogers truly uncovers the serious and influential political role he played. This book intends to fill a serious gap in the story of Will Rogers. Many individuals contributed to my efforts. First and foremost is Steve Gragert, directoroftheWillRogersMuseuminClaremore,Oklahoma.Whenfirstapproached, Steve immediately recognized the need for a political biography of Rogers. His support has been enthusiastic and unwavering. He opened up the museum archives to my use, provided me with unpublished manuscripts, meticulously edited several drafts, and made my visits to Claremore both productive and enjoyable. Steve’s dedication and professionalism are nonpareil. Will Rogers would be pleased that his legacy is in such good hands. I received excellent support from the staff of the National Archives in College Park, Maryland, and, as always, from the LSU Libraries. In California, the curator of the Will Rogers State Historic Park, Rochelle Nicholas-Booth, opened the park’s archives to my use. Randy Young, source extraordinaire of the Pacific Palisades Historical Society, was a fascinating host. I must thank my agent, David Madden, who continues to guide me through the publishing world. Also, Jim Richardson and my other colleagues at LSU have provided the perfect scholarly environment that allows me to pursue my passion in political biography. John Mulvihill did a superb job in copyediting the manuscript and making overall improvements. My friend Wendy Myers read an early manuscript and made several helpful suggestions. From our first meeting, Judith Keeling, editor in chief at Texas Tech University Press, eagerly recognized the need for a political biography of Will Rogers. Overcoming huge obstacles, she has made this book a reality, giving guidance and encouragement where needed and ensuring that the final manuscript was of the highest academic quality. An author could not ask for a better editor than Judith. Finally, without the support of my wife, Cynthia, our children and grandchild, and our wonderful circle of close friends, this book would never have been. Sources and Acknowledgments [ 288 ] ...