ROBERT H. LUCAS PAPERS
The papers of Robert Hendry Lucas, Commissioner of Internal Revenue
(1929-1930), and first Executive Director of the Republican National Committee
(1930-1932), were given to the United States of America for deposit in the Herbert
Hoover Presidential Library by Martha B.L. Pate (Lucas' daughter), in a deed of gift
signed November 20, 1979. Literary rights in the unpublished writings of Robert
Hendry Lucas have been given and assigned to the United States of America.
Linear feet of shelf space occupied: 4
Approximate number of items: 5,000
Biographical Note
1888, August 8
Born near Anchorage, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Son and only
child of Robert Lucas and Hattie (Galey) Lucas.
1906
Graduated Louisville Male High School.
1909
Received Law degree from University of Louisville, admitted to
Kentucky bar, and began practice in Louisville.
1909-1912
Captain in Kentucky National Guard.
1910, October 1
Married Gertrude Lasch.
1912, Nov. 27
Daughter, Martha Bob Lucas., born.
19l6-1921
Chairman of Louisville and Jefferson County Republican Central
Committee.
1917-1921
Prosecuting Attorney for Louisville Police Court.
1921-1929
Collector of Internal Revenue for Kentucky.
1924
Managed Presidential and Senatorial campaigns in Kentucky.
1927-1928
Member of Republican State Central Committee.
1927
Candidate in Republican primary for Governor, defeated.
1928
Managed Presidential campaign in Louisville for Hoover, carried
city by 33,000 votes.
1929-1930
Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service.
1930-1932
Executive Director of Republican National Committee.
1930-1931
Controversy with Senator George W. Norris over contributions to
Anti-Norris campaign in Nebraska.
1933-1947
Active in Republican affairs in both Kentucky and the national
Party organization.
1935-1936
Lucas' challenge of Charles D. Hilles and supposed Wall Street
control of the Republican Party, and his attempt to have the
various leaders of the Republican organizations select the 1936
Presidential candidate (by a "grass roots" poll) fails.
1936
Kentucky Republican nominee for Senator, defeated in general
election.
1940
Kentucky delegate to Republican National Convention.
1944
Kentucky delegate-at-large to Republican National Convention.
1947
Died at Washington D. C. Age 59.
Clubs:
Elks
English-Speaking Union, Washington
Junior Order United American Mechanics
Kentucky Society (pres. 1943-1944), Washington
Masonic Order
National Press Club
Odd Fellows
Pendennis, Louisville
Rumors Club, Louisville
University Club
Lincoln Protective Club
Scope and Content Note
Robert H. Lucas was a leading Republican in Kentucky politics for most of his
adult life and, for a time, in the national affairs of the Republican Party as well. As
Collector of Internal Revenue for Kentucky, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue
Service, and the Executive Director of the R epublican National Committee, Lucas
played an important role in Republican Party affairs. It is this involvement, reflected in
his personal correspondence and public speeches, which comprises the greatest portion
of his personal papers.
Lucas' activities as Collector of.Internal Revenue for Kentucky (1921-1929) are
reflected primarily in newspaper clippings from various Louisville papers, especially for
the period 1921-1923. His duties, responsibilities, and activities as Commissioner of the
Internal Revenue Service (1929-1930) are only incompletely represented because such
records have been retained in the official files of the Internal Revenue Service.
Lucas' correspondence and speeches contain valuable information and insights
of Kentucky history and politics from 1914 into the mid1940's. Additional insights and
observations may be found in the files concerning Lucas' activities as the first-Executive
Director of the Republican National Committee from 1930-1932.
While Executive Director of the Republican National Committee the revelation
he had personally contributed to the anti-Norris campaign in Nebraska in 1930
contributed to the growing internal dissention in the Republican Party, between
conservative elements and the more liberal western-based wing of the Party. Newspaper
clippings and public reaction mail reflects strong support for Lucas' actions.
As Executive Director, Lucas was responsible for organizing the Congressional
campaign of 1930, and both the Presidential and Congressional campaigns of 1932. He
emphasized strong local party organizations, involving young Republicans, and a
centrally-directed speaker program to transmit the Republican view of Hoover's presi-
dency as an efficient and conscientious administrator solving the problems of the nation
in the face of a world depression. Lucas' speeches as Executive Director reflect his
strong belief in Herbert Hoover and the Republican Party.
After 1932, and up to his death in 1947, Lucas was primarily occupied with his
legal practice in Washington D. C., and Republican Party affairs on both the national
scene and in Kentucky. His correspondence for this period is concerned almost wholly
with the political situation in Kentucky and the outlook for the Republican Party in
upcoming Congressional and Presidential elections. His speeches and other writings
take on a deeply patriotic flavor, and reflect a strong anti-communist attitude.
Subject File
Box Contents
1
Appointment book, 1931
Department Service, 1939-1940
Internal Revenue Service, 1921-1930
Collector, 1921-1929
Clippings
1921-1923
1925-1929
Correspondence, 1925-1929
Commissioner, 1929-1930
Clippings, 1929-1930
Correspondence
1929
1930
Messages from the commissioner
Miscellaneous
Kent Libel Suit
Kentucky Political Activities
Clippings
1914-1926
1927
2
1928-1946
Correspondence
1928-1940
1942-1943
1944-1945
1946-1947
Louisville Politics, 1925-1945 and undated
Political Memorabilia
Louisville City Directory, 1919
Lucas, Robert Hendry
Clippings: Family-and Personal
Club Memberships and Activities
College Yearbook, 1907
Correspondence
1916-1927
1929
1930
3
1931-1940
1941-1942
1943
1944
1945
1946-1947
Business Affairs
Condolences
A-K
L-Z
4
Congratulatory Notes
Internal Revenue Service
A-G
H-R
S-Z
Republican National Committee
A-K
L-Z
Funeral and Memorial Resolutions
Memorabilia
Pate, Mrs. Martha Bob
Poems: Lucas" Favorite
Proposed Judicial Appointment, 1929
Miscellaneous
Duplicates
5
Duplicates
Duplicates
New Deal: S. T. Snead critique of
Norris Controversy
Clippings, 1930 and undated
Lucas Form Letter
Press Releases
Public Support
A-C
D-H
I-L
M-0
6
P-R
S
T-Z
Acknowledgments
Photographs
Republican Party Activities
Correspondence
1940-1942
1943
1944
1945-1946
Grass Roots Movement, 1935-1936
Minutes of Meeting, 1944
National Committee
Campaign Organization, 1930-1932
Congressional Committee
James H. MacLafferty Reports
County and Precinct Levels
National and State Levels
Personal and Political Contacts
Special Groups, Speakers, etc.
7
Form Letters
Form Letters
Clippings, 1930-1932
Correspondence
General, 1930-1932
Keim, George DeBenneville
1930
1931
1932
Nutt, J. R.
1930
1931
8
1932
Public, 1930-1932
Minutes of Meeting, 1930
Press Releases
Presidential Appointees Listing,
March 4, 1921 to July 11, 1930
Political Memorabilia
Prohibition Sentiments, 1930
Southern Tour, 1943
Select Committee on Senatorial Campaign Expenditures
Testimony of J. R. Nutt and John Robsion
Speeches
General Political, 1922-1943 and undated
Holiday Addresses
Internal Revenue Service
"Amos and Andy" Speech
Collector, 1922 and undated
Commissioner, 1929-1930
Kentucky Political- 1925, 1930, and undated
Kentucky Senatorial Campaign, 1936 (Printed Copies)
Lincoln Day Addresses, 1921, 1927 and 1928
Louisville Politics, 1924-1926 and undated
Patriotic and Religious, undated
Republican National Committee
1930-1931
9
1932
1932 and undated
Special Occasions-Conventions
Stites, Henry J., 1929-1945
10 (oversized)
Kentucky Politics
Clippings
1927-Scrapbook
Duplicated Originals
Books in the Robert H. Lucas Papers:
Addresses Upon the American Road, 1933-1938, by Herbert Hoover.
Annual Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury:
1929, 1930, 1931, and 1932.
Appointment Book, for the periods January 2, 1931 - May 26, 1931 and
August 4-5, 1931.
The Colonel, 1909; Yearbook of the University of Louisville.
Conference of Young Republicans, June 11-12, 1931.
Internal Revenue News, June 1929-August 1930.
Louisville Informational Booklet.
Our Presidents at a Glance, 1789-1932.
Republican National Conventions; 1924, 1928 (2), 1932 (2), 1936, and 1940.
Republican National Convention: 1932 (oversized edition).
The Republican Woman, October 1932.
The Young Republican Magazine;
November, December, 1931; January, February, March, 1932.
Young Republicans of New Jersey, Third Annual Convention (1934).