Oral history transcript, Roy Elson, interview 1 (I), 5/10/1979, by Michael L. Gillette

Biographical information; how Elson came to work for Carl Hayden; Hayden's office staff and how he trained them; Elson working for Hayden again after serving in the military; Hayden's strengths; Elson's efforts to write a report on Grand Canyon boundaries for Hayden; Hayden's memory; Hayden's investigation of Joseph McCarthy; McCarthy's censure; Hayden's work to prevent the Bricker Amendment from passing; Mike Mansfield's intelligence committee resolution; Hayden's committee assignments; Hayden's relationship with LBJ; Hayden's support for foreign aid; how committee assignments were made; concerns that Sam Rayburn's death would interfere with an Arizona fund raiser for Hayden with JFK and LBJ in attendance; LBJ's and Richard Russell's presence at Hayden's 1962 press conference from Bethesda Naval Hospital; the relationship between Hayden and LBJ; LBJ and parliamentary rules; Rule 22; LBJ's early success and communication with the older senators; LBJ's concern that Elson influenced Hayden too much; LBJ's persuasiveness; Hayden's decision-making; LBJ's power in the Senate and accomplishments for Texas as majority leader; Hayden's support for Texas appropriations; the relationship between LBJ and Ralph Yarborough; how the Senate changed after 1958; the Policy Committee's role versus the Steering Committee's role