T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History Collection

ABSTRACT

INTERVIEWEE NAME: Melvin Dakin # 4700.0008

IDENTIFICATION: [1908-2002 ] Assistant to LSU Pres. Harold Stokes, 1948-50; LSU Law Professor Emeritus

INTERVIEWER: Susie Crews, LSU Recording Services

PROJECT: LSU History

DATE: November 16, 1978 FOCUS DATES: 1937-1951

ABSTRACT:

Tape 8, 8b

War service with SEC; returned to LSU, 1946; LSU President, Harold Stoke, recruited Dakin as assistant, 1948; Stoke tried to make Board of Supervisors non-partisan and reduce agricultural and athletic influence on LSU; Stoke's appointment; Stoke's personnel appointments; Richard Russell, Cecil Taylor; Pel Mel and the "Stormy Affair"; religion on campus; comparison of Hebert and Hodges; Hebert's fiscal reforms; Dan Borth; Stoke's conflicts with the Board of Supervisors regarding athletics; demise of Southern Review; origins of campus street names; denies university role in Charles Hyneman's departure; Stoke's and Middleton's approaches to budgeting; 1939 commencement; growth of the university in the 1930s; law school debates regarding French Civil Code vs. common law; James Broussard; rapid expansion as source of scandals; James B. Trant; John Hunter's inauguration as Pres. of LSU; Paul Hebert's national reputation and activities.

TAPES: T 8, 8b Cassettes TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 1 hr. 30 min.

# PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 46

RESTRICTIONS: none