The Reminiscences of the Honorable Colgate W. Darden Jr: 1897-1981

Darden's life was one of public service, as a U.S. Congressman, governor of Virginia, president of the University of Virginia, and delegate to the United Nations. This short volume concentrates on two facets of his career - as a Marine and a Congressman. A Marine Corps aviator in World War I, he went through boredom in France waiting for planes to become available, then was seriously injured in an aircraft accident that killed Marine Medal of Honor recipient Ralph Talbot. In the second interview in the oral history, Darden discusses his service on the House Naval Affairs Committee in the 1930s and 1940s and recalls some of the issues of importance at the time: dealing with the Japanese, fortifying Guam, and preparing the Navy for war. He provides insights on personalities such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Representative Carl Vinson, and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.