Vincent William Hallinan (1896-1992) – A Lion in Court!
Before Donald Trump became the first criminally convicted President of the United States, there came before him another presidential candidate languishing in jail with one eye on the White House.
Vincent William Hallinan was the grandson of Michael Hallinan and Ann Coll of Croom, County Limerick, Ireland. His father, Patrick Hallinan, fled to America as a young man following his involvement in the activities of the outlawed Irish Republican Brotherhood. He was reportedly a second-cousin of Eamon De Valera, first President of Eire, being linked through the Coll line of both their families.
Vincent became a Lawyer with a reputation for being fiery and aggressive in style, which regularly placed him on the wrong side of the law as he clashed with the opposition in court. In the Spring of 1952, Vincent was serving yet another jail term, this time six months in Tacoma, Washington, for contempt of court for defying rulings from the bench. Passionate about seeking justice for the underdog, Hallinan, in his 1963 autobiography ‘A Lion in Court’ wrote:
‘In dealing with the many agents of the US government you must assume, until the contrary is completely established, that these representatives might aid felonies, suborn perjury, conceal evidence, bribe witnesses, intimidate jurors, convey information to judges and otherwise engage in practices which would be a cause for disbarment or imprisonment for a private attorney.’[1]
Vincent Hallinan’s jail spell in 1952 arose as a result of his defence of a man named Harry Bridges. Harry Bridges was the founder and long-time head of the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union. The government repeating tried to deport the Australian Bridges for allegedly being a communist. It was charged that at the time he became a US citizen he swore falsely that he was not a member of the communist party, something he denied. Hallinan, always on the side of the common man, took on his case. Against all expectations Harry Bridges was cleared and went on to become one of the most highly respected union leaders in the country. Whilst his client went free, however, Hallinan was taken by the Marshalls straight from court to serve six months in jail for contempt of court for defying rulings from the bench. Encouraged by his wife, Vivian, Vincent began a campaign to run for presidency representing the Independent Progressive Party. While in jail, support was mounting for Vincent’s campaign. On his release from the McNeil prison island in a government boat, a yacht circled the craft displaying huge signs in support of Hallinan for President!
About thirty cheering members of the Progressive Party greeted Mr Hallinan when he arrived by plane at San Francisco after his release from jail. In the crowd were his wife, Vivian, and six sons.’[2]
The San Francisco Call Bulletin 21 Mar 1955
To understand Hallinan’s passion for fairness and equal rights one need look no further than the make-up of his dna and heritage. His grandfather Michael Hallinan of Ballingarry, County Limerick, was chairman of the local branch of the National League during the days of the Land Wars and the forced evictions carried out by English landlords. He died in 1922 at the age of 99, remembered fondly throughout the county of Limerick for his role in the National Movement. His son Patrick, Vincent’s father, was also an Irish patriot who became involved in the political happenings in Ireland at that time. Becoming entangled in the activities of the outlawed Irish Republican Brotherhood and wanted by the British authorities, Patrick escaped to America. Along with his wife Elizabeth Sheahan the couple settled in San Francisco where Patrick became one of the leaders of the Great Front Strike of 1899-1900. Following the San Francisco Earthquake in 1906 the family moved from the city to Petulma, a protestant neighbourhood. The big Hallinan family being Catholic were the target of prejudice from their neighbours. Patrick and Elizabeth raised six daughters and two sons in a house with no electricity and running water. There was, however, a strong emphasis on education. Vincent was educated by the Jesuits before training as a Lawyer. He passed the California Bar at the age of 22 after attending Saint Ignatius College and Law School.
One of Vincent’s first high profile cases was that of defending Frank Egan, in what was one of the biggest murder trials of the day. Egan had been a San Francisco police officer. He had studied law at night and became San Francisco’s first chief public defender in 1922. He held that position for a decade before his seedy second career, fleecing elderly women of their life savings, would bring him down. In 1932 Vincent Hallinan was hired to represent Frank Egan who was accused of the murder of Mrs Jessie Scott Hughes, an elderly lady who had made him the beneficiary of her will. Hallinan fought a lively fight for his client, ending in him being arrested for contempt of court for disrupting proceedings. The Nevada State Journal of 4 September 1932 reported ‘Judge Frank H Dunne required just 54 minutes to deliver his instructions and end one of the biggest murder trials San Francisco has witnessed. Constant questions between opposing counsels enlivened the proceedings and were climaxed late Friday when the judge ruled Vincent Hallinan, youthful, fighting, Irish attorney for Egan, in contempt of court.’[3] The judge sentenced Vincent to a day in jail, alongside the man he had been defending. He was released on $1000 bail however, the judge ruled that he would not be able to return to the courtroom until he had served his sentence.
While temporarily released from custody Vincent Hallinan headed for Reno to marry Vivian Moore. The Santa Cruz Sentinel of 24 September 1932 reported ‘Hallinan and Miss Moore were wed tonight in Reno by the Very Rev. Monsignor Hynes at 6 o’clock.’[4] Upon his return, Vincent had to complete his 24-hour jail sentence.
Vincent and Vivian were to have six sons. Vivian was one of San Francisco’s earliest civil rights activists. Her eldest son Patrick was to say ‘she was really the heart and soul of our family’s political philosophy’. Although she held socialist views, she never joined any socialist or communist party and was a lifelong Democrat. Vivian was also instrumental in building the family’s fortune, investing in real estate and writing a best-selling book about her family called ‘My Wild Irish Rogues’.[5] J Edgar Hoover denounced the book as ‘a flagrant employment of the Communist party line, including references to racial discrimination and vicious attacks on the US government’. She helped organise anti-Vietnam war demonstrations, leading a march of 5000 women in Washington DC. She also headed the San Francisco chapter of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Vivian was instrumental in campaigning for the Progressive Party during the 1952 elections.
The San Francisco Examiner 17 Mar 1999
Alongside Vincent, who was running as presidential candidate, the candidate for vice president was Mrs Charlotta Bass. Long before Kamala Harris entered politics, Mrs Bass became the first black woman to run for vice president. She was formerly the publisher of the California Eagle, a newspaper devoted to promoting the cause of African Americans. Passionate about equal rights and fairness she became disillusioned with the main two parties and saw the Progressive Party as a third-party alternative, offering hope and choice to the people of America. Vivian Hallinan and Charlotta Bass were described as being ‘in the great tradition of American women fighters for peace and decency…fighting for…one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.’[6]
Mrs Charlotta Bass The Black Dispatch 14 June 1952
The Hallinans were sometimes referred to as San Francisco’s Kennedys. Ever under the watchful eye of the secret service Vivian Hallinan was charged but acquitted of violating rent control laws during World War 2. She was also accused of tax evasion, another charge she beat, and in 1962 along with four of her sons, spent 30 days in jail for participating in civil rights demonstrations. ‘It’s not authority we resist, it’s injustice’ said Vivian Hallinan in an interview.
Vincent opposed war believing instead ‘in the perfectability of man’. His whole family were at the forefront of anti-Vietnam demonstrations and subsequent anti-military events. He promoted civil rights – ‘my wife and all my kids served terms in the county jail for civil rights disturbances. How anybody could stay out of civil rights disturbances and still hold up his head I don’t know.’ Mr Hallinan, who considered Hoover a dangerous fool, said neither he nor his wife ever was a communist.
Vincent Hallinan died in 1992 at the age of 95. He continued practising law and fighting for the underdog well into old age. Tributes poured in for the ‘fighting Irishman’. ‘He was far ahead of the parade when it came to speaking out for basic human rights’ said Walter Johnson, executive secretary of the San Francisco Labor Council ‘He was just brilliant in every respect.’ Vincent’s wife of 60 years, Vivian, said ‘He left us a great gift, a gift that is giving me the strength to go on. There were many ups and there were many downs, but it was exciting all the way’.[7]
Vivian died in 1999. Nancy Pelosi said of her ‘Vivian Hallinan showed women they could combine family and politics. She was a role model for many of us. If Vincent was the lion, Vivian was the lioness’.[8]
Terence Hallinan, their son, was to become a civil rights lawyer and District Attorney for San Francisco. In 1998 he brought on board as his deputy someone who was destined for higher office; Kamala Harris. Hallinan said of her ‘She’s a terrific prosecutor and has a great reputation’.[9] In 2003 she superseded Hallinan as District Attorney. In parallel with his father Vincent who had run for president alongside Charlotta Bass who made history as the first woman of colour to run for Vice President in 1952; Terence helped shape the career of Kamala Harris who, as a woman of colour, would become the first female Vice President of America in 2021.
Kamala Harris News-Press 5 Dec 2021
[1] Hallinan, Vincent, A Lion in Court (Putnam, USA 1963)
[2] Evening Echo, 18 August 1952.
[3] The Nevada State Journal 4 September 1932
[4] The Santa Cruz Sentinel 24 September 1932
[5] Hallinan Vivian, My Wild Irish Rogues (Doubleday and Company, New York 1952)
[6] Daily World, 18 May 1952
[7] San Francisco Examiner, 18 October 1992
[8] National Post 19 March 1999
[9] San Francisco Chronicle 2 Feb 1998