U.S. Senate, 1941-1953

Records include subject and personal files, correspondence with veterans and others, political and campaign information, reports, speeches, newspaper and magazine articles, copies of Senate reports and hearings, photographs, and other records of events. The preponderance of files reflect the later part of Brewster's service, 1945-52, indicating that his office updated files regularly. Some earlier files do exist (1941-43), including many records concerning the 1943 investigating trip made by members of the Senate Committee to Investigate the Armed Forces. Other subject files relate mostly to important committee work. The most notable events of the time involved World War II and its economic, political, and social effects. Worldwide petroleum deposits were carefully studied, with special consideration given to foreign relations with countries where the deposits were located. Brewster's participation in the Truman Committee and its investigation of the armed services was perhaps his biggest contribution. Brewster maintained a strong relationship with President Harry Truman, despite their different political views.

After the war, Brewster initiated an investigation of wartime contracts awarded to the Hughes Aircraft Company. His investigation of Howard Hughes' activities did not result in legal action.

Restructuring of the political landscape was under way: the Republican Party recovered from its losses during the depression, and redefined itself as the watchdog against Socialism and Communism. Brewster supported the candidacy of Richard Nixon and made several speeches on his behalf; he later came under investigation for a camouflaged donation of $5,000 to Nixon's senate campaign in 1950. Brewster was allied with Senator Joseph McCarthy, who later (in 1954) nominated Brewster as the counsel to the Senate Government Operations Committee (more information in The Post-Senate Years series).

This series also contains a strong representation of work on important initiatives for the State of Maine: the Passamaquoddy Tidal Power Project (subject of a personal letter from President Harry Truman); oversight of the development of the potato industry, and of the Port of Portland as a major international port.