Presidential campaign coordinator for Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky, Kennedy for President Campaign (1960); Ambassador to Australia (1962-1964).
Oral History Interviews (1965, 1970, 2005): Battle completed four interviews for the John F. Kennedy Library: JFK#1 interview, 2/17/1965; JFK#2 interview, 3/20/1970; JFK#3 interview, 3/23/1970; JFK#4 interview, 8/31/2005. In this first interview Battle discusses his friendship with JFK when they were both PT boat commanders in World War II, the 1960 presidential campaign in West Virginia and Virginia, and his appointment as Ambassador to Australia.
In the second interview he discusses the internal politics of the Virginia delegation to the Democratic National Convention in 1956 and 1960; his appointment as ambassador to Australia; conflicts, both active and political, that arose in the South Pacific during his tenure as ambassador, including West New Guinea (West Irian), Malaysian independence, and the Vietnam War; Australian politics and politicians; and military cooperation between the U.S. and Australia.
In the third interview he discusses the effect of racism and JFK’s Catholicism on the 1960 primary and presidential elections in West Virginia and Virginia; JFK’s presidential campaigns in those states; Howard W. Smith’s control of the House Rules Committee; and Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 presidential campaign, among other issues.
In the fourth interview, Battle and his wife Barry discuss JFK during World War II, the P.T. 109 incident, and their friendship with JFK and Robert F. Kennedy, among other issues.