Interview with Albert B. Chandler

Partial Transcript: Governor Chandler, when did you first meet Robert Martin that you remember?

Segment Synopsis: Governor Chandler recalls when he first met Dr. Martin when Martin was running for superintendent of public instruction, and their initial political opposition to the other as representing different faction in the Democratic Party.

Keywords: Anti-Chandler faction; Frankfort

Subjects: Earle Clements

Partial Transcript: When you became governor, and the both of you were elected, when you began to prepare that budget and form your administration, did you put any, did you make any overtures to him about your working relationship for the next few years?

Segment Synopsis: Governor Chandler comments on his working relationship with Dr. Martin as state superintendent, saying that they both had respective responsibilities that required their meeting but typically kept to their position.

Keywords: conflict; responsibility

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In the preparation of the second binary budget in the second session of the legislature during your term, there was the matter of the free textbook fund, and some people have written in the papers during that time that there was, the only real open break between the two of you at that time. Do you remember that?

Segment Synopsis: Governor Chandler recalls early budgeting conflicts with Dr. Martin, including work on the Minimum Foundation Program, and compares his tenure as commissioner of baseball to his work with state budgets. He also shares some stories in the assembly and his view on fiscal responsibility.

Keywords: bills; budget; consideration; education; responsibilty; welfare

Subjects: General Assembly Minimum Foundation Program

Partial Transcript: During those years from '55 and on, one of the big questions was the financing of public education, and there was a large drive on then to begin the quest for federal financing. Where you in favor of federal funding?

Segment Synopsis: Governor Chandler explains his opposition to federal funding in education, and details his view on federal financing. He describes his perception of the importance of Kentucky state taxes in relation to other states and supports a stronger state government.

Keywords: state taxes; taxes; tobacco; whisky

Subjects: Conservative Democrats

Partial Transcript: One of the big things you had to contend with during those years, you and Dr. Martin both, he in education and you in the governors chair, was implementing the Supreme Courts '54 integration ruling. You had some problems, tell us about how the two of you went about implementing that?

Segment Synopsis: Governor Chandler details the process of enforcing school integration in Kentucky. He describes his firm support for the ruling and how he was able to force some counties to allow Black children in school. He later recounts his support for Jackie Robinson as the first Black baseball player in a major white league.

Keywords: coal strikes; fight; integrate; state police; trouble

Subjects: Branch Rickey Jackie Robinson segregation webster county, KY

Partial Transcript: Back in the years of you and Dr. Martin were in Frankfort, there was a great tragedy in the school system up in Prestonburg, in Floyd County, with the school bus. Remember that?

Segment Synopsis: Governor Chandler briefly recalls his response to the 1958 Prestonburg bus crash which resulted in the death of 26 young students and the bus driver.

Keywords: lawsuits; national guard

Subjects: Floyd County, KY

Partial Transcript: Back in the late 1950s, when your term was coming to an end, the Democratic faction started heating up again and Dr. Martin was in fact campaign manager for Bert Combs while he was still in office. You opposed that. Do you still oppose it?

Segment Synopsis: Governor Chandler details why he opposed Dr. Martin's support for Bert Combs in 1959, and harshly criticizes Combs administration. He later comments on his relationship with Senator Clements and Governor Combs.

Keywords: debt; sales tax; truck controversy

Subjects: Bert Combs Earle Clements

Partial Transcript: There's a story that's been told, I want to see if it's accurate, that the night of the burning of the building over at the University of Kentucky, Governor Nunn came by and picked you up and you went to Lexington, do you remember that, and the story goes that you made the comment to him that "you don't have to worry about the big fella in Richmond," do you remember that?

Segment Synopsis: Governor Chandler comments on Dr. Martin's treatment of student protests and later laments his treatment by university presidents and describes his contribution to regional colleges.

Keywords: contribution; deserve; student protests

Subjects: Louie Nunn

Partial Transcript: When Dr. Martin was in office and you were governor, there was one little incident that was played up by the Courier-Journal... to the effect that you had offered Dr. Martin the presidency of Eastern or wanted him to assume the presidency when Dr. Donovan was over there, did you offer him that?

Segment Synopsis: Governor Chandler recounts the process of Dr. Martin's appointment, including his own contribution to Dr. Martin, and discusses other university presidents.

Keywords:

Subjects: Earl Combs Wendell Butler

Partial Transcript: Do you have any much regard for Bob Martin's political ability when he ran that primary campaign- of course Combs did beat Waterfield- do you think he had any much to do with it?

Segment Synopsis: Governor Chandler discusses Dr. Martin's role in the 1959 gubernatorial campaign, and largely talks about Senator Clements leadership as the biggest factor in Combs election.

Keywords: faction; input; leader; nomination; superintendent of public instruction

Subjects: Earle Clements

Partial Transcript: As you look at his years, 16 of them in fact from '60 to '76 at Eastern, you said you were quite impressed with his record.

Segment Synopsis: Governor Chandler talks about Dr. Martin's effectiveness as an administrator, but dismisses Dr. Martin's fiscal knowledge, saying that Clements was largely responsible for Eastern's funding.

Keywords: affairs; crucial; greatest years; judegement; student protests

Subjects: Earle Clements Lyndon Johnson