Interview with Harry Bingham Sr.

Partial Transcript: We were just talking about the, progressivism, and since you mentioned it, why don't you mention some of those names that you thought of there?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham discusses the history of progressives in Kentucky, claiming that New Deal style politics existed in Kentucky before FDR popularized them in the 1930's. He later shares his opinion on certain issues and criticizes political labels for past figures.

Keywords: liberalism; New Deal; prohibition; race relations

Subjects: Alben Barkely Barry Woodson Patrick H. Callahan William Goebel

Partial Transcript: While we're on it, your father when he became mayor in 1907... you quite don't remember it, but I've been reading the Courier recently about the, what happened at the time, and he was appointed by Governor Beckham and it appears that one of the major things that he did was to "put the lid on" the saloons...

Segment Synopsis: Bingham details his fathers brief mayorship of Louisville and his contrasting views on prohibition, and wonders if his father would be labeled as a progressive.

Keywords: image; law; liberal; prohibition

Subjects: whiskey trade

Partial Transcript: I remember a program you had on television with, one of your guests one night was Governor Wyatt, you were, I think you were talking about the regional context of Kentucky politics, the Louisville vs. the rest of the state, and has that always been true even back to this time?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham discusses the historic rift between Louisville and rural Kentucky, noting that the differences aren't as major as they used to be.

Keywords: metropolitan; redistricting; rural

Subjects: Jefferson County, KY Wilson W. Wyatt

Partial Transcript: Another man that I read upon in your fathers papers at the Filson club, I went through part of those this summer, was W.W. Davies, what do you remember about him?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham recalls his fathers close friend and fellow progressive W.W. Davies, who pushed for the improvement of housing in Louisville.

Keywords: housing; law; law firm; legislature; progressive

Subjects: W.W. Davies Woodrow Wilson

Partial Transcript: The Democratic party in the contested elections of 1905 and throughout that period seems to have been rather corrupt, and your father was a nominal Democrat but didn't, he cooperated with the so-called Fusionists, who were Republicans and Democrats, did he ever say much about that to you?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham discusses party politics and corruption within state politics during the early twentieth century.

Keywords: appoint; civil service; legislation; partisan; party; police; registration

Subjects: Court of Appeals Woodrow Wilson

Partial Transcript: Some other men that I've run across... are there any other Louisvillians that you would remember that would be actively engaged in progressive politics?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham attempts to recall other Louisvillian progressives, and notes his fathers willingness to go across party lines to achieve progressive goals.

Keywords: partisan; reform

Subjects: A.T. Hurt

Partial Transcript: Who were some of the leaders of the Bi-partisan combine, I've read a little bit about it?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham and Dr. Ellis briefly discuss the political alignment of major Kentucky legislative figures in the early twentieth-century.

Keywords: tobacco; whiskey

Subjects: Jockey Club

Partial Transcript: There's an article in the Saturday Evening Post in late 1907 that very highly praises your father, and the article is written by a man who's obviously a strong prohibitionist, who uses Tennessee and Kentucky as sort of cases where prohibition is about to win out, and if you read that article you get the impression that your father was a strong prohibitionist...

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Keywords: bootlegging; moonshine

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: What was your father's relationship with Henry Watterson?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham discusses the former editor of the Courier-Journal before his father bought the company and his role within the paper and the reason for his eventual departure.

Keywords: editorials; national

Subjects: Courier-Journal League of Nations Women's Suffrage

Partial Transcript: Your father was an ambition man, and in politics did he ever say anything to you about running for governor, I found a few letters from people asking him to run for governor or some other elected office.

Segment Synopsis: Bingham talks about his fathers resistance to run for an elected office and comments on his strong convictions while heading the Courier-Journal.

Keywords: newspaper; party; public office

Subjects: Barry Bingham Jr.

Partial Transcript: I've noticed that it appears that the people we call progressives in Kentucky, there's a very heavy religious overtone, I think you could say to some people, and there were a few ministers that were quite active in 1905, they don't become active in all political issues...

Segment Synopsis: Bingham comments on religious fervor in playing a role in garnering support for progressive movements, and notes the practical opposition to corruption that united both religious and professional figures.

Keywords: corruption; lawyers; money; moral

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Some of the political bosses in Louisville at the time were Whalin and Buckingham...

Segment Synopsis: Bingham discusses a few of the notable political bosses in Louisville during his fathers time and his early life.

Keywords: political bosses

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: What do you remember about Colonel Callahan, what about his appearance?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham describes in detail Callahan's physical appearance and political attitudes, noting his unique place in Kentucky progressive history as a catholic and prohibitionist.

Keywords: catholic; liberal; prohibition

Subjects: Callahan Correspondance

Partial Transcript: He died in 1940, and well three years before that the fire took place and the flood. Do you remember that?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham recalls the Great Flood of 1937, and notes the curious legal workings that allowed the varnish company to quickly rebuild itself after such a devastating event.

Keywords: insurance

Subjects: Louisville Varnish Company

Partial Transcript: Do you remember Sam Baldric?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham talks about his "harshest critic" John Berry of the Kentucky Irish American, a colorful newspaper that catered to Louisville's Irish community.

Keywords: catholic; irish catholic

Subjects: John J. Berry The Kentucky Irish-American The Record

Partial Transcript: The Louisville catholic community, there are of course a lot of Irish Catholics and German Catholics, did Callahan appear to be the leader of this community?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham discusses the strong catholic community and Louisville and Callahan's role in that community.

Keywords: anti-catholic; prejudice; religion

Subjects: Conferance of Christians and Jews Henry Watterson

Partial Transcript: Jim Farley came to Louisville, in early May, just in time for the opening of Churchill Downs and Farley spoke at... your laughing, you remember this already?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham responds to a supposed incident where the Courier-Journal falsified a photo of Callahan with political king-maker Jim Farley.

Keywords:

Subjects: James Farley

Partial Transcript: Why do you think Callahan was a strong prohibitionist?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham briefly speculates on the reason for Callahan's ardent dry sympathies.

Keywords:

Subjects: Robert Callahan

Partial Transcript: Did you ever meet Father John Ryan?

Segment Synopsis: Bingham explains the origin of the profit-sharing system in Louisville.

Keywords: liberal

Subjects: John A. Ryan

Partial Transcript: The Courier and the Colonel didn't always agree on issues...

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Keywords:

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