Interview with William R. Haley, November 13, 1979

Interview Summary

William Haley, a former attorney in John Sherman Cooper's staff, begins the interview by discussing his educational and professional background. Haley's first impressions of Cooper are mentioned. The interviewee's work on the Senate Rules Committee with Cooper is explored. Haley worked with Cooper in 1963-1964, drafting legislation in the Senate Ethics Committee. From around February 1966, Haley served as Minority Counsel of the Senate Public Works Committee. He and Cooper were proponents of Lyndon Johnson's highway beautification program. This effort called for removal and limitations of billboards along the nation's roads. In 1959, Cooper addressed the problem of disparities between the rates of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Jackson Purchase, which had divided Kentucky towns. The interviewee considers Cooper's perspective on private and public power companies. Cooper's efforts to get coal companies to participate in more widespread mine reclamation efforts are examined. Haley also discusses Cooper's efforts regarding the federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act and the Public Works Committee. Haley relays his own and Cooper's knowledge of coal mines. Cooper's relationship with United Mine Workers is speculated upon. To conclude the interview, Haley describes Cooper's questioning of Senator Fulbright on the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

Interview Keyword

Thomas Dodd Allan Dulles William Fulbright Eisenhower administration Federal Trade Commission Harvard Law School John McCloy Mobil Oil Company Gerald Ford Princeton University Robert Baker Senate Rules Committee Arthur Watkins John L. McClellan John Stennis Mike Mansfield Richard Russell John Sherman Cooper John Williams Joseph McCarthy Warren Commission Power companies Senate Public Works Committee Senate Committee on Rules & Administration Senate Select Committee on Ethics Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Interview LC Subject

Cooper, John Sherman, 1901-1991 Haley, William R. Haley, William R.--Interviews Politicians Politicians--United States Politics and government United States--Politics and government Harvard Law School Washington (D.C.) Mobil Oil Company Princeton University Tennessee Valley Authority Coal Coal mines and mining Coal miners United Mine Workers of America Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Vietnam

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.