Interview with James W. Martin, March 17, 1981
Project: University of Kentucky Oral History Project
Interview Summary
In this interview with James W. Martin, former director of the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Kentucky, Martin describes his appointment as Commissioner of Finance by Governor Happy Chandler during Chandler's second administration. He talks about the experiences that prepared him for the position, and talks about choosing the staff for the Department of Finance.Martin discusses other members of the Governor's Cabinet including: Charles Allphin, Commissioner of State Welfare; Laban Jackson, Commissioner of Conservation; Vego Barnes, Commissioner of Economic Security; Dr. Russell Teague, Commissioner of Health; Robert Humphreys, Commissioner of Highways; Peab Widener, Commissioner of Public Safety; James Luckett, Commissioner of Revenue; Harry Davis, Executive Secretary; Harry Lee Waterfield, Lieutenant Governor; and legal advisers Clifford Smith and Joe Leary. Martin talks about the purpose of the Cabinet. He talks about the financial conditions of the state government when Chandler became governor after Lawrence Wetherby's administration.
Throughout the interview Martin discusses issues of government administration and personnel management.
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Administrative agencies. Chandler Administration Kentucky. Department of Education Kentucky. Department of Finance Kentucky. Department of Health Kentucky. Department of Highways Kentucky. Department of Public Relations Kentucky. Department of Public Safety Kentucky. Department of Revenue Kentucky. Department of Welfare Political ethics University of Kentucky. Medical Center Wetherby, Lawrence W. (Lawrence Winchester), 1908-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.Restriction
Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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.
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Martin, James W. Interview by William J. Marshall. 17 Mar. 1981. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Martin, J.W. (1981, March 17). Interview by W. J. Marshall. University of Kentucky Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Martin, James W., interview by William J. Marshall. March 17, 1981, University of Kentucky Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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Persistent Link for this Record: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7c599z2z5w