Interview with Bert T. Combs, August 14, 1984

Project: John Sherman Cooper Oral History Project

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Interview Summary

Bert Combs, former Governor of Kentucky from 1959 to 1963, begins the interview by sharing his earliest memories of Cooper. Combs discusses Cooper's 1946 and 1948 Senatorial campaigns. Cooper's 1952 Senatorial campaign is also mentioned, along with his opponent Tom Underwood as a candidate. Combs describes Cooper as a campaigner. Alben Barkley's campaign for U.S. Senate in 1954 versus Cooper is explored. Combs details the personalities of Thruston Morton and Cooper. Combs provides an overview of the major political factions within the Kentucky Democrats in the 1940s and 1950s. Animosity between Happy Chandler, Earle Clements and Lawrence Wetherby is evaluated. Combs illustrates his working relationships with Lawrence Wetherby and Earle Clements. Combs highlights the dynamics between Earle Clements and Carl Perkins. Combs details his gubernatorial campaigns in the 1950s. Combs discusses his opinions of Happy Chandler, including Chandler as a campaigner and his personality. Combs lists some of his accomplishments as Governor of Kentucky. Combs and Chandler are compared on key issues such as toll roads, sales taxes, and state parks. Combs explains why the Republicans were so successful in Kentucky in 1956, including Cooper and Morton's victories in Senatorial races. Combs details Cooper's level of support for Combs administration programs, including improving education and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). To conclude the interview, Combs assesses Cooper's most significant contributions to Kentucky, as well as Cooper's personality.

Interview Accession

1984oh072_coop067

Interviewee Name

Bert T. Combs

Interviewer Name

Richard C. Smoot

Interview Date

1984-08-14

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.

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

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Combs, Bert T. Interview by Richard C. Smoot. 14 Aug. 1984. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.

Combs, B.T. (1984, August 14). Interview by R. C. Smoot. John Sherman Cooper Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.

Combs, Bert T., interview by Richard C. Smoot. August 14, 1984, John Sherman Cooper 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/xt7dv40jwn6z