Interview with Bailey Guard, November 15, 1979

Interview Summary

Bailey Guard remembers meeting John Sherman Cooper for the first time during his 1956 campaign. He was hired as an administrative assistant on Senator Cooper's office staff. Guard recalls the Senator's efforts to dispel his reputation for being slow to answer his mail. Cooper wanted to read each letter and respond to it personally. This was a challenge to the staff. Guard recalls that Senator Morton's office was run differently. Guard discusses the working relationship between Cooper and Thruston Morton as two Republican Senators elected from Kentucky at the same time. He discusses the differences between Cooper and Lee Nunn's approaches to politics. Guard talks about Cooper's work on legislation he introduced in '57-'58 to finance TVA by means of revenue bonds. He talks about how Cooper was perceived both by coal operators and coal unions. He talks about how Cooper handled situations involving hostile constituents. Guard talks about how Cooper responded to lobbyists and others attempting to pressure him to vote a certain way on legislation. Guard talks about some of the economic recovery legislation Cooper worked on specifically for Appalachia. He talks about the conflict between Cooper and Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson over a food distribution program. He talks about how Cooper cared more about right and wrong than party lines, urban versus rural divides, and other types of demographic divisions. He talks about how Cooper got along with constituents, colleagues, and politicians from all walks of life. Guard talks about some of the influences in Cooper's early life that may have impacted his character.

Interview Keyword

Bob Kerr Washington (D.C.) Lee Nunn Lee White Office staff Political candidates Political campaigning Administrative assistants Thruston Morton Louie Nunn Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Political pressure Economic recovery legislation Lobbying Lobbyists

Interview LC Subject

Cooper, John Sherman, 1901-1991 Guard, Bailey Guard, Bailey--Interviews Politicians Politicians--United States Politics and government United States--Politics and government Republican Party (Ky.) Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) Political campaigns--Kentucky Politicians--Kentucky United States. Congress. Senate Democratic Party (Ky.) Democratic Party (U.S.) Office management Office practice in government Morton, Thruston Ballard, 1907-1982 Nunn, Lee R. Nunn, Louie B., 1924-2004

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

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