Interview with John D. Ruark, September 18th, 1975

Partial Transcript: This is an unrehearsed interview with Mr. J.D. Ruark, lawyer, Morganfield, Kentucky, 3 p.m. Lexington time...

Segment Synopsis: John Ruark talks about his law practice and a service offered by the University of Kentucky College of Law Library.

Keywords: Criminal law; Library services; Research; University of Kentucky College of Law Library

Subjects: Lawyers--Kentucky; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Let me ask you about, uh, Senator Clements, Mr. Ruark, um.

Segment Synopsis: Ruark talks about his first encounter with Earle Clements who was then serving as county judge of Union County. He talks about how Clements and other local politicians helped his career as a young lawyer.

Keywords: Appearance; Clients; County judges; Earle C. Clements; Earle Clements; Great Depression; Law practice; Mentors; Money; Physical descriptions; Salary

Subjects: Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985; Kentucky--Politics and government; Lawyers--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well, um, it's been observed that, uh, during that period that he was judge that he a, he, he accomplished some fine things for, for Union County...

Segment Synopsis: Ruark talks about Clements' role as a political boss in Union County. He talks about how people interested in running for office in Union County strove to obtain Clements' support.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Builders; Building; Communities; County judges; Courthouses; Earle C. Clements; Earle Clements; Help; Political bosses; Political organizers; Running for office; Rural roads; Support

Subjects: Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985; Elections; Kentucky--Politics and government; Leadership; Political campaigns--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Union County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: And after he left of course, you say he lost--you didn't lose track of him but you, your association with him was less...

Segment Synopsis: Ruark talks about the 1955 Kentucky gubernatorial race between Bert Combs and Happy Chandler. He talks about his own role in the campaign as well as Clements' role.

Keywords: 1955; Bert Combs; Campaign chairman; Campaign managers; Campaign organizers; Campaigning; County attorney; Earle C. Clements; Earle Clements; Happy Chandler; Losses; Personality; Support

Subjects: Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985; Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991; Elections; Kentucky--Politics and government; Political campaigns--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Union County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: But then in 1959, Senator Clements threw his full support behind Bert Combs and became his campaign manager...

Segment Synopsis: Ruark talks about the split between Clements and Combs after Governor Combs appointed Clements as Highway Commissioner.

Keywords: Bert Combs; Conflicts; Earle C. Clements; Earle Clements; Highway Commissioner; Political appointments; Power; Problems; Split

Subjects: Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985; Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991; Elections; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Political campaigns--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Your observations of the Senator, what one thing would you, you--you could point to as being one of his strongest points?

Segment Synopsis: Ruark talks about Clements' strengths as a politician.

Keywords: Dedication; Earle C. Clements; Earle Clements; One-on-one; Respect; Speaking ability; Speeches; Strengths; Strong points

Subjects: Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985; Elections; Kentucky--Politics and government; Political campaigns--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Having been in politics yourself, and Senator Clements being from this area...

Segment Synopsis: Ruark and interviewer Charles Atcher discuss some possible reasons for the large number of Kentucky leaders originally from Western Kentucky. He talks about Western Kentuckians' interest in politics.

Keywords: Changes; Democratic Party; Disinterest; Influence; Interest; Isolation; Kentucky; Political candidates; Politically-minded; Roles; Speaking; State politics; Television; Tom Rhea; Western Kentucky

Subjects: Elections; Kentucky--Politics and government; Leadership; Political campaigns--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: The natural split between the Clements forces and the Chandler forces...

Segment Synopsis: Ruark briefly mentions the reasons he believes Clements was defeated by Thruston Morton in the 1956 election. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: 1955; 1956; Bert Combs; Defeat; Dwight D. Eisenhower; Earle C. Clements; Earle Clements; Happy Chandler; Losses; Senators; Thruston Morton; Votes

Subjects: Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985; Elections; Kentucky--Politics and government; Morton, Thruston B. (Thruston Ballard), 1907-1982; Morton, Thruston Ballard, 1907-1982; Political campaigns--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky