Interview with John Sherman Cooper, May 26, 1987

Partial Transcript: The following is an unrehearsed interview, the twenty-eighth in a series, with former United States Senator and Ambassador John Sherman Cooper.

Segment Synopsis: Cooper shares his thoughts on leaving the Senate.

Keywords: 1972 Republican National Convention; Albert "Happy" Chandler; Delegates; Democratic presidents; Elections; Gerald Ford; German Democratic Republic; Lorraine Cooper; Political campaigns; Political candidates; Presidents; Republican Party; Republican presidents; Republicans; Richard Nixon; Senate; Senators; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany

Subjects: Fayette County (Ky.); Germany; Health; Jefferson County (Ky.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Politicians; Retirement; United Nations; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: What did you miss most about the Senate right after you left?

Segment Synopsis: Cooper lists his favorite aspects of working in the Senate.

Keywords: Alben Barkley; Fundraising; Political campaigning; Senate; Senators

Subjects: Death; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Speeches; Washington (D.C.); Washington and Lee University

Partial Transcript: During that--the twenty years that you were in the Senate--uh--what--what would you consider--uh--your greatest accomplishments?

Segment Synopsis: Cooper details some formative experiences that solidified his political views in the Senate, including being a county judge in Pulaski County during the Great Depression and serving in World War II under Patton's Third Army.

Keywords: Allies; County judges; Elections; Enlistment; Farmers; Franklin D. Roosevelt; General Patton; Great Depression; Officer Candidate School; Patton's Third Army; Privates; Pulaski County High School; Roads; Schools; Second lieutenants; Senate; Senators; Somerset High School (Somerset, KY.); State legislature; U.S. Army; Votes; Voting records; Works Progress Administration (WPA); World War II

Subjects: Belgium; Burnside (Ky.); Depressions--1929; England; Europe; France; Germans; Germany; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Luxembourg; Michigan; Military; Munich (Germany); Norway; Politicians; Poverty; Public works; Pulaski County (Ky.); Science Hill (Ky.); Soldiers; Somerset (Ky.); Soviet Union; United Kingdom; United States; Washington (D.C.); World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: They called themselves displaced persons.

Segment Synopsis: Cooper recalls his work in Germany and later in the Senate in attempting to reunite Russian displaced persons and their families.

Keywords: Bills; Commanders; Displaced persons; Displaced persons camps; Elections; General Patton; Harry Truman; Investigations; Judges; Law firms; Laws; O.B. McEwan; Presidents; Senate; Senators; World War II

Subjects: Children; Families; Germany; Home; Immigrants; Korean War, 1950-1953; Marriage; New York (N.Y.); Politicians; Russia; Russians; Soviet Union; Washington (D.C.); Work; World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: D--did you not also--uh--introduce a bill to compensate those Japanese-Americans who had been interred. . ..

Segment Synopsis: Cooper describes his efforts in obtaining compensation for Japanese Americans who were imprisoned in American concentration camps during World War II.

Keywords: American concentration camps; Bills; Compensation; County judges; Displaced persons; Forced removal; Great Depression; Internment; Japanese American incarceration; Japanese Americans; Payment; Senate; Senators; Treatment; Troops; U.S. Constitution; Unconstitutional; World War II

Subjects: Bataan Death March, Philippines, 1942; Concentration camps; Death; Depressions--1929; Harrodsburg (Ky.); Hearings; Imprisonment; Japan; Japanese; Kentucky; Military; New Mexico; Philippines; Politicians; Suffering; United States; Washington (D.C.); World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: W--where did your support for--for civil rights bills come from?

Segment Synopsis: Cooper considers what factors in his life influenced him to support civil rights.

Keywords: Children; Farms; Fathers; Lawyers; Mothers; Parents; Racism; Schools; Senate; Senators; Students; Teachers

Subjects: African Americans; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; Black people; Civil rights; Civil rights movement; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Politicians; Pulaski County (Ky.); Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Somerset (Ky.); Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Had you made any plans for what you were going to do after you left the Senate?

Segment Synopsis: Cooper discusses the various times in his life that he practiced law, including as a circuit judge in the 1940s, in a law firm in the 1950s, and later in the 1970s through the 1980s.

Keywords: Circuit judges; Courts; Elections; Law firms; Law offices; Law practice; Re-election; Retirement; Senate; Senators; U.S. Army; World War II

Subjects: Clinton County (Ky.); Covington & Burling; Germany; Law; Lawyers; Lexington (Ky.); Louisville (Ky.); Politicians; Pulaski County (Ky.); Rockcastle County (Ky.); Somerset (Ky.); Travel; Washington (D.C.); Wayne County (Ky.); World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: Also, a year or so after you'd been out of the Senate--uh--you were a visiting professor at George Washington University?

Segment Synopsis: Cooper talks of his part-time work as a professor at George Washington University and American University since retiring from the Senate. Cooper also briefly recalls a speech he made at the University of Kentucky recently.

Keywords: Colonies; East Germany; Retirement; Senate; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany; U.S. Ambassador to India; Visiting professors; West Germany

Subjects: American University; George Washington University; Germany; India; Nepal; Politicians; Professors; Speeches; Students; University of Kentucky; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Well as--as early as April of 1974, the New York Times reported that you were being considered by President Nixon as the first United States Ambassador to East Germany.

Segment Synopsis: Cooper reflects upon official correspondence and rumors about being a possible pick for the post of U.S. Ambassador to East Germany during the end of the Nixon administration. Cooper discusses the possibility of being appointed as the Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights following his retirement from the Senate. Cooper also recalls the difficulties in establishing an American embassy in East Germany.

Keywords: Clients; Colleagues; Commencement speeches; Conflict of interest; Diplomatic relations; East Germans; East Germany; Gerald Ford; Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs); Law firms; Louisville Courier-Journal; Presidents; Retirement; Richard Nixon; Rumors; Senate; Senators; The South; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany; West Berlin (Germany)

Subjects: Administration; African Americans; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; Ambassadors; Berlin (Germany); Black people; Civil rights; Civil rights movement; Covington & Burling; Germany; Howard University; Kentucky; New York times; Politicians; Race discrimination.; Race relations; Resignation; Soviet Union; Soviets; United States Commission on Civil Rights; United States. Department of State; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: H--how did you first learn that you were--were going to be appointed, or nominated?

Segment Synopsis: Cooper recalls the circumstances by which he became the first U.S. Ambassador to East Germany in 1974. Cooper also lists some of the places he traveled within the USSR over the years.

Keywords: East Germans; East Germany; Elections; Henry Kissinger; John F. Kennedy; Lorraine Cooper; Nominations; Patton's Third Army; Presidents; Richard Nixon; Russian Ambassador to East Germany; Secretary of state; Senate; Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Senators; Soviet Army; Thruston Morton; Troops; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany; U.S. Army; West Germans; World War II

Subjects: Ambassadors; Americans; Buchenwald (Concentration camp); Concentration camps; Europe; French; German; Germany; Italian; Languages; Military; Money; Moscow (Russia); Politicians; Resignation; Retirement; Russian; Soviet Union; Travel; United States. Department of State; Washington (D.C.); World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: Did you notice any major differences in the State Department--uh--in those twenty years in--in terms of--of how policy was established. . .

Segment Synopsis: Cooper compares what State Department foreign policy was like during the 1950s and 1970s. Cooper discusses the preparations he made before becoming the U.S. Ambassador to East Germany. Cooper also details the traveling he did within East Germany as ambassador.

Keywords: American troops; Art galleries; British troops; East Berlin (Germany); East German troops; East Germany; Erich Honecker; General secretary; German history; Henry Kissinger; John Foster Dulles; Martin Luther; Personalities; Presidents; Relationships; Russian army; Secretary of state; Senate Foreign Relations Committee; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany; West Berlin (Germany); World War II

Subjects: Berlin (Germany); Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany, 1961-1989.; Catholic Church; Church; Cold War; Dresden (Germany); Farmers; Germans; Germany; Industries; Lutheran Church; Money; New York (N.Y.); Paintings; Politicians; Soviet Union; Travel; United States; United States. Department of State; Washington (D.C.); World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: Did you get a chance to--to talk very much with--with just common people. . .

Segment Synopsis: Cooper recalls what life was like in East Germany for ordinary people.

Keywords: British Ambassador to East Germany; East Berlin (Germany); East German officials; East Germany; Erich Honecker; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany

Subjects: Ambassadors; Berlin (Germany); Church; German; Moscow (Russia); Russia; Russian; Soviet Union; United States

Partial Transcript: If you got sick as ambassador, you were sent to a state-owned hospital. . .

Segment Synopsis: Cooper describes the healthcare system in place in East Germany during the 1970s.

Keywords: Citizens; Doctors; East Berlin (Germany); East Germany; Embassy; Healthcare; Hospitals; Illnesses; Lorraine Cooper; Medical care; Quality of care; Socialized medicine; State-owned hospitals; Surgical operations; Treatment; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany

Subjects: Ambassadors; German; Germans; Germany; Health; Politicians; Russian; Soviet Union; United Kingdom; United States

Partial Transcript: I wanted to ask you about a man named. . .

Segment Synopsis: Cooper details his life as U.S. Ambassador to East Germany, including his house, job responsibilities, and problems he had to navigate.

Keywords: American ambassadors; Chief officials; Diplomacy; East Berlin (Germany); East German soldiers; East Germans; East Germany; Erich Honecker; Foreign service; General George S. Patton; Government; Jewish people; Negotiations; Residence; Russian-controlled countries; Secretary; Servants; Soviet soldiers; Trade shows; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany; World War I; World War II

Subjects: Berlin (Germany); Bronze Star Medal (U.S.); Dresden (Germany); Germany; International relations; Leipzig (Germany); Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.); Military; National Gallery of Art (U.S.); Politicians; Russians; Soviet Union; United States; United States. Department of State; World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: . . .Didn't the East German government at Christmastime, the first Christmas you were there--uh--didn't they ease travel restrictions. . .

Segment Synopsis: Cooper briefly talks of the travel restrictions within the country that he experienced as U.S. Ambassador to East Germany. Cooper considers the value of his previous ambassadorial experience in India to his position in East Germany.

Keywords: Allies; Chinese Ambassador to East Germany; Christmas; Church; East Germans; East Germany; Foreign policy; Interpreters; Invasions; Martin Luther; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany; U.S. Ambassador to India; West Berlin (Germany)

Subjects: Berlin (Germany); China; English; France; Germany; India; Language; Politicians; Soviet Union; Travel; United States

Partial Transcript: Did you have the feeling that your--your living quarters were bugged, at the time you were there?

Segment Synopsis: Cooper explains the surveillance and security measures that East German officials placed upon him and other ambassadors. Cooper talks of the traveling he did outside of East Germany during his time spent as U.S. Ambassador to East Germany.

Keywords: East Germans; East Germany; Embassy; Erich Honecker; Family; Lorraine Cooper; Marine guards; Official business; Residence; Surveillance; Tunisian Ambassador to East Germany; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany; West Berlin (Germany)

Subjects: Berlin (Germany); Morocco; Politicians; Security; Soviet Union; Travel; Tunisia; United States; United States. Department of State; Yugoslavia

Partial Transcript: I assume you were called back to the United States from time to time. . .

Segment Synopsis: Cooper recalls trips he made back to the U.S. to report diplomatic proceedings from East Germany while he was serving as the U.S. ambassador there. Additionally, Cooper assesses his interactions with Soviet officials.

Keywords: Delegates; East Berlin (Germany); East Germany; Russian Ambassador to East Germany; Secretary of state; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany

Subjects: Africa; Ambassadors; Berlin (Germany); Bonn (Germany); Cubans; Germany; India; International relations; Politicians; Russians; Soviet Union; Travel; United Kingdom; United Nations; United States

Partial Transcript: Were you surprised at all by the--the economic and--and social and cultural progress. . .that East Germany had made?

Segment Synopsis: Cooper describes the social and economic conditions in East Germany during the 1970s. Cooper talks of the end of his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to East Germany.

Keywords: American ambassadors; East Berlin (Germany); East German officials; Elections; Erich Honecker; Gerald Ford; Industry; Jimmy Carter; Lorraine Cooper; Presidents; Residence; Russian; Soviet embassy; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany; West Berlin (Germany)

Subjects: Americans; Art; Berlin (Germany); Business; Culture; Economics; Kentucky; Music; New York (N.Y.); Politicians; Respect; Soviet Union; United States

Partial Transcript: --You actually in--in the May primary--in the presidential primary in 1976. . .

Segment Synopsis: Cooper reflects upon his experiences of campaigning on behalf of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan in Kentucky.

Keywords: Ambassadors; Appointed; Gerald Ford; Hatch Act; Louisville Courier-Journal; Political campaigning; Political campaigns; Political candidates; Presidential primaries; Presidents; Primary elections; Ronald Reagan; U.S. Ambassador to East Germany; White House

Subjects: Cincinnati (Ohio); Kentucky; Louisville (Ky.); Politicians; Speeches; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: I ran into an article recently. . .

Segment Synopsis: Cooper explains how he was able to remain mostly non-partisan throughout his political career.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Albert "Happy" Chandler; Arthur Vandenberg; Bipartisan; Colonel Harland Sanders; Congress; Democrats; Harry Truman; Independent; Louisville Times; NATO Treaty; Non-partisan; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); Partisan politics; Political parties; Republican conventions; Republican representatives; Republicans; Senate; Senate Armed Services Committee; Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Senators; Votes

Subjects: Kentuckians; Kentucky; Partisanship; Politicians; Speeches; Travel; United States; Washington (D.C.)