Interview with Arthur Y. Lloyd, December 4, 1980

Partial Transcript: This is Professor Charles P. Roland, the University of Kentucky History Department.

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd describes his first meetings with Chandler as a teenager in high school. He notes meeting Chandler at a party while the future governor was finishing up his schooling at Transylvania University. He discusses Chandler's college connections with football players from Centre College.

Keywords: Centre College; Danville (Ky.); Lexington (Ky.); Transylvania University

Subjects: Barkley, Alben William 1877-1956.; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; McMillin, Bo, 1895-1952.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky; Wallis, Frederick A.

Partial Transcript: Then, uh, did you keep up any particular kind of contact with him in the immediate years--

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd discusses the state of his contact with Chandler between their first meetings and reuniting in the 1930s. Lloyd notes he had little contact with Chandler, considering the separate directions their lives were moving in. He discusses continuing his schooling while Chandler entered politics.

Keywords: Friendships; Political friendships; Relationships

Subjects: Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Was Young, uh, uh--was s--were--Chandler and Young were together, were they?

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd discusses Chandler's friendship with senior state senator Albert "Allie" Young. He notes Young's importance in the Kentucky State Senate, as well as both of their support for the Democratic Party.

Keywords: Albert "Allie" Young; Albert W. "Allie" Young (1865-1935); Albert Young; Allie Young; Democratic political bosses; Democrats; Kentucky Democrats; Kentucky State Senate; Kentucky state senators; Morehead (Ky.); Political allies; Political bosses; State senators

Subjects: Barkley, Alben William 1877-1956.; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky. General Assembly. Senate; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky; Wallis, Frederick A.

Partial Transcript: Then, uh, what you were teaching up at Morehead at the time, he was lieutenant governor, and then--(coughs)--in, in 1935 he was elected governor, and, uh, what, what, uh, uh, what brought you together after he was elected governor?

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd picks up his connection with Happy Chandler as Chandler was running for governor. He notes that he himself was working as a professor of American government at Morehead State University. It was during this period he came into contact with Dan Talbott. He supported Chandler in his race for governor.

Keywords: Morehead State University; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: All right, and, uh, this, uh--were you, uh, were you in any way, uh, active in his campaign? Did he--he recognized you as a supporter, did he?

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd discusses supporting Chandler during his race for governor, and the role he played organizing for Chandler. He notes the political issues of the election, such as the Taxpayers League opposing a sales tax, as well as the support for a state reorganization bill. Lloyd discusses how Chandler wanted him as part of his first administration.

Keywords: Bill Dunlap; Chandler gubernatorial campaign; Chandler political campaigns; Reorganization Act; Taxpayer League of Kentucky

Subjects: Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: You, you did serve then as a consultant to the committee drafting the Reorganization Act, did you? Or making recommend--

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd discusses his role in helping with the creation of the Reorganization Act. He notes how he received no official position nor a salary. He describes how the Act altered the state government departments, in particular noting the formation of the Highway Commission and the Department of Welfare. He discusses continuing to serve under Keen Johnson as governor during the Second World War.

Keywords: Kentucky Reorganization Act; Kentucky government; Kentucky legislature; Kentucky state government; State politics

Subjects: Barkley, Alben William 1877-1956.; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Johnson, Keen, 1896-1970; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky; Wallis, Frederick A.

Partial Transcript: Did you answer directly--(clears throat)--to Governor Chandler? Or did you answer to the head of the Department of Welfare?

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd discusses the structure of the Department of Welfare. He describes his superior in the Department, Frederick A. Wallis, and how Wallis got along with Chandler. He notes how the chain of command was disregarded and he often met with Chandler directly. He notes that Wallis was not a particularly good politician, but compliments Dan Talbott as the most honest politician he ever knew.

Keywords: Kentucky Commission of Welfare; Kentucky Department of Welfare; Kentucky Welfare Commission; Kentucky department heads; Kentucky department structure; Kentucky government departments

Subjects: Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky; Wallis, Frederick A.

Partial Transcript: That's a, that's a very interesting point, and you're not the first person to have suggested that to me.

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd expands on Talbott's honesty and integrity. He describes Talbott's loyalty to Chandler, and how Chandler used Talbott in the distribution of contracts and jobs for the government.

Keywords: Dan Talbott; Happy Chandler allies; Happy Chandler's advisers; Honesty; Kentucky political advisers; Political advisers; Political counselors

Subjects: Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky; Wallis, Frederick A.

Partial Transcript: Uh, what, uh, what, what caused Happy finally to dismiss Wallis?

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd discusses the circumstances leading to the dismissal of Frederick A. Wallis, though he admits he cannot recall the specifics. He notes the use of barbecues and political donations as part of the reason for his dismissal, with the insinuation they were for getting votes. He also notes that state employees were encouraged to give campaign donations.

Keywords: Commissioner of Welfare; Dismissals; Kentucky Commissioner of Welfare; Kentucky Department of Welfare; Political appointments; Political dismissals; Political scandals

Subjects: Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky; Wallis, Frederick A.

Partial Transcript: I've heard the, I've heard the remark that Happy enjoyed running for office more than he enjoyed holding the office.

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd discusses whether Chandler preferred running for political office or actually holding office. He notes that Chandler was fond of the honors of holding titles and positions. He also describes the formation of Chandler's own "Brain Trust" of Dan Talbott and Jim Martin.

Keywords: Administrations; Dan Talbott; Governing; James W. Martin; Political administrations; Political campaigns; Political governance; Running for office

Subjects: Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Elections; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Would you call Chandler at that stage in his career--we're talking now about, uh, that first administration, let's say down until the senatorial election of '38. Would you call him an idealistic man?

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd discusses Chandler's idealism during his first administration through his sense of loyalty. He notes that politics for Chandler was built around loyalty, and the ability to help one's friends. He describes the personal touches Chandler put into his politics, such as calling up county managers. He also describes how loyalty played a factor in giving jobs to supporters, even if they did not have the highest education.

Keywords: 1938 Senate election; Loyalty; Political idealism; Political loyalty

Subjects: Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: General Lloyd, we were, we were talking about, uh, the, uh, the 1938 senatorial race and, uh, uh, and about whether old age--whether the old age pension rolls were greatly increased for political purposes.

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd addresses the controversy over whether old age pension rolls were inflated in the 1938 Senate race to help Chandler's support. However, he denies the charge, arguing instead that rather the files were backlogged and finally were updated at the time of the election.

Keywords: 1938 Senate race; Campaign issues; Kentucky Department of Welfare; Kentucky pension rolls; Old age pensions; Pension rolls; Political controversies; Political scandals

Subjects: Barkley, Alben William 1877-1956.; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well, you've told me about, uh, being investigated by the FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigations].

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd discusses the preliminary investigations the Federal Bureau of Investigations held over state employees giving campaign donations. He also notes his role as the unofficial treasurer of the Chandler campaign during the Senate race. He describes the increased amount of workers in Kentucky during this period through the Works Progress Administration and the Highway Commission.

Keywords: Campaign contributions; Campaign donations; Campaign finance; Campaign finance controversies; FBI; FBI investigation; Federal Bureau of Investigations

Subjects: Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: I, I'd be interested in, uh, in any information you could give me about how the machinery, the mechanics by which Chandler, uh, worked a bill through the legislature.

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd discusses how Chandler would get a bill through the legislative process to becoming a law. He disclaims that he was not exposed to the process while Chandler was governor. He discusses how Chandler would appeal to known supporters in the legislature. He also notes how Chandler would take advantage of unofficial governors' powers such as deciding which bills are brought to the floor. Lloyd also talks about Chandler holding private discussions as well as using WPA funds to build roads to connect certain legislators' houses to the highway system.

Keywords: Legislative process; Political machinery; Political process; State government

Subjects: Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: I, I asked you a question a little earlier that I think we missed when, when the tape ran out on the other side.

Segment Synopsis: Lloyd discusses how Chandler would respond to Barkley supporters who happened to work in the state government. He notes the various strategies Chandler could use to remove Barkley supporters from their positions, such as firing them if they did not have tenure. He also notes that Chandler also waited until the election was over to fire a candidate. He notes the pervasiveness and visibility of the system, which encouraged state employees to vote for Chandler.

Keywords: 1938 Senate election; Alben Barkley; Kentucky politics; Political appointees

Subjects: Barkley, Alben William 1877-1956.; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Law and legislation; Lloyd, Arthur Y.; Political corruption--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics, Practical; State governments; State governments--Officials and employees; Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky