Interview with Jesse L. Amburgey, November 2, 1990

Partial Transcript: Where you were born and then just something that led you up to 1964...

Segment Synopsis: Amburgey discusses some of his background, including education and early exposure to poverty in Eastern Kentucky. He goes on to give an overview of his involvement in the War on Poverty in Kentucky.

Keywords: Carr Creek (Ky.); Community organizer; Early life; Educators; LKLP (Leslie County, Knott County, Letcher County, and Perry County) Community Action Agency; Poverty in eastern Kentucky; War on Poverty

Subjects: Berea College; Kentucky--Rural conditions.; Knott County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Okay well then now lets, if you don't mind, just kind of walk through it...

Segment Synopsis: Amburgey discusses the political aspects of the War on Poverty movement in Kentucky. He talks about the different perspectives in the movement in Kentucky, mentioning Harry Caudill, the Gishes, and the LKLP Community Action Agency.

Keywords: Anti-poverty programs; Community activism; Encouragement; Hiring practices; Judge Harry Caudill; LKLP (Leslie, Letcher, Knott, and Perry) Community Action Agency; Optimism; Relations; Successes; Tom and Pat Gish; Visits

Subjects: Appalachian Region; Economic development; Hazard (Ky.); Inez (Ky.); Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Knott County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: So, at least then during the early phases of the, of the War on Poverty...

Segment Synopsis: Amburgey talks about how the local population, including the low income people, within communities were represented in the anti-poverty movement. He also talks about the cooperation and tension among the locals and outsiders.

Keywords: Community involvement; County developers; Division; Ed Safford; Elections; LKLP (Leslie, Knott, Letcher, and Perry) Community Action Agency; Outsiders; Tension

Subjects: Economic development; Kentucky--Politics and government.

Partial Transcript: Well how did OEO generally, or maybe in particular--were there some OEO representatives who understood what was going on?

Segment Synopsis: Amburgey talks about the role outsiders played in the anti-poverty movement in Kentucky. He also talks about problems that the LKLP Community Action Agency faced when trying to hiring new people.

Keywords: Anti-poverty movement; Ed Safford; Employment programs; Field representatives.; Hiring problems; LKLP (Leslie, Knott, Letcher, and Perry) Community Action Agency; Motivations; War on Poverty

Subjects: Economic development; Kentucky--Politics and government.

Partial Transcript: Well how about also the, uh, problem of going from a single county to...

Segment Synopsis: Amburgey talks about the decision and reaction to the creation of multi-county community action agencies. He also talks about the relations between locals and the VISTAs.

Keywords: Appalachian Volunteers (AVs); Community Action Agency; Financial concerns; Locals; Multi-county; Otis Amburgey; Perceptions; Relations; VISTAs

Subjects: Appalachian Region

Partial Transcript: How did you find the situation at the time, because now you're obviously having to take...

Segment Synopsis: Amburgey talks about his experiences as director of the LKLP Community Action Agency, mentioning tension between him and outsiders. He also talks about Ike Vanderpool and Flem Messer.

Keywords: Ed Safford; Experiences; Financial concerns; Funding issues; Health programs; Local people; Lois Baker; Mountain Cooperative Health Program; Obstacles; Outsiders; Pat Gish; Relations; Tension

Subjects: Appalachian Region; Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Now to complicate your life I'm sure was the election of Louie Nunn...

Segment Synopsis: Amburgey talks about the challenges he and the anti-poverty movement in Kentucky faced under the Louie B. Nunn and Richard Nixon administrations.

Keywords: Anti-poverty movement; Community Action Agencies; Federal support; Hollis West; LKLP (Leslie, Knott, Letcher, and Perry) Community Action Agency; Lynn Frazier; Middle Kentucky area; State economic opportunity office; State support; War on Poverty

Subjects: Kentucky. Governor (1967-1971 : Nunn); Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994; Nunn, Louie B., 1924-2004

Partial Transcript: That wasn't really the case for LKLP, that real dramatic shift that was in Knox County...

Segment Synopsis: Amburgey talks about his organization's approach in the anti-poverty movement, also mentioning the approach of others including Hollis West.

Keywords: Al Arnett; Approach; Confrontations; Cooperation; Employment services; Federal assistance; Hollis West; Howie Phillips; LKLP (Leslie, Knott, Letcher, and Perry) Community Action Agency; Opposition; Rural eastern Kentucky

Subjects: Appalachian Region

Partial Transcript: Your move to what you're doing now was more of a sense that, uh, what...

Segment Synopsis: Amburgey talks about the effort to get and maintain state and general support. He also talks about some of the training programs that are being conducted.

Keywords: Community Action Agencies; Community service workers; Cooperation; Garnering support; Low income people; Outreach programs; Poverty rates; Qualified workers; Southeastern Association; State funding; War on Poverty

Subjects: Appalachian Region; Kentucky--Economic conditions

Partial Transcript: Do you think that's, that's the case, that's part of the legacy of the War on Poverty?

Segment Synopsis: Amburgey talks about the new phase in the anti-poverty movement. He also reflects upon his experiences in the movement and how it impacted it had on the community and individuals.

Keywords: George Wooten; Gish family; Hope; Huey Perry; Impact on people; Joe Begley; Legacy; Message; Mistakes; Mountain women; Opportunities; Pat Gish; Positives; Progress; The Turners; War on Poverty

Subjects: Appalachian Region; Kentucky