Interview with Louie B. Nunn, March 31, 1994

Partial Transcript: It's March 31st, 1994.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn recalls his initial participation in Republican politics as a young man with his father in Barren County, Kentucky.

Keywords: Adversaries; Albert "Happy" Chandler; Democratic primaries; Fathers; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Great Depression; Judges; Local politics; Political opponents; Precinct committeeman; Republicans; Thomas Rhea; Tip O'Neill; Votes

Subjects: Barren County (Ky.); Death; Depressions--1929; Elections; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Politicians; Retirement; Voting

Partial Transcript: . . .My first memory of Cooper was in 1939--uh--when he--uh--was in a primary election--uh--with King Swope of--uh--Lexington.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn shares his earliest memories of Cooper as a politician in the late 1930s. Nunn talks of notable Kentucky politician Charles I. Dawson.

Keywords: 1939 Republican gubernatorial primary; Adjudication; Charles I. Dawson; County chairman; County seats; Courthouses; Earle Clements; Eugene Siler Sr.; Fathers; Federal judges; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Great Depression; John Sherman Cooper; King Swope; Law practice; Law schools; Lawrence Wetherby; Legislation; Political campaigning; Political campaigns; Political candidates; Political primaries; Precincts; Primary elections; Republicans; Senatorial campaigns; Sherman’s March to the Sea; Supreme Court; William T. Sherman

Subjects: Barren County (Ky.); Conservative; Depressions--1929; Georgia; Income; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Lancaster (Ky.); Lexington (Ky.); Newspapers; Politicians; Radio stations; Speeches

Partial Transcript: Cooper--Cooper was unique in many ways.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn tells some interesting stories of Cooper on the campaign trail.

Keywords: Campaign managers; Courthouses; Democrats; Drugstores; John Sherman Cooper; Pharmacists; Political campaigning; Political campaigns; Political candidates; Political sense; Thruston Morton

Subjects: Kentuckians; Kentucky; Munfordville (Ky.); Nashville (Tenn.); Politicians; Speeches; Travel

Partial Transcript: But, his appeal seems so personal.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn describes what Cooper's personality was like. Nunn details Cooper's frequent reluctance to run for political office.

Keywords: Alben Barkley; Charles I. Dawson; Dean Acheson; Earle Clements; Elections; Governors; Harry Truman; John Sherman Cooper; Political candidates; Political positions; Republican Party; Republicans; Senate; Thruston Morton; Virgil Chapman

Subjects: Kentuckians; Kentucky; Munfordville (Ky.); Personality; Politicians; Somerset (Ky.); Values; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: . . .'52, yeah?

Segment Synopsis: Nunn remembers Cooper's 1952 Senatorial campaign. Nunn illustrates how politics has changed over the years, citing Cooper's discreet acceptance of support from an ex-Grand Dragon of the KKK in the 1950s as an example.

Keywords: 1952 Senatorial campaign; 4th congressional district (Ky.); Campaign donors; Connections; Criticism; Democrats; Dwight Eisenhower; Elections; Electoral reform; Eugene Siler Sr.; Government; Harry Truman; John Sherman Cooper; Ku Klux Klan (KKK); Poll workers; Racism; Republicans; Social change; Supporters; Thomas Dewey; Thruston Morton; Voters

Subjects: Jefferson County (Ky.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Louisville (Ky.); Politicians

Partial Transcript: I think one of the most--uh--hilarious things was one Sunday. . .

Segment Synopsis: Nunn discusses some of Cooper's habits. Nunn also talks of Cooper's family and their involvement in Kentucky politics.

Keywords: 1972 Republican National Convention; Awards; Banks; Bishops; Brothers; Circuit judges; Don Cooper; Elections; Enos Swain; Estates; Fathers; Finances; Friends; Honors; John Sherman Cooper; Law firms; Ministers; Newspapers; Republicans; Richard Nixon; Roscoe Tartar; Speakers; Uncles; Whiskey; World War II

Subjects: Character; Christian Scientists; Danville (Ky.); Debt; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Louisville (Ky.); Miami (Fla.); Politicians; Religion; Reputation; Salary; Somerset (Ky.); World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: In '54. . .he ran against Barkley.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn considers what Cooper's campaign style was like.

Keywords: 1954 Senatorial campaign; 4th congressional district (Ky.); Alben Barkley; Campaign trail; County fairs; Democratic counties; Family; John Sherman Cooper; Law practice; Lawyers; Political campaigning; Political campaigns; Political candidates; Political opponents; Presidents; Virgil Chapman

Subjects: Beattyville (Ky.); Health; Irvine (Ky.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Korean War, 1950-1953; Louisville (Ky.); Morehead (Ky.); Morehead State University; Politicians; Popularity; Speeches; Testimony; Voter registration; Washington (D.C.); West Liberty (Ky.); Winchester (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: . . .You're talking about organization, that he never was real organized.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn highlights Cooper's lack of organizational skills. Nunn also lists some of Cooper's most distinct characteristics.

Keywords: Brothers; Character; Friends; Habits; John Sherman Cooper; Kentucky Republicans; Richard Cooper; Senate; Sisters; Time Magazine; U.S. Army; World War II

Subjects: Bowling Green (Ky.); Carrollton (Ky.); Columbia (Ky.); Criticism; Glasgow (Ky.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Politicians; Somerset (Ky.); Travel; Voting; World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: A lot of those early races, the statewide races. . .

Segment Synopsis: Nunn evaluates whether Cooper wanted be Governor of Kentucky. Nunn recalls his own early efforts at campaigning for governor.

Keywords: Children; County judges; County officials; John Sherman Cooper; Political campaigns; Political candidates; Political opponents; Recognition; Step-children

Subjects: Education; Federal government; Governors; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Politicians

Partial Transcript: That--that is a nice way to lead up to 1956. . .

Segment Synopsis: Nunn articulates his role as campaign manager in Cooper's 1956 Senate race. Nunn highlights the tense dynamics between Kentucky Republicans working on the campaign and outsiders.

Keywords: 1956 Senatorial campaign; Brown Hotel (Louisville, Ky.); Campaign contributors; Campaign finances; Campaign managers; Charles Taft; Children; Connections; Dwight Eisenhower; Enos Swain; Friends; Fundraising; Henry Clay Hotel (Louisville, Ky.); James Park; John Sherman Cooper; Law firms; Lawyers; Lorraine Cooper; Political campaigning; Political campaigns; Political factions; Political nominations; Thruston Morton; U.S. Ambassador to India; Wife; Young Republicans

Subjects: Business; Conservative; Death; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Library of Congress; Louisville (Ky.); New Jersey; New York (N.Y.); Politicians; Somerset (Ky.); Strategy; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: I knew the Library of Congress had Charlie Taft's papers.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn details the campaign finance structure in Cooper's 1956 Senatorial campaign. Nunn continues to discuss how the differences between Kentucky Republicans and outsiders working on the campaign had far-reaching consequences for Cooper.

Keywords: 1956 Senatorial campaign; Brother-in-law; Campaign contributors; Campaign finances; Charles Taft; Clifford Case; Community; Connections; Estates; Family; Father; Finances; Freshman football coaches; John Sherman Cooper; Oil; Political factions; Press coverage; Relationships; Robert Taft; Rogers Morton; Secretary; Senate committees; Sister; Texas; Thruston Morton

Subjects: Families; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Library of Congress; Louisville (Ky.); Maryland; Money; Politicians; Press releases; Rockefeller family; Speeches; Staff; Washington (D.C.); Wealth; Yale University

Partial Transcript: We got through that campaign. . .but it never affected Morton, Thruston.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn assesses the impact of Cooper's 1956 Senatorial campaign finance practices. Nunn compares Thruston Morton's campaign finance methods to those of Cooper in 1956.

Keywords: 1956 Senatorial campaign; Brown Hotel (Louisville, Ky.); Campaign finances; Charles Taft; Connections; Enos Swain; Friends; John Sherman Cooper; Lorraine Cooper; Louisville Courier-Journal; Morton family; Political campaigning; Political campaigns; Political candidates; Public; Rogers Morton; Sister-in-law; Sisters; Sources; Thruston Morton

Subjects: Business; Contacts; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Louisville (Ky.); Money; Morton, Thruston Ballard, 1907-1982; Politicians; Secrets; Threats; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: And old man Brown even talked to me about it.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn recalls the role of Brown Hotel owner James Graham Brown in Republican politics over the years.

Keywords: Brown Hotel (Louisville, Ky.); Campaign donations; Campaign finances; County judges; Dwight Eisenhower; Governors; James Graham Brown; John Sherman Cooper; Political campaigning; Political campaigns; Political candidates; Richard Nixon; White House

Subjects: Kentuckians; Kentucky; Kentucky State Police; Louisville (Ky.); Money; National guard; Newspapers; Politicians; Security; Threat

Partial Transcript: The goa--in that '56 race, I think the idea. . .

Segment Synopsis: Nunn remembers the tight race between Thruston Morton and Earle Clements on election night in 1956.

Keywords: 1956 Senatorial campaign; Albert "Happy" Chandler; Campaign chairman; Campaign managers; Citizens for Cooper; Democrats; Earle Clements; Eastern Kentucky; Elections; Governors; John Sherman Cooper; Political campaigning; Political campaigns; Political candidates; Political opponents; Precincts; Republicans; Rogers Morton; Thruston Morton; U.S. Ambassador to India; Votes; Western Kentucky

Subjects: Albany (Ky.); Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985; Clinton County (Ky.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Logan County (Ky.); Morton, Thruston Ballard, 1907-1982; Politicians; Somerset (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: There was an ad--uh--national advertising agency that did a. . .an ad for Cooper.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn discusses the types of advertising utilized during Cooper's 1956 Senatorial campaign. Nunn illustrates an example of Cooper's tendency to be absent-minded by discussing when he forgot that he agreed to meet and talk with his ex-wife.

Keywords: 1956 Senatorial campaign; Advertising agencies; Brothers; Democrats; Don Cooper; Elections; Enos Swain; First wife; John Sherman Cooper; Lawrence Wetherby; Newspapers; Thruston Morton

Subjects: Advertising; Divorce; Interviews; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Marriage; Politicians; Public relations; Staff; Television; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Were you thinking of running for governor as early as '59?

Segment Synopsis: Nunn talks of his 1959 campaign for the Governor of Kentucky. Nunn discusses his acquaintance with John Robsion Jr.

Keywords: 1952 Senatorial campaign; 1956 Senatorial campaign; 5th congressional district (Ky.); Campaign chairman; Campaign material; Congress; Eastern Kentucky; Fathers; Governors; John M. Robsion Jr.; John Sherman Cooper; Kentucky Republican Chairman; Newspaper clippings; Political campaigning; Political campaigns; Political candidates; Political nominations; Republicans; Thruston Morton; Wife

Subjects: Deception; Florida; Glasgow (Ky.); Hazard (Ky.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Louisville (Ky.); Newspapers; Politicians; Reputation; Somerset (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: You apparently at some point had some interest in a federal judge appointment--.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn illustrates when he attempted to get a Kentucky federal judgeship in 1968.

Keywords: 1968 Republican National Convention; Bert Combs; Circuit judges; Federal judges; Governors; John M. Robsion Jr.; Kentucky Colonels; Law partners; Marlow Webster Cook; National committeeman; Nelson Rockefeller; Political appointments; Political nominations; Political primaries; Presidents; Richard Nixon; Supporters; Throat cancer; Thruston Morton; Votes

Subjects: Ashland (Ky.); Cincinnati (Ohio); Judges; Kentuckians; Kentucky; McCreary County (Ky.); Politicians; Resignation; Throat--Cancer; United States. Department of Justice

Partial Transcript: Cooper's political--allegiance was to him but his personal allegiance and his hopes were for John Kennedy.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn recalls Cooper's public support of Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election despite his friendship with John F. Kennedy. Nunn highlights the change in tone of Cooper's Senatorial campaigns throughout the years.

Keywords: 1954 Senatorial campaign; 1956 Senatorial campaign; 1960 presidential election; Alben Barkley; Brothers; Campaign managers; Groundbreaking ceremony; John F. Kennedy; John Sherman Cooper; Lorraine Cooper; Personal allegiances; Political allegiances; Political campaigns; Public; Republicans; Richard Nixon; William Natcher

Subjects: Bowling Green (Ky.); Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, 1917-1963; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994; Politicians; Reputation; Speeches

Partial Transcript: . . .Lorraine Cooper played, I--th--it seems like a--a very big part in a lot of things.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn evaluates Lorraine Cooper's role in her husband's campaigns. Nunn characterizes Cooper's political leanings as more liberal than conservative but still decidedly Republican.

Keywords: Campaign finances; Contributions; Finances; Free enterprise; Hillary Clinton; Influence; John Sherman Cooper; Liberal; Lorraine Cooper; Medicaid; Medicare; Nelson Rockefeller; Newspaper columns; Parties; Politicians' spouses; Poverty; Presidents; Republicans; Rockefeller family; Votes; World War II

Subjects: Kennedy family; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Kentucky Medical Association; Philosophy; Politicians; Social life; Somerset (Ky.); Washington (D.C.); World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: In '63, you came pretty close to being elected governor.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn discusses his 1963 gubernatorial campaign. Nunn recalls Cooper's 1966 Senatorial campaign.

Keywords: 1966 Senatorial campaign; Bible belt; Catholics; Conservative; Elections; Emotional issues; Gossip; Governors; Jewish people; Liberal; Marlow Webster Cook; Ned Breathitt; Political campaigning; Political campaigns; Political issues; Political nominations; Political primaries; Republicans; School prayer; Thruston Morton; Votes; Western Kentucky

Subjects: Ashland (Ky.); Budgets; Emotions; Kentuckians; Kentucky; London (Ky.); Politicians; Religion; Russellville (Ky.); Speeches

Partial Transcript: And Cook got elected to the Senate.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn discusses the prevalence of anti-Catholicism and anti-Semitism in Kentucky during the 1960s.

Keywords: Al Smith; Bible belt; Campaign managers; Catholicism; Catholics; Churches; Dee Huddleston; Eastern Kentucky; Elections; Jewish people; Jews; John Sherman Cooper; Judaism; Marlow Webster Cook; Mitch McConnell; Political opponents; Protestants; Republicans; Richard Nixon; Roman Catholics; Senate; Son-in-law

Subjects: Anti-Catholicism; Anti-Semitism; Discrimination; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Louisville (Ky.); Marshall County (Ky.); Mayfield (Ky.); Newspapers; Politicians; Prejudice; Racism; Religion; Speeches; Travel

Partial Transcript: You know in '63--uh--Cook had sabotaged my campaign.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn reveals his opinion of Marlow Webster Cook. Nunn assesses the working relationship between Cooper and Marlow Webster Cook, including Cooper's support of Cook during his campaign for governor in 1967.

Keywords: 1963 gubernatorial campaign; Attitudes; Brothers; Campaign contributions; Elections; Fathers; Favors; Federal judges; Friends; Fundraising; Henry Ward; Influence; John Sherman Cooper; Joseph McCarthy; Lawlessness; Marlow Webster Cook; Patronage; Senate; Supporters; Television; Votes

Subjects: Corruption; Criticism; Elections--Corrupt practices; Integrity; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Louisville (Ky.); Political corruption; Politicians; Threats

Partial Transcript: I--I--I don't he think he was as naïve as he sometimes pretended to be.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn compares Cooper's public image to his private personality.

Keywords: Appearance; Character; Coal operators; Fans; Grand Dragon; Influence; John Sherman Cooper; Ku Klux Klan (KKK); Personalities; Politics; Stereotypes; Supporters; Votes

Subjects: Ashland (Ky.); Big Sandy River (Ky. and W. Va.); Kentuckians; Kentucky; Money; Personality; Pikeville (Ky.); Politicians; Speech; Travel

Partial Transcript: I read an interview you did for the UK Thruston Morton project.

Segment Synopsis: Nunn provides an overview of the differences between Cooper and Thurston Morton. Nunn reflects upon Cooper's tendency to rarely speak badly of others.

Keywords: Attitudes; Constituents; George H.W. Bush; Interviews; John Sherman Cooper; Marlow Webster Cook; Political opponents; Prescott Bush; Thruston Morton

Subjects: Correspondence; Criticism; Fathers; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Letters; Morton, Thruston Ballard, 1907-1982; Politicians

Partial Transcript: After that incident with Cook. . .

Segment Synopsis: Nunn considers his interactions with Cooper after the contentious 1967 Kentucky Republican gubernatorial primary in which Cooper supported Marlow Webster Cook instead of Nunn.

Keywords: John Sherman Cooper; Lorraine Cooper; Marlow Webster Cook; Political endorsements; Republicans; Wife

Subjects: Business; Cook, Marlow W. (Marlow Webster), 1926-; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Marriage; Money; Nunn, Louie B., 1924-2004; Politicians

Partial Transcript: How often did you see the Senator. . .from when he left the Senate?

Segment Synopsis: Nunn talks of how much contact he had with Senator Cooper after he retired from the Senate in 1972. Nunn shares his views of Cooper and his political calculus.

Keywords: Conduct; John Sherman Cooper; Politics; Principles; Uncles; Votes

Subjects: Honesty; Honor; Integrity; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Politicians; Pulaski County (Ky.); Religion; Reputation; Respect; Responsibility; Travel; Voting; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: What--uh--does he--Cooper leave any kind of legacy or anything. . .

Segment Synopsis: Nunn considers what Cooper's political legacy will be. Nunn also discusses Cooper's impact upon Kentucky Republicans.

Keywords: Democrats; Elections; Friends; Honesty; John Sherman Cooper; Kentucky Republicans; Lorraine Cooper; Marlow Webster Cook; Political candidates; Senate; Senators; Supporters; Thruston Morton; Zachary Taylor

Subjects: Honor; India; Integrity; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Personality; Politicians; Prejudices; Somerset (Ky.); Speeches; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: You--you went up to his funeral?

Segment Synopsis: Nunn remembers attending Cooper's funeral in 1991 at Arlington National Cemetery. Nunn evaluates the effects of the 1956 Senatorial campaign on his working relationship with Cooper.

Keywords: 1956 Senatorial campaign; 1967 Republican gubernatorial primary; Achievements; Administrative assistants; Brothers; Campaign contributions; Campaign finances; Conduct; Enos Swain; Family; George Washington; Henry Ward; John Sherman Cooper; Lee Nunn; Nephews; Political appointments; Political grudges; Political reports; Richard Cooper; Thomas Jefferson; Thruston Morton

Subjects: Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington, Va.); Competition; Conservative; Criticism; Fame; Kentuckians; Kentucky; Memorial services; Personality; Politicians; Somerset (Ky.); Truth; United States Military Academy; University of Kentucky; Washington (D.C.); West Point (N.Y.)