Interview with Walter D. Huddleston

Partial Transcript: Senator, let's talk--let's start out talking a little bit about your childhood now.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about his birth in Cumberland County, Kentucky and the various locations he lived in during his childhood. He talks about how having multiple hometowns helped him during his political campaigns.

Keywords: Bowling Green (Ky.); Cumberland River; Family; Fathers; Flooding; Greensburg (Ky.); Homes; Hometowns; Houses; Jeffersontown (Ky.); Kentucky; Livermore (Ky.); Louie B. Nunn; Monticello (Ky.); Moving; Politics; Schools; Smith's Grove (Ky.)

Subjects: Childhood; Cumberland County (Ky.); Families.; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Kentucky--Politics and government

Partial Transcript: Tell me a little bit about your family life

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston briefly describes his family and the values he learned from them.

Keywords: "Three Musketeers"; Brothers; Children; Family; Great Depression; Nicknames; Preparation; Self-reliance; Values

Subjects: Brothers and sisters.; Brothers.; Childhood; Depressions--1929; Families.; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018

Partial Transcript: And so you end up in--living in Jeffersontown, Kentucky where you, where you, uh, graduate from high school.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about his experience in high school, especially his experience on the basketball team.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Army; Changes; Grades; High schools; Jeffersontown (Ky.); Military draft; Military service; Monticello (Ky.); Opportunity; Part-time jobs; Starters; Transitions; University of Kentucky; World War II

Subjects: Athletics; Basketball; Basketball players.; Childhood; Education--Kentucky; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; School sports.; Sports; World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans.

Partial Transcript: What went through your mind as you entered the military and started down this sort of unknown path?

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about being drafted into World War II, lying about his asthma to stay in the military, and his desire to become a tank gunner. He talks about his experience overseas and describes being in a tank. He compares his reception upon returning to the United States to that of Vietnam War veterans, which he says compelled him to fight for a Vietnam veterans memorial during his time a senator. He talks about the effects of the atomic bomb.

Keywords: 9th armored division; Advice; Apprehension; Armory; Asthma; Atomic bombs; Attitudes; Basic training; Battle of the Bulge; Brothers; Combat; Company; Examinations; Experience; Gunners; Harry Truman; Japan; Medical history; Mental state; Military draft; Military service; Overseas; Physical examinations; Public opinion; Reception; Tanks; Temperature; U.S. Senate; Unknown; Vietnam memorials; Vietnam veterans; World War II

Subjects: Anti-war demonstrations; Basic training (Military education); Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Military life.; United States. Army--Military life.; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Public opinion; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Veterans.; War memorials.; World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans.

Partial Transcript: Let me say one thing to go back to Jeffersontown...

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about meeting his wife in high school. He talks about his decision to study radio arts. He discusses the attitudes of fellow veterans in college.

Keywords: Attitudes; Broadcasting; Brothers; Changes; Dating; Decisions; Friends; Future; G.I. Bill; Growth; Jean Huddleston; Jeffersontown (Ky.); Post-war; Radio arts; Wife

Subjects: College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Radio; Radio broadcasters; Radio broadcasters--United States; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio stations.; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans.

Partial Transcript: And you looked into playing basketball here too, didn't you Senator?

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about attending a tryout for the University of Kentucky basketball team and mentions his relationship with Coach Adolph Rupp.

Keywords: Admiration; Adolph Rupp; Agriculture committees; Championships; Forced retirement; Legislation; Records; Retirement; Tryouts; U.S. Senate

Subjects: Coaches (Athletics); College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball; University of Kentucky--Basketball--History

Partial Transcript: Now even though you, you didn't make the team, you combined your academic interest and your athletic interest and you became a broadcaster here while a student and you broadcast UK basketball games as a student.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about his experience as the sports announcer for UK basketball and football.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Basketball; Bear Bryant; Claude Sullivan; Football; J.B. Faulkner; Jim Host; Mentors; Paul Bryant; Practices; Sports announcers; WBKY (Radio station)

Subjects: Bryant, Paul W.; Coaches (Athletics); College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Radio; Radio broadcasters; Radio broadcasters--United States; Radio broadcasting of sports; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio stations; Radio stations.; Radio.; Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball; University of Kentucky--Basketball--History

Partial Transcript: Um, so you, you, uh--as you said you finish your college in three years.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about marrying his wife while he was in college. He talks about his first job after college, at the radio station in Bowling Green where his brother was the manager.

Keywords: Brothers; Careers; Coaches; College students; Edgar Diddle; Focus; Marriage; Married; News; Paul Huddleston; Scores; Sports announcers; Strengths; Western Kentucky University

Subjects: Bowling Green (Ky.); Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Radio; Radio broadcasters; Radio broadcasters--United States; Radio broadcasting of sports; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio stations; Radio stations.; Radio.

Partial Transcript: And then you're off to Elizabethtown which would become your home for many, many years after that.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about moving to Elizabethtown for a new career opportunity. He talks about becoming involved in community affairs, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and more.

Keywords: Careers; Chamber of Commerce; Community affairs; Community colleges; Community involvement; Development; Fort Knox (Ky.); Ft. Knox (Ky.); Opportunity; Rotary Club

Subjects: Elizabethtown (Ky.); Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Radio; Radio broadcasters; Radio broadcasters--United States; Radio broadcasting of sports; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio stations; Radio stations.; Radio.

Partial Transcript: You all were out ahead of this community college thing, uh, that eventually became the system.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about the process by which the idea for a community college in Elizabethtown led to the creation of the community college system for the entire state of Kentucky.

Keywords: Bert Combs; Elizabethtown (Ky.); Governors; Jim Collier; Legislation; Wendell Ford

Subjects: College campuses.; Community colleges--Kentucky; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky. Community College System

Partial Transcript: Now you're heavily involved in community affairs.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about the beginning of his involvement in politics as the statewide youth campaign manager for Wilson Wyatt's 1962 campaign.

Keywords: 1962; Alben Barkley; Family; Interviews; Radio; Radio broadcasters; Radio broadcasting; Robert Taft; Statewide campaign managers; Statewide youth campaign managers; Wilson Wyatt

Subjects: Barkley, Alben William, 1877-1956; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Kentucky--Politics and government; Political campaigns--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Wyatt, Wilson W. (Wilson Watkins), 1905-1996

Partial Transcript: Now you, uh--before we keep going into politics here, let me back up a little bit.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about broadcasting in Elizabethtown for University of Louisville and University of Kentucky sports games.

Keywords: Affiliates; Ashland Oil; Elizabethtown (Ky.); Hickman (Ky.); Radio station managers; University of Kentucky; University of Louisville

Subjects: Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Radio; Radio broadcasters; Radio broadcasters--United States; Radio broadcasting of sports; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio stations; Radio stations.; Radio.

Partial Transcript: So you see going into politics as just a natural progression for you?

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston discusses his decision to run for state senate in 1965 and briefly talks about his campaign.

Keywords: 1965; Finances; Kentucky state senate; Legislature; Political candidates; Redistricting; Schedules; State senate

Subjects: Democratic Party (Ky.); Elections; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Kentucky. General Assembly. Senate; Political campaigns--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So when you get to the state legislature--the state, the state senate, what do you make of that place, Senator, when you, when you get there?

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston describes his time as a state senator. He talks about some of the legislation he was involved with. He talks about his involvement in civil rights and desegregation in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Keywords: Accessibility; Accomplishments; Budgets; Chamber of Commerce; Civil rights; Contentious; Elizabethtown (Ky.); Friends; Governors; Illegal; Intelligence committees; Kentucky state senate; Legislature; Methodist churches; Ned Breathitt; Pinball machines; Proud; Restaurants; Sports broadcasting; State senate; Strip mining; Teachers' strikes

Subjects: African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; Breathitt, Edward T., 1924-; Breathitt, Edward T., 1924-2003; Civil rights--Law and legislation; Democratic Party (Ky.); Elizabethtown (Ky.); Gambling--Law and legislation--Kentucky; Gambling.; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Integration; Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Kentucky. General Assembly. Senate; Political campaigns--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Segregation--Religious aspects

Partial Transcript: Now when you were in the, uh, state senate, both houses were controlled by the Democrats but, uh, during the time you were there the governor's office went to the Republicans.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about the relative cooperation between Democrats and Republicans during his time in politics as compared to the current political climate.

Keywords: Acrimony; Budgets; Changes; Civility; Compromises; Contention; Control; Democrats; Governors; Lieutenant governors; Louie B. Nunn; Personal; Political parties; Republicans; Sales tax

Subjects: Democratic Party (Ky.); Elections; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Kentucky. General Assembly. Senate; Nunn, Louie B., 1924-2004; Political campaigns--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; Republican Party (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: You and Wendell Ford come together in the state senate.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about his relationship with Wendell Ford which led to him being named Ford's campaign manager in his run for governor of Kentucky. He talks about Ford's opponents and supporters. He talks about his plans after the campaign.

Keywords: Bert Combs; Billboards; Campaign managers; Friends; General Assembly; Governors; Jaycees; Majority Leader; Political candidates; Political opponents; Political primaries; Relationships; United States Junior Chamber; Wendell Ford

Subjects: Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991; Democratic Party (Ky.); Elections; Ford, Wendell H., 1924-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Kentucky. General Assembly. Senate; Political campaigns--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Tell me about the decision to run for United States Senate.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about his decision to run for the U.S. Senate and his expectations before beginning in this role.

Keywords: 1972; Civility; Commitments; Expectations; Friends; Jean Huddleston; Louie B. Nunn; Political opponents; Re-election; Relationships; Richard Nixon; U.S. Senate; Wendell Ford; Wife

Subjects: Elections; Ford, Wendell H., 1924-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Legislators--United States.; Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994; Nunn, Louie B., 1924-2004; Political campaigns--Kentucky; Politicians--Kentucky; United States--Politics and government; United States. Congress. Senate.

Partial Transcript: You know, when I interview people who've won big offices, Senator, I think back to that movie "The Candidate" where he wins the Senate race--

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about winning his election for U.S. Senate and his apprehension before beginning the job. He talks about being the first Democrat to win the Kentucky seat in 18 years. He talks about his relationships with his fellow senators. He talks about his feelings the day he was sworn in. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Alben Barkley; Apprehension; Benny Johnston; Democrats; Family; Floyd Haskell; Harry Truman; Helpful; James Abourezk; Jesse Helms; Joe Biden; John Sherman Cooper; Marlow Cook; Mike Mansfield; Pete Domenici; Political parties; Preparation; Pride; Procedures; Relationships; Robert Byrd; Sam Nunn; Senior senators; Swearing-in; Thoughts; U. S. Senate; Washington, D.C.; Winning

Subjects: Barkley, Alben William, 1877-1956; Elections; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Legislators--United States.; Politicians--Kentucky; United States--Politics and government; United States. Congress. Senate.; Washington (D.C.)