Are descendents of one of the people im going to be talking about today. Kentucky has been extremely well served with ben as executive director of the kentucky humanities council, and i want to thank him for sharing some of the anecdotes im going to use today. Finally, i want to thank chris and thend fred karam professors who have contributed in one way or another not only to my remarks today but to a series of speeches ive been doing on prominent kentucky senators over the past couple years. Are here to discuss the lives and intersecting careers of three men. Two of these three men helped define kentucky politics for much of the 20th century. Both serving as governor and as senator. Both were intensely and ambitious men both rose from modest origins. Both were democrats born in western kentucky. Both were accomplished athletes in their youth and fine coaches thereafter. Both had a gift for remembering names and faces. Intro kentucky style, these two men carried on a feud that literally lasted for decades. Those two men, of course, are Albert BenjaminHappy Chandler and earle clements. Despite their similarities, the two men in other ways could not have been more different. Happy was colorful and extroverted, literally largerthanlife. He was elected in large part due to his charisma and his absolute zest for campaigning. Clements was the opposite, leaving methodical nothing to chance. Happy was a great speaker. Clements was not. By and large, chandler was conservative, and clements was liberal. The third man im going to talk beneficiarydirect of the chandlerclements feud. Thruston morton republicanthruston morton republican thruston morton. Their conflict launched his career. The chandlerclements divide was significant because for most of the 20th century, kentucky had twice as many registered democrats as republicans. I might say parenthetically, happily, thats changing. [laughter] its important to deviate from. He text occasionally course, wasant, of it was exceedingly hard for republicans to win elections. One way the gop could prevail, when the factions of the Democratic Party split. This occurred in the 1956 kentucky u. S. Senate race when the chandler and clementsrepubl. One way the gop could prevail, when the factions were literally at each others throats. This resulted in moreton being 1956,d to the senate in launching his notable Senate Career. Lets begin our senate our talk with the man known far and wide as happy. He was born in 19 58 in 1928 inounty henderson county. One of chandlers earliest memories was following his mother sobbing as she walked to the carriage that would take her away from the family for the rest of his childhood. Her departure meant chandlers farmer, had to raise happy and his brother literally by himself. The boys soon had to go to work to help make ends meet. Chandler worked diligently on school. And in his hard work paid off academically when he was admitted to a well regarded college some of you may be familiar with, transylvania. As chandler looked back, he said, legend has it, i arrived notransylvania with resources other than a red sweater, five dollar bill, and a smile. Thats about right, he said. His famed nickname originated when an upperclassman saw chandler walking across the campus with his usual vigorous quick stride, smiling and whistling. The senior dubbed him happy. The nickname stuck, as chandler recognized it couldve been a lot worse. At least the senior didnt call him stinky. [laughter] chandler was a natural athlete. At one point, he played semipro baseball. His lifelong interest and involvement in sports flowed naturally from that early activity. After having graduated from transylvania and completed law he coached football at a local high school. He met his future wife, mildred watkins. Mildred was southern to the core. As happy recalled, she still pronounce the words damn yankee as one word. After they wed, happy nicknamed her mama. Happy and mama would be married for more than 65 years. He quipped that the durability of their relationship was a. Reat tribute to patience he once recalled telling a inend of a twoweek period which she didnt speak a word to mildred. His friend asked what the trouble was. Happy responded, there was no trouble. He just hadnt wanted to interrupt her. [applause] [laughter] with his wedding personality, happy soon entered politics. In no time, he became a state senator, and in 1931, he was elected Lieutenant Governor where he served alongside fellow democrat governor ruby laffoon. The two differed on a number of issues. However, including implementation of a sales tax, which chandler believed harmed the poor. They also differed on the need for primaries as opposed to conventions, of course, which would typically be controlled by the party bosses. Not surprisingly, chandler favored primaries. What happened next displays one of chandlers signature traits audacity. Under kentuckys constitution at the time, if the governor left the state, the Lieutenant Governor became acting governor. In 1935, governor laffoon made a big mistake. [laughter] he departed kentucky to go to washington, leaving happy. Emporarily in charge happy seized the moment, called a special session of the legislature, and subsequently had enacted a measure requiring candidates to be elected through primaries. This, of course, enraged laffoon, and while the governor was able to block some of the impact of the legislation, he could do nothing to dim the political stardom happy had gained from this bold maneuver. A wave of popular acclaim, happy ran for governor in 1935. Candidate hepicked hoped would defeat chandler in the democratic primary. That candidate was tom ray. Rays Campaign Manager was a young man named earle clements. This pitting of chandler versus clements in the 1945as 1935 race started a political feud that would have a profound impact on kentucky politics for more than a quarter of a century. It did so by crystallizing factionalism within the state Democratic Party. The end result of the 1935 governors race was that the 37yearold chandler was elected to the states highest office. Historians generally agree that chandlers first term as governor was among the most significant in state history. During the great depression, chandler helped get the state back on Firm Financial footing. He enhanced schools. He constructed hospitals and roads. He reorganize state government, and of course, he repealed the hated sales tax. The problem for happy was that kentucky governors at this time could not run for reelection. Happy was young. He was ambitious. He had to look beyond the Governors Mansion if he wanted to continue his public career. As a result, in 1938, chandler once again. Udacity this time, he challenged an incumbent democrat in the u. S. Senate primary. This was not just any old gardenvariety incumbent. It was the majority leader of the senate, Alvin Barkley. [laughter] it proved to be, shall i say, a spirited context\ st. Contest. M i remember the photograph. Forevelt came down to speak barkley, and happy literally jumped in the car with him. The picture was taken. You had them all in there. You couldnt tell who the hell roosevelt was for. [laughter] how toxicu a sense of the environment was, chandler at one point charged that barkleys allies had poisoned him. Chandler was a sight to behold. As a campaigner, chandler had and knows it. He had a prodigious memory and would call out spontaneously to friends in the crowd, asking about their health or that of a relative. He would sing at a moments home,my old kentucky and he was a superb orator. Chandler used to say about his speeches, i have a strong feeling that nobody is saved after 20 minutes. I made short speeches, and i never told a dirty joke. In the end, with the help of president roosevelt and the rival state democratic faction, which included, of course, earle clements, barkley defeated chandler in the primary. In 1939, the other Kentucky Senate seat unexpectedly opened up. Himself moved to get appointed. He won a special election and then a full term in 1942 to the u. S. Senate. His tenure in the senate was eventful for several reasons. Hey, for example, was an outspoken critic of americas Strategic Priorities in world war ii. In the aftermath of pearl harbor, he expressed his belief that the u. S. Should pursue a japanfirst policy as opposed to focusing on the european theater of the war. As you recall, churchill was intent on the u. S. Fighting in europe first. As in member of the military affairs committee, chandler and lawmakers went off on a 63day inspection of American Forces overseas. During the delegations of voyage, chandler met Winston Churchill and was able to smuggle his friend, comedian bob hope, into meet the prime minister. At the end of the day, chandlers career demonstrates that the senate is not everyones cup of tea. Collegial, not an executive, body, and happy was better suited to be an executive. As his longtime friend recalled, chandler didnt like the senate because he wasnt the boss. He doubly didnt like the senate because barkley was the majority leader. When the offer came to become baseball commissioner in 1945, chandler jumped at the chance. He not only loved baseball, but being commissioner was a pretty nice pay raise, too. Chandler couldve simply done as his predecessor had, which was to firmly oppose integration, but chandler did no such thing. A brooklyn dodger executive to go forward with bringing Jackie Robinson to the major leaks. He publicly supported robinson in the press and made clear to opposing teams that racebaiting by robinson would not be tolerated. I would note parenthetically that another famed kentuckian helped robinson through this time, my childhood hero, peewee. Eese over time, however, chandlers independence cost him support among baseball owners. He was not reappointed and left after six years and office. Happy again felt the tug of politics. He decided to run for governor in 1955, 20 years after his first governors race. In the primary, he was challenged by a littleknown whoe from Eastern Kentucky had the explicit backing of the democratic faction, led by a man named you guessed it earle clements. It was a bitterly fought race. Ultimately, chandler prevailed behind the slogan be like your pappy and vote for happy. [laughter] those were the good old days. While chandlers second term as governor is not as well regarded as his first come its notable due to the creation of the u. K. Medical center that today bears his name. He also was a supporter of racial integration. In 1956, he called out the National Guard during the tense standoff to help integrate schools down in sturgis and clay and western kentucky. Chandler would offer himself up three more times for the Governors Mansion but without success. Despite these setbacks, in later life, it was undeniable chandler had become a living symbol of the commonwealth. In 1980 six, state journalists connected elected chandler the kentuckian of the century, and chandler regularly appeared at senior night of u. K. Basketball games to sing my old kentucky home before the tipoff. In 1982, chandler became one of a handful of kentuckians to be elected into the Baseball Hall of fame. In 1991. Passed away fittingly, his last word was mama. Mama herself passed away four years later. Earl clemens was born two years before chandler in 1896. Was born twoents years before chandler in 1896. His father was a farmer, lawyer, and local political leader. Clements attended u. K. Where he was a football standout. He would later become an accomplished high school coach, as well. Attending seminars held by none other then new rock be. He served in the u. S. Army during world war i. While he was never sent overseas, he rose to the rank of captain. Personality wise, clements was inscrutable. Survey, and he had a temper be acerbic, and he had a temper. One journalist described his speeches as masterpieces of mediocrity. [laughter] but he was an extremely hard worker. He was a tremendous political organizer and strategists. One longtime observer said, he may well have been the greatest political intellect of the 20th century in kentucky. Those who watched clements commented frequently on his ability not only to proceed the result of each action but also the result of the result. Ch was subtle. Oa he once remarked that he always preferred the quiet style of doing things. One gop rival said of clements, i think he solved the riddle of politics. Most of us stand in front of the curtain so we can take the bow. Earle stands in the back of curtain so he never gets the blame. [laughter] unlike chandlers meteoric rise in kentucky politics, clements ascent was steady and gradual. He followed his father into public life, and in the 20year period beginning in 1922, clements served as sheriff, county clerk, and then county judge of union county. Judge, hee as county observed there was no better practical schooling in government then in that office. As a former county judge myself, i certainly wouldnt disagree. Married thements daughter of a Prominent Union county official, sarah blue. A daughterld have named elizabeth who would share her fathers love of public service. She would later work as an aid to first lady Lady Bird Johnson and second lady joan mondale. After his long tenure in county government, clements was elected to the state senate in 1941, quickly rising to the position of majority leader. Following a brief stint as a congressman during which he served with the promising lawmaker from louisville named thruston morton, clements declared for governor in 1947. Year, it looked like his republican opponent would in fact be morton. Morton decided against a run. As governor, clements had many achievements. He succeeded in part because he worked closely with his former colleagues in the legislature, and clements played hardball. As governor, he would go to the house or senate chamber, and if the legislature voted against him, clements would ominously point his pencil at the dissident and make a mental note. [laughter] the results were undeniable. He created the modernday state police and state park system. Chandler, clements left the Governors Mansion before the end of his term to pursue a senate seat. He was elected to fill the vacancy left by Alvin Barkley when he became Vice President. Unlike chandler, clements thrived in the senate. He quickly became an ally of rising star and democratic leader Lyndon Johnson. After only three years in the senate, johnson promoted clements to the position of Senate Democratic whip. This is in part because clements had good relations with both conservative and liberal democrats. A particularly important attribute in a closely divided senate. When the democrats regain the becamey in 1955, johnson majority leader, and clements became majority whip. Clements served as party whip from 1953 to 1957. One of only three kentuckians to serve in that position. The others are wendell ford and myself. Is responsible for counting votes and trying to get senators to support legislation promoted by the majority party. I can assure you, its a pretty hard job. Got even harder in july of 1955 when majority leader Lyndon Johnson had a heart attack. This left Senate Democrats without a true majority leader for the last few weeks of the senate session. For the next 29 days, clements stepped into the breach and served as active majority acting majority leader. During this time, clements had to try to leave the Senate Without appearing to be a absence, albjs difficult balance to strike. He also had to perform to the satisfaction of johnson. Can you imagine that . Taskmained a demanding master, even from his hospital bed. Johnson,iting with clements reported back to fellow democrats on the majority leaders views regarding a particular piece of legislation. He would like the bill to be taken up yesterday and passed the day before yesterday. Johnson, clements reported back to fellow democrats on the majority leaders views regarding a particular piecethat was lbj. Nonetheless, clements succeeded in Holding Together the fragile. Emocratic majority the year 1955 was an important one for clements, not only because of his work is acting majority leader. It was also important because Happy Chandler was running to recapture the governors office. Clements remained a power broker. N the state he vigorously opposed chandlers campaign. Clements and his ally, the incumbent democratic governor lawrence weatherby, handpicked littleknown burke homes to oppose chandler. Happy trained his fire on colmes benefactors who he ridiculed as clementine and whether vine, that line courtesy of ben chandler. [laughter] despite the best efforts of the clements faction, chandler was elected that fall. You can imagine what is coming next. The next year, the shoe was on the other foot. As governor, chandler had control of the state government, and earl clemens was up for reelection to the senate. To put it mildly, chandler was decidedly unhappy about the of clements serving another term. He was looking for payback. He was looking, of course, to defeat clements. Given that he was a prominent leader of the senate leadership, many expected that clements would sail to reelection, but they failed to account for a even asideactors from the hostility of the sitting governor. One was republican Dwight Eisenhower who was popular in kentucky and was up for reelection. Another challenge was clements opponent, his former house colleague thruston morton. To top it all off, clements faced the bane of all legislators seeking reelection, a tough vote. In 1956, johnson pressed the senate to expand Social Security to include benefits for the disabled. This was a difficult issue in kentucky given strong opposition from the states doctors. Clements initially promised them he would oppose the legislation, but lbj found himself one vote securing passage, and cleme