Kentucky Legislature Oral History Project

This project focuses on the development of the modern Kentucky legislature. Former and current legislators, governors, and staff members discuss the development of the Legislative Research Commission (LRC), Richard P. Moloney and legislative reform, Wilson W. Wyatt Sr. and the 1960 Kentucky State Senate, Wendell Ford as lieutenant governor and governor, Harry Lee Waterfield's influence on legislative reform, turnover in the legislature, Rules Committee reform, the implementation of the interim committee system, the decline of the power of the governor's office, Bert T. Combs, Julian Carroll as lieutenant governor and governor, John Y. Brown Jr. as governor, A. B. "Happy" Chandler as governor, Arthur Lloyd, Edward T. "Ned" Breathitt Jr., state constitution amendment proposals, Vic Hellard as LRC director, Louie B. Nunn as governor, James Fleming's role in legislative reform, Martha Layne Collins as governor, the shift from part-time legislators to professional politicians, Earle C. Clements as governor, special interest lobbying, the Democratic Caucus, Republican legislators and the media, the change of election years for the governor and legislators, the sales tax increase in 1968, redistricting and gerrymandering, Louie B. Nunn's relationship with other Republicans in the legislature, education reform, Judge Ray Corns's court decision declaring Kentucky's educational system unconstitutional, Thelma Stovall's call for a special session of the legislature in 1978, John Berry and the "Black Sheep Squadron," and the legislature's independence.