Interview with Richard Ernst Cooper, July 7, 1993
Project: John Sherman Cooper Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Richard Cooper, Senator Cooper's youngest brother, begins the interview by detailing the life of their father. Cooper reflects upon his father's death and how it affected the family financially. Cooper discusses his childhood and his mother's teaching career. Cooper also talks of the education and lives of his siblings. The importance of politics on both sides of Cooper's family is emphasized. Cooper recalls his brother's first race for Pulaski County judge in 1929. Cooper also describes Senator Cooper's re-election campaign for county judge in 1933. Cooper discusses his speech impediment and how it affected his life. Cooper talks of his mother's family and their lives. Cooper and his brother's experiences in the Great Depression are explored. Cooper recalls his brother's mental health problems due to stress at work and the strain of the Great Depression. Senator Cooper's clean campaign style is examined. Cooper illustrates his involvement in his brother's 1939 gubernatorial campaign in Kentucky. Additionally, Cooper remembers his life during his high school years. To conclude the interview, Cooper highlights his brother's charismatic personality.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview LC Subject
Cooper, John Sherman, 1901-1991 Cooper, Richard E. Cooper, Richard E.--Interviews Politicians Politicians--United States Politics and government United States--Politics and government Kentucky Kentuckians Brothers Sisters Mothers Fathers Education Somerset (Ky.) Pulaski County (Ky.) Centre College (Danville, Ky. : 1918- ) Business Death World War, 1939-1945 Military United States Military Academy Uncles Depressions--1929 Health Mental health Personality Money Yale UniversityInterview Rights
All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.Interview Usage
Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.Restriction
Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.
All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.
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Cooper, Richard Ernst Interview by Harry Merritt. 07 Jul. 1993. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Cooper, R.E. (1993, July 07). Interview by H. Merritt. John Sherman Cooper Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Cooper, Richard Ernst, interview by Harry Merritt. July 07, 1993, John Sherman Cooper Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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