Interview with Charlie Borders, August 19, 2014

Interview Summary

In this wide-ranging interview, former Senator Borders discusses his impoverished background; early education in a one-room schoolhouse; work as a laborer in a brickyard while attending Ashland Community College and later Morehead State University; his career with Ashland Oil; his interest in politics that stemmed from his parents' enthusiasm for the 1960 election; his early electoral defeats and then victories; the unpopularity of KERA and his election as a result; his early impressions of the Kentucky Legislature and how scandals early in his tenure tempered the behavior of some legislators; the growth of the Republican majority in the state Senate; his enthusiasm for Paul Patton's early actions as governor and his support of House Bill 1 and higher education reform; the machinations behind the reform act's passage and his reasons for supporting the measure; his continued pride in the community and technical college system and its growth during the presidency of Dr. Michael McCall; his interest in service on the state Public Service Commission; his appointment to the board; and the transition from life as a legislator to that of a commissioner.

Interview Keyword

Ashland Community College Ashland Oil education reform Governor Paul Patton House Bill 1 Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) Morehead State University Public Service Commission

Interview LC Subject

Kentucky--General Assembly--Senate Legislative bodies Politics and government

Interview 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.