Interview with Francis J. Keenan, September 21, 1994

Interview Summary

Francis Keenan, a former legislative assistant and campaign worker for Senator Cooper, begins the interview with a discussion of the history of New Hampshire Republican politics. Keenan's work on Senator Charles W. Tobey's 1950 re-election campaign and the Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce under Tobey is detailed. Keenan provides a background on why Cooper decided to run for the Senate in 1956. Keenan recalls what it was like to work on Cooper's 1956 Senatorial campaign. The interviewee remembers some interesting stories that Cooper's second wife Lorraine told on the campaign trail. Press coverage during the 1956 Senatorial campaign is examined. Keenan also talks of Thruston Morton's Senatorial campaign in 1956. Travel logistics of Cooper's campaign are explored. Additionally, Keenan discusses his work as a legislative assistant in Senator Cooper's Washington D.C. office. Keenan describes a perceptible shift he detected in Cooper's political interests regarding Senate committees. Keenan talks of the contact he had with Cooper after he stopped working at his office. Cooper's personality is illustrated through several humorous stories. Speechwriting during the 1956 Senatorial campaign is considered. Keenan's association with the National Committee for an Effective Congress (NCEC) is evaluated. Keenan's role in campaign finance and TV advertising in Cooper's 1956 Senatorial campaign is articulated. To conclude the interview, Keenan highlights what Louie Nunn taught him about Kentucky politics.

Interview Keyword

Frank Keenan John Sherman Cooper Senate Senators Republicans Charles W. Tobey Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 1956 Senatorial campaign Lorraine Cooper Media Thruston Morton Wesley Powell Legislative assistants Jackie Kennedy John F. Kennedy National Committee for an Effective Congress (NCEC) Charles Taft Campaign finance Louie Nunn Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Interview LC Subject

Cooper, John Sherman, 1901-1991 Keenan, Francis J. Keenan, Francis J.--Interviews Politicians Politicians--United States Politics and government United States--Politics and government Washington (D.C.) New Hampshire Airlines Newspapers Press Personality Character Speechwriting Speeches National Committee for an Effective Congress Television Advertising Kentucky Kentuckians

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.