Interview with Scott Miller, Jr., January 17, 2006

Interview Summary

Miller (Senate, 1958-1972; 36th district; Republican) talks about his family, including his two grandfathers who lived during the Civil War. He describes the Crescent Hill neighborhood in which he grew up and his father, Scott Miller Sr. who was a circuit court judge. Miller discusses his early educational experiences, going to The Hague as a student following World War II, law school, his decision to enter politics, and his expectations of service in the legislature. Other topics include annexation, water service, budgets, and financing the interstate highway system. He considers poverty in Kentucky, details efforts to bring the University of Louisville into the state system and gives his impressions of governors Breathitt, Combs, Nunn, Ford and Brown. He reflects on presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. Miller also describes his defense of Louie B. Nunn in lawsuit over Nunn's reaction to student protests at University of Kentucky. He reflects on the current political climate, the power of the school boards in rural counties, his involvement in the miner's hospital issue, the tobacco industry's denial of negative health effects, his views on environmental issues, the establishment of the Falls of the Ohio recreational park, and the effect of his legislative career on his family. The interview concludes with a description of his work on the Kentucky Un-American Activities Committee (KUAC). Part 1 of 2.

Interview Keyword

black lung Civil War health care legislation legislative independence student protests World War II

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Volunteers, Inc. Apportionment (Election law) Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991 Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991 Cooper, John Sherman, 1901-1991 Education Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969 Express highways--Kentucky--Design and construction Falls of the Ohio (Ky. and Ind.) Farnsley, Charles P. (Charles Rowland Peaslee), 1907-1990 Ford, Wendell H., 1924- Frymire, Richard L. Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973 Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 Kentucky Un-American Activities Committee (KUAC) Kentucky--Politics and government Kentucky. Governor (1959-1963 : Combs) Kentucky. Governor (1963-1967 : Breathitt) Kentucky. Governor (1967-1971 : Nunn) Kentucky. Governor (1971-1974 : Ford) Latta, Clifford Legislators--Kentucky--Interviews Louisville (Ky.) Lungs--Dust diseases Marshall, Thurgood, 1908-1993 Miller, Scott, Jr., 1927- Miller, Scott, Jr., 1927- --Interviews Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994 Nunn, Louie B., 1924-2004 Poverty Practice of law--Kentucky Rural schools Sewerage--Law and legislation Student movements Tobacco industry Tobacco industry--Kentucky United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865. University of Kentucky University of Louisville Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Wetherby, Lawrence W. (Lawrence Winchester), 1908-

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.