Interview with John Sherman Cooper, May 18, 1981

Interview Summary

The interview begins with some discussion of events from the Eisenhower administration such as the Lincoln Sesquicentennial Celebration, TVA funding, the Railroad Retirement Act, and Sherman Adams. Cooper talks of speeches he made on the commemoration of a Henry Clay statue for the Pan American Union and the commencement address for Howard University. The interviewee recalls a study he commissioned on a new brand of cigarettes in 1959. The gubernatorial race in 1959 is also mentioned. Cooper then discusses the missile gap controversy of 1959-1960. The failed appointment of Louis Strauss as Secretary of Commerce and the seniority rule in the Senate are explored. Returning to the Senate after his ambassadorship to India, Cooper went to the Agricultural Committee from the Labor Committee. Cooper believed that he could accomplish more for Kentucky through this committee. Cooper remembers the U-2 spy plane incident, with regret. Cooper relays his experiences with the 1960 Republican primary. The interviewee then gives a history of gubernatorial races in Kentucky from the 1930s to the 1960s. Cooper's role in the 1960 Republican National Convention is described. To conclude the interview, Cooper relates his thoughts on the 1960 presidential election.

Interview Keyword

Lewis Strauss Dean Acheson Alben Barkley Senate Agricultural Committee Carl Perkins Carl Sandberg 1960 Republican National Convention Charles Percy Civil Service Committee 1960 presidential election Richard Harwood Henry Clay John Foster Dulles John F. Kennedy John Williams John Y. Brown Sr. Lyndon Johnson Dwight Eisenhower Richard Nixon Railroad Retirement Act Richard Russell Clinton Anderson Frank Carlson Margaret Chase Smith Robert Kerr Sherman Adams Silvio O. Conte Social Security Act Thruston Morton Abraham Lincoln Republicans Missile gap Robert McNamara Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.

Interview LC Subject

Cooper, John Sherman, 1901-1991 Cooper, John Sherman, 1901-1991--Interviews Politicians Politicians--United States Politics and government United States--Politics and government Washington (D.C.) Kentucky Kentuckians Howard University Missiles Cold War Russia Cuba Agriculture Medicare Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

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.