Interview with John Sherman Cooper, May 17, 1981

Interview Summary

John Sherman Cooper begins the interview by discussing a sedition bill proposed by Styles Bridges. The life of Styles Bridges is briefly detailed. Cooper highlights his patriotism in the midst of criticism from a Senator who accused him of being unpatriotic. Cooper then describes disagreements and cooperation with President Eisenhower and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson, mainly on various foreign policy issues, including the Eisenhower doctrine and intervention in Vietnam. Next, Cooper discusses domestic issues involving various people such as Lee White, "Happy" Chandler, Thruston Morton and Alben Barkley. Cooper recalls senate debates over T.V.A. and R.E.A. Additionally, Cooper details newspaper rumors about his political aims. Cooper evaluates how he was able to build a coalition of voters in Kentucky cities. Cooper highlights how he has worked for Kentucky Republicans, through campaigning and legislation that assisted rural Kentuckians, and the protection of Red River Gorge. Cooper recalls a failed bill on military reorganization he introduced in 1958. Subsequently, Cooper talks of an Appalachian Regional Development bill and a foreign aid amendment bill. Cooper reflects upon a snow in D.C. in 1958 as well as Eisenhower's attempt at lowering government interest rates on federal loans. How this would affect TVA is also mentioned. Cooper then describes an Aid for Public Schools bill in 1958 and the Landrum Griffin Act of 1959. Cooper also remembers various issues surrounding the statehood of Alaska. Cooper recalls his bid for Republican leader of the Senate in 1958. Barry Goldwater is briefly mentioned. The interview concludes with a discussion of Kentucky issues, such as Appalachian development, the Distressed Areas bill and the Mine Safety bill.

Interview Keyword

Robert Taft Thomas Dewey Wendell Willkie Congressional appropriations U.S. Senate Senate Armed Services Committee Barry Goldwater Christian faith Defense Education Bill Dewey Daniel Distressed Areas bill Matthew Ridgway Albert "Happy" Chandler Howard Baker Joseph McCarthy John L. Lewis Labor and Education bill Landrum-Griffin bill Machinist's Helpers Union Mike Mansfield Mine Safety bill Louisville Courier-Journal New Hampshire Norris Cotton Jimmy Carter Dwight Eisenhower Dennis Chaves Karl E. Mundt Robert S. Kerr William Knowland Styles Bridges Taft-Hartley Act Tobacco Eastern Kentucky Senators Lyndon Johnson Lee White Foreign policy Governors Appalachia Everett Dirksen Republicans Foreign aid John F. Kennedy Ezra Taft Benson

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.) Tobacco Kentucky Kentuckians Sedition Patriotism Eisenhower doctrine Intervention Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Tennessee Valley Authority Cities Military Poverty Interest rates Public schools Alaska Soviet Union United States. Department of Agriculture Coal miners Coal Coal mines and mining

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.