Interview with Malcolm Holliday, January 28, 1981
Project: John Sherman Cooper Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Holliday discusses his family's long association with the Coopers. Their fathers worked for the Internal Revenue Service in Kentucky for a time. Holliday's grandfather and Cooper's personality are explored. Holliday also details his family and their lives. Holliday remembers Cooper's bid for nomination to the governorship of Kentucky against King Swope. The interviewee describes Cooper's character and Holliday talks of his and Cooper's lives during World War II. The impact of Cooper's divorce and personal life upon his public image is examined. Holliday also mentions reasons for Cooper losing his 1948 campaign for the Senate. In 1954, Holliday worked in Cooper's office and also on later campaigns. Cooper's 1946 Senatorial campaign is recalled. Holliday characterizes Senator Cooper's relationships with President Eisenhower, Alben Barkley, "Happy" Chandler, the Nunn brothers and Thruston Morton. The reputation of John Y. Brown Sr. is also mentioned. Cooper's reluctance to run for office is explained. The interviewee discusses the effects of campaign contributions on elections and the financial burdens placed upon Senators. Additionally, Holliday describes Lorraine Cooper. He describes his own life during the 1950s. Vote stealing by the Democratic Party in several Kentucky counties is explored. Holliday then talks of Cooper's role on the Senate Public Works Committee. Holliday assesses the working relationship between Cooper and Carl Perkins. To conclude the interview, Holliday provides his opinion on the Great Society social programs and talks of traveling in Kentucky.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
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Interview LC Subject
Cooper, John Sherman, 1901-1991 Holliday, Malcolm Holliday, Malcolm--Interviews Politicians Politicians--United States Politics and government United States--Politics and government Father Grandfather Jackson (Ky.) Somerset (Ky.) Personality Character World War, 1939-1945 Travel Kentucky Kentuckians Corruption Great SocietyInterview 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.Restriction
Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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.
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Holliday, Malcolm Interview by Terry L. Birdwhistell. 28 Jan. 1981. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Holliday, M. (1981, January 28). Interview by T. L. Birdwhistell. John Sherman Cooper Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Holliday, Malcolm, interview by Terry L. Birdwhistell. January 28, 1981, John Sherman Cooper Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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Persistent Link for this Record: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7z348gj39h