Interview with Julian M. Carroll, November 16, 2011

Interview Summary

Julian M. Carroll is the former Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives, former Lieutenant Governor and Governor of the state, and current State Senator as of the time of this interview. In this interview he discusses his early political aspirations and his decision to run for State Representative in 1961. He discusses his family's influence on his political philosophy, and discusses his style of leadership, which often involved circumventing bureaucracy and other regulations.

Throughout the interview he discusses his relationships with and opinions of other politicians, including Bert T. Combs, Wendell Ford, Louie Nunn, Ned Breathitt, Wilson Wyatt, J. R. Miller, Henry Ward, and many others. He discusses their influence on his political career, as well as his influence on their careers. He gives much insight into his political campaigns, why certain people were chosen to run instead of others, and the impact these politicians have had on politics and government. He discusses the role of legislators and Kentucky governors, as well as the role of Speaker of the House of Representatives and the changes he made as Speaker.

Carroll discusses several issues he dealt with throughout his political career, including the issue of state income taxes, the Civil Rights Act, procedures in the General Assembly, the Open Housing Bill, government budgets and funding, legislation regarding bail bonds which led to threats on his life, and progress in legislative independence. He discusses his relationship with the media, which was positive until he became governor in 1976, at which time he came under fire from various sources accusing him of corruption, for which he was never found guilty.

Interview Keyword

Breathitt, Edward T., 1924- Brown, John Young, 1900-1985 Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991 Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985 Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991 Cook, Marlow W. (Marlow Webster), 1926- Ford, Wendell H., 1924- Government and the press. Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 Nunn, Louie B., 1924-2004 Political corruption--Kentucky Prichard, E. F., (Edward Fretwell). Ward, Henry, 1909-2002 Wyatt, Wilson W. (Wilson Watkins), 1905-1996

Interview LC Subject

Carroll, Julian Morton, 1931- Carroll, Julian Morton, 1931- --Interviews Civil rights--Law and legislation--Kentucky Elections Governors--Election Governors--Kentucky Kentucky--Politics and government Kentucky. General Assembly. House of Representatives Kentucky. General Assembly. Senate Kentucky. Governor (1974-1979 : Carroll) Lieutenant governors--Kentucky Political campaigns--Kentucky Politicians--Kentucky Race Relations--Kentucky Sales tax--Law and legislation--Kentucky Taxation--Law and legislation--Kentucky

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.