Oral History Interview with Woodrow Burchett Part 2

Partial Transcript: Well, when he first started to run . . .

Segment Synopsis: Burchett briefly discusses Combs' support for Harvey I. Sloane in the 1987 Kentucky democratic gubernatorial primary. Burchett did not think that Sloane was a viable candidate in part because he was not born in Kentucky.

Keywords: Bert Combs; Harvey I. Sloane; 1987 Kentucky governor's race

Subjects: Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991; Kentucky; Kentuckians; Governors--Kentucky; Sloane, Harvey I.; Nicknames

Partial Transcript: When I think of Bert Combs, temperamentally--uh--as an attorney, I would expect him to be a plaintiff's attorney.

Segment Synopsis: Burchett considers why Combs wanted to work in corporate law. Burchett thinks that Combs wanted to provide his family with financial security. Combs initially went into corporate law during the aftermath of the Great Depression with his friend Jack Howard. Burchett adds that Howard was a friend of Earle Clements and might have convinced him to appoint Combs as a Kentucky Court of Appeals judge. Burchett also says that clients select the type of lawyer they want to represent them, which happens to be mostly corporate clientele in Combs' case. Oftentimes, Burchett found himself representing the plaintiffs and Combs representing the defendants in legal cases in Prestonsburg. Burchett says that Combs deals with a lot of cases relating to legal questions with the state government. Burchett adds that Combs returned to corporate law after serving as governor because he needed to secure a good financial future for his son Tommy, who is a person with an intellectual disability.

Keywords: Bert Combs; Jack Howard; Earle Clements; Democrats; Simeon Willis; Family; Plaintiffs; Defendants; Legal questions; Tommy Combs; Son

Subjects: Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991; Kentucky; Kentuckians; Governors--Kentucky; Lawyers; Prestonsburg (Ky.); Corporate law; Law partnership; Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985; Judges; Kentucky. Court of Appeals; Willis, Simeon S., 1879-1965; Personality; Income; Great Depression; Friendship; Intelligence; Corporate law; State governments; Intellectual disability

Partial Transcript: Combs is a happy man now, I think

Segment Synopsis: Burchett speculates on how Combs feels about the way his life turned out. Burchett thinks that Combs may have wanted a son who could one day take over his law practice, since his son Tommy would not be able to do so. Burchett discusses Tommy Combs and recalls when he returned to Prestonsburg and threw a party. Guests were from all walks of life, including inmates, grocery clerks, state senators, and judges. Burchett recalls that Tommy Combs was aware of the political rivalry between his father and Earle Clements, stating that he could not invite him to the party.

Keywords: Bert Combs; Tommy Combs; Son; Family; Dinner; Earle Clements

Subjects: Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991; Kentucky; Kentuckians; Governors--Kentucky; Happiness; Friendship; Life; Childhood; Prestonsburg (Ky.); Floyd County (Ky.); Parties; Memory; Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985; Law firms; Intellectual disability

Partial Transcript: Well, I think you're putting your finger on some things that you know about the--the sadness that I've tried to figure out . . .

Segment Synopsis: Burchett describes Combs as intelligent and capable. Burchett also says that Combs is caring and sincere, especially in comparison to other Kentucky politicians. Burchett praises Combs' ability to successfully build personal connections with people from opposite ends of the wealth spectrum. Burchett says that Combs is a man with integrity and enjoys poetry and classical literature.

Keywords: Bert Combs; Tough; Insensitive

Subjects: Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991; Kentucky; Kentuckians; Governors--Kentucky; Personality; Sadness; Intelligence; Sincerity; Social classes; Caring; Sensitivity (Personality trait); Poetry; Classical literature; Politicians; Integrity

Partial Transcript: Now, I've known a lot of governors.

Segment Synopsis: Burchett says that he has known two governors personally, Combs and Ned Breathitt, both of whom (in Burchett's view) were not corrupt. Burchett says that several former Kentucky governors had issues with corruption, including Earle Clements and Louie Nunn.

Keywords: Bert Combs; Democrats; Breathitt, Ned, 1924-2003; Ned Breathitt; Lawrence Wetherby; Martha Layne Collins; Louie B. Nunn

Subjects: Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991; Kentucky; Kentuckians; Politicians; Governors--Kentucky; Friendship; Wetherby, Lawrence W. (Lawrence Winchester), 1908-1994; Corruption; Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985; Collins, Martha Layne; Nunn, Louie B., 1924-2004

Partial Transcript: . . . Combs and them fellows took me down there on that hunting trip and got me to be for Harvey Sloane.

Segment Synopsis: Burchett was initially reluctant to support Harvey Sloane's bid for the democratic ticket in the 1987 Kentucky governor's race, but was convinced by Combs and his allies to do so. Burchett also hosted a successful campaign fundraising event for Sloane. Burchett discusses the investigation into alleged corruption by the winner of the 1987 Kentucky governor's race, Wallace Wilkinson. Burchett considers why Combs supported Wilkinson as the democratic nominee for governor. Burchett thinks that party loyalty and Combs' trust in Grady Stumbo is what ultimately motivated him to support Wilkinson's run for governor. Burchett adds that Combs was hurt by the fact that he had endorsed someone for governor who did not have a clean administration.

Keywords: Democrats; Bert Combs; 1987 Kentucky governor's race; Support; Harvey I. Sloane; Fundraising; Campaign finance; Wallace Wilkinson; Investigation; Grady Stumbo

Subjects: Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991; Kentucky; Kentuckians; Governors--Kentucky; Politicians; Corruption; Sloane, Harvey I.; Money; Wilkinson, Wallace G.; Speeches; Loyalty

Partial Transcript: . . . He had to--uh--compromise with [Wilson] Wyatt, in order to get elected.

Segment Synopsis: Burchett says that Combs and Wilson Wyatt realized that they needed to join forces in order to beat Happy Chandler in the 1959 Kentucky democratic gubernatorial primary. The two men decided to compromise with Combs being the gubernatorial candidate and Wyatt running as the lieutenant governor. Once the Combs-Wyatt ticket won the gubernatorial race, the two reached an agreement that would allow for Combs to select half of the people who were appointed to state government positions (prior to the merit system) and Wyatt would get to choose the other half. Burchett recalls visiting Combs at the governor's mansion when he first moved in and being told that he may not get appointed to the Public Service Commission as promised because of this agreement. Burchett observed that Combs was researching how to implement a state sales tax. Combs wanted to implement the sales tax early in his term so that people would not remember him for taxes, but rather for the public services and infrastructural improvements that resulted from the additional revenue generated by the sales tax.

Keywords: Bert Combs; Wilson Wyatt; 1959 gubernatorial campaign; Public Service Commission; Wilson Wyatt; Democrats; Merit system; State employees

Subjects: Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991; Kentucky; Kentuckians; Politicians; Governors--Kentucky; Wyatt, Wilson W. (Wilson Watkins), 1905-1996; Lieutenant governors; Kentucky Governor's Mansion (Frankfort, Ky.); Frankfort (Ky.); Patronage, Political; State governments; Honesty; Books; Reading; Studying; Legislation; Infrastructure (Economics); Public services

Partial Transcript: . . . At Frisch's and sit down there and eat it, three fellows came in and sat down in the booth behind us.

Segment Synopsis: Burchett describes how Combs was able to improve his campaign style over the years. Burchett remembers a remark that Combs made at the beginning of his term as governor. Burchett and Combs were in a restaurant in Frankfort and customers in the booth behind them did not believe the fact that Combs was the governor. Combs told the customers that they would remember him as the governor of Kentucky for the things he would accomplish in the next four years. Burchett says that Combs had to work hard at being a good public speaker, since it did not come natural to him. Burchett explains that Combs had a reserved nature and used his sharp intellect to his advantage in political debates. Combs also discussed local issues and made sure not to make over-the-top campaign promises to potential voters. Burchett thinks that Combs wanted to be truthful and sincere to Kentuckians when running his gubernatorial campaigns.

Keywords: Bert Combs; Voters; Constituents; 1955 gubernatorial campaign; Shy; Debates; Chicken Little (story); Happy Chandler; Democrats; Delegates; Local issuees; Campaign finance; Fundraising; Priorities; Earle Clements

Subjects: Campaigns; Combs, Bert T., 1911-1991; Kentucky; Kentuckians; Governors--Kentucky; Restaurants; Friendship; Speeches; Handshaking; Personality; Public speaking; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Intelligence; Louisville (Ky.); Campaign promises; Honesty; Clements, Earle C. (Earle Chester), 1896-1985; Truth