Oral History Interview with Jenean Hampton

Partial Transcript: "The following is an unrehearsed conversation with Kentucky's current and fifty-seventh Lieutenant Governor, Jenean Hampton."

Segment Synopsis: Jordan Smith, the interviewer, introduces the context for interview. Lieutenant Governor Jenean Hampton was the first African American in Kentucky history to hold statewide office and the fourth woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor. The interview was conducted on May 17, 2018, in Russellville, Kentucky. Smith thanks Hampton for agreeing to do interview and explains purpose of interview.

Keywords: woman

Subjects: African American; African American women; African American women politics; Kentucky; Kentucky political office; Kentucky politics; Lieutenant Governor; Political office; Politics; Russellville, Kentucky; Women

Partial Transcript: "So, let me just start out with the basics. Where were you born and what was the path that brought you to the highest of heights in Kentucky government and politics?"

Segment Synopsis: Hampton was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1958. She followed a circuitous route to Kentucky. She earned an industrial engineering degree from Wayne State University and then joined the Air Force. She served for 7 years in Texas and Oklahoma. She had a 19 year career in the "corrugated packaging industry" or cardboard box industry. She worked with Packaging Corporation of America in Syracuse, New York, as well as other jobs. When she finished her MBA from the University of Rochester in 2003, Hampton got a job offer in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with Weyerhaeuser, and she and her husband moved there.

Keywords: Cardboard boxes; Detroit; Detroit, Michigan; MBA; Military officers; Packaging Corporation of America; Syracuse; Syracuse, New York; University of Rochester; Wayne State University; Weyerhaeuser

Subjects: Air Force; Bowling Green; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Business; Career; Corrugated packaging; Education; Industrial engineering; Industry; Manufacturing; Sales

Partial Transcript: Interviewer: "Well, I know your mother, Ms. Marie, you have said is such an important force in your life.
Hampton: "She is."
Interviewer: "What did you learn from her that made you the person and leader you are today, do you think?"

Segment Synopsis: Hampton's mother, Ms. Marie, is 90 and lives with her and her husband in Bowling Green. Ms. Marie raised Hampton and her three sisters as a single mother after divorce. She didn't finish high school, had limited job options, struggled, and knew how to stretch a dollar. She set boundaries and structure and did things for her children out of love. Ms. Marie took her children to church every Sunday. Hampton remembers being made fun of by adults at church for their clothing and being poor. Hampton realizes how her mother prayed for her when she didn't have the faith to pray for herself. Hampton's mother is part of the story of becoming Lieutenant Governor. Hampton recalls how rewarding it was to get to thank her mother publicly on inauguration day.

Keywords: Lieutenant Governor; Love; Mom

Subjects: Church; Faith; Inaguration; Mother; Parent; Prayer; Single mother; Single parent

Partial Transcript: "Well, let's talk a little bit about this passion you have for manufacturing."

Segment Synopsis: Hampton reflects upon her passion for manufacturing and how her interests in childhood led to being an engineer. Her favorite activities were taking things apart, putting things back together, and seeing how things work. She remembers how her dad nurtured that curiosity as he repaired TV sets and taught Hampton basic auto mechanics. She went to engineering school at Wayne State in Detroit and worked for General Motors during school. She and her classmates visited auto plants and affiliated industries. She was able to see other manufacturing plants through her time in sales.

Keywords: Detroit; Engineer; General Motors; Industry; Sales; Wayne State University

Subjects: Career; Childhood; Dad; Education; Engineer; Engineering; Father; Manufacturing

Partial Transcript: "Let's talk a little bit about the 2015 Gubernatorial Campaign."

Segment Synopsis: This was the first elected office both Hampton and Governor Bevin have held. Hampton ran for Kentucky State House in Bowling Green unsuccessfully in 2014. She ran for political office with a passion for wanting to make Kentucky better. She became involved in Tea Party activity in Bowling Green, which is how she met Matt Bevin. Though Hampton does not come from a political family, she felt that Kentucky's problems were not being addressed adequately, and she decided to get involved in politics.

Keywords: Campaign; Elected office; Kentucky State House; Politics

Subjects: Elected officials; Governor Bevin; Kentucky Governor; Lieutenant Governor; Political office; State politics; Tea Party

Partial Transcript: "You know, a lot of articles have, as you know, have been written about particularly that 2015 Governor's race. And many have kind of pointed to that election as kind of, that kind of anti-establishment, anti-political class fever, that did elect you and Matt Bevin, was somewhat of a pre-curser to the Trump election in 2016. What are your thoughts on when people want to draw that line?"

Segment Synopsis: Hampton is not sure that the 2015 Governor's race was an anti-establishment vote. As she traveled Kentucky, she saw people hungry for real solutions who wanted to be told the truth. She got the sense that people were fed up with career politicians.

Keywords: anti-establishment; Career politicians

Subjects: 2015 governor's race; 2015 Kentucky governor's race; 2016 Presidential election; Campaign; Governor; Governor's race; Gubernatorial election; Kentucky Governor; Lieutentant Governor; Presidential election; Trump; Trump election

Partial Transcript: "So what do you see as your legacy in Kentucky? What contributions do you hope to be remembered for?"

Segment Synopsis: Hampton describes the legacy she hopes to leave as inspiring youth to see beyond their circumstances and believe in what is possible in their lives. She has spent time speaking with parents, students, and teachers about her life story of growing up in Detroit, working through college, and becoming Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. Hampton mentions being an inspiration for young women interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

Keywords: African American; Black; College; Detroit; Engineering; Kids; Legacy; Math; Poor; Science; Technology

Subjects: Education; Kentucky; Lieutenant Governor; Parents; School; Science, Technology, Engineering, Math; STEM; Students; Teachers; Women; Youth

Partial Transcript: "So final question, the, as you know, 2020 is the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote, as you know. What are your thoughts on this upcoming anniversary and the impact that women continue to make, both in Kentucky politics and nationally?"

Segment Synopsis: Hampton discusses voter engagement. She is stunned that not everyone votes, including women. Hampton grew up appreciating the rights of living in the United States. She notes that voter registration and turnout is low in Kentucky. She points out that the right to vote and shape government is sacred, that it wasn't that long ago when women and black people were not allowed to vote. Hampton wishes to celebrate the anniversary of the 19th Amendment and form of government in the United States.

Keywords: African American; Black; Kentucky; Vote; Voter registration; Voter turnout; Women

Subjects: 19th Amendment; Democracy; Government; Kentucky voter engagement; Kentucky voter registration; Kentucky voter turnout; United States; United States of America; Voting; Voting in Kentucky; Voting rights; Women's suffrage