Ned Breathitt
Ned Breathitt | |
---|---|
51st Governor of Kentucky | |
In office December 10, 1963 – December 12, 1967 | |
Lieutenant | Harry Lee Waterfield |
Preceded by | Bert Combs |
Succeeded by | Louie Nunn |
Personal details | |
Born | Edward Thompson Breathitt Jr. November 26, 1924 Hopkinsville, Kentucky, U.S. |
Died | October 14, 2003 Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. | (aged 78)
Resting place | Riverside Cemetery Hopkinsville, Kentucky |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouses | |
Children | 4 |
Relatives | James Breathitt Jr. (uncle) |
Profession | Lawyer |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army U.S. Army Air Force |
Years of service | 1942–1945 |
Edward Thompson Breathitt Jr. (November 26, 1924 – October 14, 2003) was an American politician from the Commonwealth of
Breathitt defeated two-time former governor
Following his term as governor, Breathitt worked as legal counsel for
Breathitt's oral history project is housed at the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky Libraries and is also available [1]
Early life
Ned Breathitt was born in
Breathitt obtained his early education in the public schools of Hopkinsville and graduated from
In 1948, Breathitt earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration.[1][4] On December 20, 1948, he married Frances Holleman of Mayfield, Kentucky.[3] The couple had four children: Mary Fran, Linda, Susan, and Edward III.[5] In 1950, Breathitt earned a Bachelor of Laws degree and returned to Hopkinsville where he joined the law firm of Trimble, Soyars, and Breathitt.[3]
Political career
In 1951, Breathitt was elected to the first of three consecutive terms in the
1963 gubernatorial campaign
In 1962, two-time former governor and Democratic factional leader Happy Chandler had already begun his campaign for a third term as governor.[9] The anti-Chandler faction became concerned that, if they did not name a candidate, Chandler's early announcement would give him an advantage in the 1963 election.[9] Leaders of the faction were solidly behind state Highway Commissioner Henry Ward, but Governor Combs was leaning toward Breathitt.[9] Breathitt announced his candidacy on May 2, 1962, but many in his party remained skeptical due to his youth and relative inexperience.[10] Combs eventually convinced the anti-Chandler faction to back Breathitt, and Ward never became a candidate.[11]
During the primary campaign, Chandler focused his attacks on the Combs administration rather than the inexperienced Breathitt.[12] A seasoned campaigner, he bitterly attacked the three percent sales tax enacted during the Combs administration.[6] Breathitt struck back with accusations that, as a senator, Chandler had voted in favor of declaring war on Japan during World War II, but resigned his army commission shortly thereafter.[13] He further charged that Chandler's son-in-law was collecting campaign donations from individuals who desired favors from state government.[13] The younger Breathitt, thirty-eight years old when the campaign began, adapted well to the relatively new medium of television, while the aging Chandler did not.[14] Breathitt won the primary by more than 60,000 votes and carried all but one of the state's congressional districts.[14] Chandler's running mate, Harry Lee Waterfield, easily won the nomination for lieutenant governor over Breathitt's running mate, John B. Breckinridge, showing that the defeat was not so much a result of factionalism as a personal rebuff of Chandler.[3][15] This campaign ended Chandler's political career.[14]
In the general election, Breathitt challenged
Governor of Kentucky
The first legislative session of Breathitt's administration was a disappointment to his faction. His youth and narrow margin of victory in the election undermined his authority.[17] Further, the unexpected death of Richard P. Moloney, a key legislative leader, was a blow to Breathitt's ability to push his agenda through the General Assembly.[17] The major accomplishment of the 1964 session was the approval of a $176 million bond issue to increased funding for roads, public education, the state park system, and social services.[17][18] Other minor accomplishments included passing a purchasing law, strengthening strip mining regulations, and improving benefits for teachers.[17]
Much of the 1964 session was devoted to a bill to desegregate public accommodations in Kentucky.[17] A rally in favor of the bill was held in March and was attended by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Reverend Ralph Abernathy, and baseball player Jackie Robinson.[19] Despite this, the bill did not make it out of legislative committee.[19] As a member of the Southern Governors' Association (SGA) in October 1964, Breathitt was one of three governors to oppose George Wallace's proposed constitutional amendment to give states and state courts sole jurisdiction over their public schools, preventing a federal law to integrate them.[20] Breathitt's opposition helped prevent the SGA's endorsement of the amendment, since endorsement required a unanimous vote.[20][21]
The 1964 General Assembly also passed legislation to draft a new state constitution.[17] Thirty-eight citizens were chosen to draft the new document, which was based on national models.[17][22] County leaders opposed the document because of perceived threats to the independence of local governments and an apparent consolidation of power in Frankfort.[17][22] Despite Breathitt's strong support, the proposed constitution was defeated by Kentucky voters by an overwhelming margin of 510,099 to 140,210.[18][22]
Breathitt expanded the state park system and led the state to join the Tennessee Valley Authority in developing the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.[23] In 1965, the Midwest Travel Writer's Association presented Breathitt with its top national award for having the best travel promotion.[4] That same year, he was named to the University of Kentucky Alumni Association Hall of Distinguished Alumni.[4]
A June 1965 ruling by the Kentucky Court of Appeals that property must be assessed at its full value prompted calls for a special session from Kentucky taxpayers.[17] Breathitt obliged, calling the session in July.[17] He proposed a reduction in property tax rates to offset the increase in the assessed value of property, and also advocated small increased in other tax rates to benefit public schools.[23] The plan passed despite opposition from Lieutenant Governor Harry Lee Waterfield.[23]
The 1966 legislative session was much more successful for Breathitt.
Kentucky Civil Rights Act
Passage of the national
Breathitt was a member of National Governors Conference Executive Committee in 1964 and 1965 and chaired its Natural Resources Committee.[1][4] In the 1966 legislature, he won approval for several conservation measures, including the creation of an authority to regulate water, soil, and forest resources.[23] The session also tightened strip mining laws to prohibit mining on mountainsides that were too steep to be restored.[21] In 1967, he was recognized with the U.S. Department of Interior's Distinguished Service Award and Outdoor Life magazine's Conservationist of the Year Award for his contributions to conservation.[4]
Other accomplishments of the 1966 legislature included the passage of a compulsory vehicle inspection law, tightening of restrictions on political contributions and expenditures by candidates for political office, and approval of a legislative redistricting law.[23] The governor's road construction projects continued apace, and by the end of his term, Kentucky had more miles of highway under construction than any other state.[23]
During his term as governor, Breathitt was chair of the board of trustees at the University of Kentucky.[4] Under his leadership, the state's community colleges were placed under the governance of the university.[18] Four state colleges achieved university status during Breathitt's administration.[23] He also established the Kentucky Educational Television network and Kentucky's vocational education system.[18]
Later life and death
Breathitt was
Breathitt was an important adviser to Governor
Breathitt later served on the boards of regents of Kentucky State University and Morehead State University, in both cases serving with former political rival Louie B. Nunn.[24] From 1992 to 2000, he again served on the University of Kentucky's board, acting as chairman of the board in all but his final year.[4] During his chairmanship, he clashed with Governor Paul E. Patton over a plan to separate all of the state's community colleges (except Lexington Community College) from the university's governance and place them under a newly created body called the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.[24] Patton's plan prevailed, and he and Breathitt later mended political fences.[24]
In 1992, Breathitt joined the law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant, and Combs.[4] He undertook several volunteer community service activities, including serving as director of Home Loan Bank in Cincinnati and chairman of the Kentucky Heart Fund.[26] He was appointed to the Southern Region Education Board and the Kentucky Council on Higher Education.[5] In 1994, he was named to the Gatton College of Business Alumni Hall of Fame at the University of Kentucky; in 1997, he received a similar honor from the College of Law at the university.[4] He also received an honorary doctorate from Murray State University in 1994.[24] In 1999, he received the Henry Clay Medallion for Distinguished Service and in 2000, Eastern Kentucky University's Center for Kentucky History and Politics presented him with the John Sherman Cooper Award for Outstanding Public Service to Kentucky.[24] He retired from the practice of law in 2002.[4]
While giving a speech at Lexington Community College on October 10, 2003, Breathitt collapsed due to
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Kentucky Governor Edward Thompson Breathitt". National Governors Association
- ^ a b c d e f Harrell, p. 200
- ^ a b c d e f g Powell, p. 106
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Former Board Chair Edward Breathitt Dies". University of Kentucky
- ^ a b Harrell, p. 205
- ^ a b c d e f g Harrell, p. 201
- ^ Pearce, p. 157
- ^ Pearce, p. 80
- ^ a b c Pearce, p. 189
- ^ Pearce, pp. 198–199
- ^ Pearce, p. 199
- ^ Pearce, p. 210
- ^ a b Pearce, p. 213
- ^ a b c d e f g Harrison in A New History of Kentucky, p. 411
- ^ Pearce, p. 215
- ^ Pearce, p. 222
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harrell, p. 202
- ^ a b c d Harrison in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, p. 114
- ^ a b c d e Harrison in A New History of Kentucky, p. 390
- ^ a b c Champion, p. 54
- ^ a b Saxon, "Edward Breathitt Jr., 78, Ex-Governor of Kentucky, Dies"
- ^ a b c d e f Harrison in A New History of Kentucky, p. 412
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harrell, p. 203
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hewlett, p. A4
- ^ a b c d e Harrell, p. 204
- ^ Harrell, pp. 204–205
Bibliography
- Champion, Thomas J. (2006). "Breathitt, Edward T(hompson) (Ned)". In Pach, Chester J. (ed.). Johnson Years. New York City, New York: Facts on File, Inc. ISBN 978-0-8160-5388-9.
- "Former Board Chair Edward Breathitt Dies". University of Kentucky. October 15, 2003. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
- Harrell, Kenneth E. (2004). "Bert T. Combs". In Lowell Hayes Harrison (ed.). Kentucky's Governors. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-2326-7.
- ISBN 0-8131-1772-0. Archived from the originalon July 17, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ISBN 0-8131-2008-X. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
- Hewlett, Jennifer (October 15, 2003). "A Life of Public Service; Former Governor Recognized as One Who Worked Selflessly for His State". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on December 24, 2004. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
- "Kentucky Governor Edward Thompson Breathitt". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- Pearce, John Ed (1987). Divide and Dissent: Kentucky Politics 1930–1963. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1613-9.
- Powell, Robert A. (1976). Kentucky Governors. Danville, Kentucky: Bluegrass Printing Company. OCLC 2690774.
- Saxon, Wolfgang (October 16, 2003). "Edward Breathitt Jr., 78, Ex-Governor of Kentucky, Dies". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- "Stricken Breathitt dies at 78", The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky., October 15, 2003, archived from the original on December 30, 2004, retrieved August 13, 2017
Further reading
- "Governor Edward Thompson Breathitt, Jr". The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. 62. January 1964.
- Harrell, Kenneth E. (1984). The Public Papers of Governor Edward T. Breathitt, 1963–1967. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-0603-6.
- Trout, Allan (December 10, 1967). "The Breathitt Years, 'You Have to Lead'". Louisville Courier Journal.