Ned Breathitt

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Ned Breathitt
Breathitt in 1964
51st Governor of Kentucky
In office
December 10, 1963 – December 12, 1967
LieutenantHarry Lee Waterfield
Preceded byBert Combs
Succeeded byLouie Nunn
Personal details
Born
Edward Thompson Breathitt Jr.

November 26, 1924
Hopkinsville, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedOctober 14, 2003(2003-10-14) (aged 78)
Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting placeRiverside Cemetery
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
Frances Holleman
(m. 1948; died 1985)
(m. 1988⁠–⁠2003)
Children4
RelativesJames Breathitt Jr. (uncle)
ProfessionLawyer
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
U.S. Army Air Force
Years of service1942–1945

Edward Thompson Breathitt Jr. (November 26, 1924 – October 14, 2003) was an American politician from the Commonwealth of

Bert T. Combs. When Combs won the governorship in 1959, he appointed Breathitt as personnel commissioner, where he wrote legislation establishing the first merit system
for state employees. He continued to hold appointive offices throughout Combs' tenure, and in 1962, Combs endorsed Breathitt to succeed him as governor.

Breathitt defeated two-time former governor

state constitution
.

Following his term as governor, Breathitt worked as legal counsel for

Norfolk Southern Corporation. He engaged in numerous community service activities and served on political commissions aimed at eliminating poverty. Breathitt collapsed while making a speech at Lexington Community College on October 10, 2003. He was admitted to the University of Kentucky Hospital
, but remained comatose after the collapse and died four days later.

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

state attorney general from 1907 to 1911, and his uncle, James Breathitt Jr., was lieutenant governor from 1927 to 1932.[2]

Breathitt obtained his early education in the public schools of Hopkinsville and graduated from

state constitution.[2] Breathitt accepted, and although the proposed constitution failed, he remained committed to seeing the document updated.[2]

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

Alben Barkley's re-election campaign.[4]

Wilson Wyatt in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 1958.[8] When Combs was elected governor in 1959, he appointed Breathitt as State Personnel Commissioner, charging him with writing legislation to create a merit system for state employees.[6] After successfully guiding the legislation through the General Assembly, Breathitt resigned as personnel commissioner to accept an appointment to the Kentucky Public Service Commission.[6] He was also served as chair of a failed state constitutional convention in 1960 and was a member of the Governor's Commission on Mental Health.[1][3]

1963 gubernatorial campaign

A black-and-white photo of a man in his fifties wearing a suit
Happy Chandler's loss to Breathitt in 1963 ended his political career

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

Louie B. Nunn.[14] Still stinging from his primary defeat, Happy Chandler endorsed Nunn, which hurt Breathitt with some members of his own party.[6] During the campaign, Nunn attacked an executive order issued by Governor Combs that desegregated public accommodations in Kentucky as "rule by executive decree".[6] Appearing on television with a copy of the executive order, Nunn proclaimed that "my first act will be to abolish this."[14] Nunn's proclamation won him the support of some conservative Democrats, but cost him Republican votes, especially in Louisville.[16] The New Republic charged that Nunn ran "the first outright segregationist campaign in Kentucky."[14] Breathitt won the election by a margin of just over 13,000 votes.[14]

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.

president pro tempore of the senate, providing effective leadership in that house of the General Assembly.[22] Wetherby introduced a budget which was 27 percent larger than the previous one and contained appropriations for most of the state's political districts.[23] Wetherby's leadership was so effective that the budget passed both houses of the Assembly, virtually unchanged, by votes of 99–0 and 31–5 only ten days later.[22]

Kentucky Civil Rights Act

Passage of the national

Southern Governors' Conference's Committee on Regional and Interstate Cooperation.[1] He was also the only state governor named to the President's Council on Human Rights.[24]

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

Norfolk Southern Corporation in 1972, Breathitt became vice-president for public affairs, a position he held until his retirement in 1992.[4][25]

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

Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway in his honor.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Kentucky Governor Edward Thompson Breathitt". National Governors Association
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harrell, p. 200
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Powell, p. 106
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ a b Harrell, p. 205
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Harrell, p. 201
  7. ^ Pearce, p. 157
  8. ^ Pearce, p. 80
  9. ^ a b c Pearce, p. 189
  10. ^ Pearce, pp. 198–199
  11. ^ Pearce, p. 199
  12. ^ Pearce, p. 210
  13. ^ a b Pearce, p. 213
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Harrison in A New History of Kentucky, p. 411
  15. ^ Pearce, p. 215
  16. ^ Pearce, p. 222
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harrell, p. 202
  18. ^ a b c d Harrison in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, p. 114
  19. ^ a b c d e Harrison in A New History of Kentucky, p. 390
  20. ^ a b c Champion, p. 54
  21. ^ a b Saxon, "Edward Breathitt Jr., 78, Ex-Governor of Kentucky, Dies"
  22. ^ a b c d e f Harrison in A New History of Kentucky, p. 412
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harrell, p. 203
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hewlett, p. A4
  25. ^ a b c d e Harrell, p. 204
  26. ^ 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. .
  • "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. .
  • on July 17, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  • . 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. .
  • Powell, Robert A. (1976). Kentucky Governors. Danville, Kentucky: Bluegrass Printing Company. .
  • 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

Political offices
Preceded by
Bert T. Combs
Governor of Kentucky
1963–1967
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by
Bert T. Combs
Democratic nominee for Governor of Kentucky
1963
Succeeded by
Henry Ward