
John Y. Brown, Jr.
Season 4 Episode 34 | 27m 59sVideo has Closed Captions
Host Bill Goodman sits down to talk with John Y. Brown, Jr.
Former Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown, Jr. discusses his time in office, current issues facing the Commonwealth, politics, and the races that are shaping up for the next election. A 2009 KET production.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
One to One is a local public television program presented by KET
You give every Kentuckian the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through KET.

John Y. Brown, Jr.
Season 4 Episode 34 | 27m 59sVideo has Closed Captions
Former Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown, Jr. discusses his time in office, current issues facing the Commonwealth, politics, and the races that are shaping up for the next election. A 2009 KET production.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch One to One
One to One is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> WELCOME TO "ONE TO ONE."
IT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED THAT THE 1979 KENTUCKY GOVERNOR'S RACE PROVED TO BE SOMETHING OF A WATERSHED, DIVIDING THE PAST FORM OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING AND CANDIDATES TO WHAT WOULD BECOME A NEW BREED OF POTENTIAL OFFICE HOLDERS WITH NEW IDEAS AND NEW STYLES.
JOHN Y.
BROWN, JR. WAS AN AGENT FOR CHANGING THE WAY SOMEONE RAN FOR GOVERNOR AND WOULD-BE GOVERNOR WHEN HE WAS ELECTED IN 1979.
GOVERNOR BROWN, OUR GUEST NEXT ON "ONE TO ONE."
GOVERNOR, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.
>> NICE TO BE HERE, BILL.
>> IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> DO YOU STILL LIKE TO BE ADDRESSED AS GOVERNOR?
>> DOESN'T HURT.
IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, BUT I NEVER USED THAT OR ACCEPTED IT OR EVEN TRIED TO USE IT UNTIL 15 YEARS AFTER NED WAS IN OFFICE I CALLED HIM INSPECTORS HE PICKED UP THE PHONE AND SAID GOVERNOR, SO IT SOUNDED GOOD.
I LIKE THE TONE OF IT.
>> SURE, YOU DO.
THERE YEARS THIS YEAR.
I KNOW YOU'VE DONE THE MATH.
YOU MUST THINK ABOUT IT A LOT.
A LOT OF HAD TO PEOPLE, 1979, SOME TIME AGO, BUT IN MANY WAYS FOR YOU I'M SURE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY.
>> WELL, IN A WAY IT IS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I'VE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT.
YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN A HOUSEHOLD OF A NON-POLITICAL VITAMIN FIGHTING THE ESTABLISHMENT, FIGHTINGAL POLITIC IN THAT FORUM, AND I HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE IT, WHICH WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, AS YOU MENTIONED.
AND AS I THINK BACK, I THINK WHAT WOULD I HAVE DONE DIFFERENT?
NOT A LOT HAS CHANGED ACCEPT EDUCATION.
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT WE HAVE LEARNED.
WE HAD THE CARNEGIE STUD WELL THE NATION AT RISK, STUDIES AND RESEARCH WE DIDN'T HAVE BACK IN OUR TIME.
BUT, YES, YOU NEVER FORGET ABOUT IT.
THERE'S NO ROLE IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY WAS IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL FOR ME OR FOR ME AS MUCH ENJOYMENT AS BEING GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY.
>> WELL, WE'RE REMINDING SOME PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T AROUND IN 1979 OR NEED A REMINDER A FEW LITTLE FACTS ABOUT THAT.
YOU WERE 45 YEARS OLD.
YOU HAD JUST MARRIED A MISS AMERICA, A PHYLLIS GEORGE.
IN FACT, I THINK YOU WERE MAYBE ON YOUR HONEYMOON, TEN DAYS INTO IT, WHEN YOU DECIDED TO ANNOUNCE FOR GOVERNOR.
SO AT THAT POINT, TOO,, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU KNEW, YOU ELSE PROMISED TO RUN THE STATE LOOK A BUSINESS, AND YOU STUCK TO THAT WHAT ELSE DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THOSE DAYS?
KIND TAKE US BACK, IF YOU WILL, TO THOSE DAYS WHEN YOU WERE DECIDING TO RUN AND HOW QUICKLY YOU GOT INTO THE RACE AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
>> WELL, LARRY TOWNSEND HAD BEEN MY CLOSE ASSOCIATE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
HE WAS THE ONE THAT KEPT PUSHING ME TO GET BACK INTO POLITICS.
AND BEFORE THAT I HAD PUT ON FOUR THEY WILL TELETHONS FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND RAISED $19 MILLION AND SORT OF KEPT MY HAND IN THE POLITICAL ARENA BECAUSE MY DAD RAN, WHAT, 25 TIMES, AND ALWAYS AS AN INDEPENDENT.
SO AID A PASSION TO BRING -- I HAD A PASSION TO BRING OUT THE CHANGE THAT HE TAUGHT ME.
SO WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY CAME UP, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, AND IS WAS GETTING MARRIED, AND I COULDN'T REALLY ASK PHYLLIS, HEY, HOW ABOUT COMING BACK AND RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR BECAUSE SHE MIGHT THINK I WAS USING HER OR SOMETHING.
AND I BROUGHT UP MORALS TRYING TO ACT LIKE A BIG SHOT, I GUESS.
LOOK, YOU'RE MISS AMERICA, A TV PERSON, AND MAYBE I'LL RUN FOR GOVERNOR.
I TALK ABOUT IT THREE TIMES.
SHE SAID, WHY DON'T YOU QUIT TALKING ABOUT IT AND JUST GO DO IT.
I WAS ON THE OPEN ROAD, AND I SAID, BY GOSH, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
IT'S AN INTERESTING STORY.
IT JUST SHOWS YOU -- AND HE WAS ON KET.
HE SAID GO BY YOUR GUTS.
SO LARRY CALLED 119 PEOPLE.
THIS IS A TRUE STORY, AS FAR AS I KNOW.
IT WAS RAINING.
WE WERE AT THE COMPEL HOUSE TRYING TO DECIDE TWO OR THREE DAYS, AND A LOT OF MY FRIENDS, YOU KNOW -- >> WERE THEY FOR YOU?
>> ONE OF THEM SAID, JOHN, DON'T EMBARRASS YOURSELF.
THIS ISN'T THE TIME.
YOU'RE NOT ORGANIZED AND ALL OF THAT.
AND THE MORE THEY TOLD FILL US AND THAT WE SAID, WE'LL TAKE YOU ON, AND IT'S THE MOST FUN THING WE'VE EVER DONE.
I DIDN'T THINK AT THE TIME BUT IN HINDSIGHT THEY WERE TIRED OF ALL THE OTHER CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR FOUR YEARS AND WE WERE THE SORT OF BRIGHT NEW, WHO ARE THESE NEW PEOPLE AND CAUSED SOME EXCITEMENT THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
BUT IT WAS A GREAT JOURNEY, AND I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO BRING THE KIND OF PEOPLE OR ATTRACT THE KIND OF PEOPLE TO STATE GOVERNMENT THAT ALLOWED ME TO DO WHAT I WANTED TO DO THAT HAD THE POLITICAL UNDERSTANDING AND PHILOSOPHY AND INDEPENDENCE THAT I WANTED TO IMPLEMENT.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW THE STORY WELL, BUT IT WAS A -- HOW MANY CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARY?
>> SIX.
>> SIX CANDIDATES.
SIX CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARY.
AND YOU WERE THE ONE THAT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, SO YOU WERE NUMBER SIX, LET'S SAY, BUT YOU WON SUBSTANTIALLY.
>> YES, UH-HUH.
>> HARVEY SLOANE BY WHAT?
>> HE WAS SEVEN.
I DON'T KNOW.
ABOUT SEVEN POINTS OR SO, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE WERE UP AS MUCH AS 10 OR 11.
IT'S ALL ABOUT MOMENTUM.
THE PUBLIC IS NOT INTERESTED IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE UNTIL TWO OR THREE WEEKS BEFORE, AND IT'S LIKING FORWARD TO THE SOUP BOWL.
IT ALL HAPPENS.
>> AND THEN, OF COURSE, A SUMMER CAMPAIGNING AND WENT INTO THE FALL AGAINST LOUIE NUNN.
>> I HATED IT BECAUSE I HAD NEVER BEEN INTO DIRTY POLITICS.
HIS BROTHER RAN DIRT TRICKS FOR NIXON SO I WASN'T USED TO ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
AND, YOU KNOW, IN BUSINESS NO ONE AT TAKES YOU WHERE YOU'RE MAKING UP STORIES.
I HAD A HARD TIME ADJUSTING.
AND FINALLY AFTER A WHILE I GAINED A SENSE OF HUMOR WITH IT AND REALLY ENJOYED MY FOUR YEARS.
>> FOUR TRENDS WERE ESTABLISHED, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO SOME OF THE HISTORY ABOUT THAT RACE.
THE NEW HISTORY OF KENTUCKY POLITIC BY LOWELL HARRISON AND JIM KLOTTER, THEIR BOOK.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE FOUR.
LET ME READ THEM FIRST, AND WE'LL TAKE THEM ONE BY ONE.
TELEVISION REPLACED, CORDING TO THEM, TELEVISION REPLACED SORT OF A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZE.
YOU FOUND A WAY TO USE TV.
NUMBER TWO, YOU WERE SELF-FUNDED.
YOU WERE WEALTHY AT THAT TIME, AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO RELY ON ANYTHING EXCEPT YOUR OWN POCKETS.
NUMBER THREE, YOU'VE ALREADY MENTIONED LARRY TOWNSEND AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS.
PERSONAL ALLIANCES.
YOU FOUND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU HAD WITH SOME PEOPLE TO BRING THEM INTO GOVERNMENT WERE IMPORTANT TO YOU.
AND THEN FOURTH, ACCORDING TO MR. KLOTTER AND MR. HARRISON, YOU HAD AN AIR ABOUT YOU, A CASUAL STYLE, THEY PUT IT.
YOU RODE A MOTORCYCLE AT TIMES UP TO THE MANSION.
AND YOU ALSO ALLOWED FOR THE FIRST TIME, AT LEAST IN MODERN HISTORY, FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE A BIGGER ROLE.
YOU SORT OF -- YOU RAN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE LIKE A BUSINESS AND YOU LET THEM DO WHAT'S NOW KNOWN AS LEGISLATIVE INDEPENDENCE.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE FOUR.
TELEVISION.
YOU USED IT EFFECTIVELY.
HAD YOU ALREADY HAD EXPERIENCE WITH TELEVISION THROUGH YOUR BUSINESS?
>> WELL, I ONLY HAD ONE QUESTION BEFORE WE RAN AND GOT THE POLLS, AND I WAS ABOUT, I GUESS, 8 OR 9 PER SENT AND THE OTHERS WERE IN THEY LOW 20s OR HIGH TEENS, AND I ONLY ASKED LARRY TO CHECK OUT ONE THING, HOW MUCH TV TIME CAN WE BUY?
BECAUSE IN THAT MODERN DAY THAT'S ALL I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.
NOW, IF IT WAS ALL BOUGHT UP AND I COULDN'T BUY THE TIME, I COULDN'T RUN.
AND I REMEMBER BEING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, CAROLO WAS ORGANIZING, HE WOULD WORK THE WINDOW AND CAME UP THE OLD POLITICAL WAY, AND HE HAD ME GOING TO COURTHOUSES WHERE THERE WOULD BE 15 OR 20 PEOPLE.
I FINALLY SAID, CARROLL, NO MORE PARTNERS.
I'M GOING BACK TO THE HYDE HOUSE.
GETS WADE TELEVISION OVER THERE.
BOB WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MY TELEVISION PERSON, HE WAS TOO BUSY, HADN'T HAD ANY PROMOTION IF FIRST 30 DAYS.
THEN WE HAD A MEETING AND WE HAD ABOUT A MONTH LEFT AND WE ALL REALLY GOT WORKING TOGETHER.
MOSTLY OF THESE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS EVERYBODY WANTS TO ONE RUN.
IT EVERYBODY THINKS THEY'VE GOT THE ANSWER.
AND ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN I REALIZED I HAD TO MAKE THE DECISIONS BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE SAID, LAND YOUR HELICOPTER ON THE LAWN OF THE CAPITOL AND -- I SAID, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT.
TELEVISION WAS THE DIFFERENCE, I DON'T QUESTION ABOUT IT, HAS BEEN REALLY SINCE THEN.
I THINK IT'S BEEN MISUSED BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE ADVERTISING AND HEART TO OVERCOME THE -- HARD TO OVERCOME THE NEGATIVE ASSERTIONS ABOUT YOU.
>> BEING SELF-FUNDED, WHAT ADVANTAGE OTHER THAN YOU HAD THE MONEY TO DO IT, WHAT OTHER ADVANTAGES DID YOU HAVE OF BEING A SELF-FUNDED CANDIDATE?
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT, I WAS FREE.
I WAS INDEPENDENT.
I GOT TO DO EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT WAS BEST FOR PEOPLE, AND I THINK WE DID.
WE HAD NOT ONE POLITICAL OBLIGATION.
WE MADE NOT ONE POLITICAL COMMITMENT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE -- AND MY FIRST DAY IN OFFICE USUALLY THERE'S HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE CORRIDOR OF THE ROTUNDA OF THE CAPITOL COMING TO GET THEIR REWARDS, AND NO ONE KNOCKED ON MY DOOR.
IT WAS LONELY, BUT REFRESHING.
AND THE PEOPLE I WAS ABLE TO ATTRACT TO THE STATE WERE ALL INDEPENDENT PEOPLE.
>> DID YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO NOT BUY YOUR INFLUENCE BUT PEOPLE THAT WANTED YOUR INFLUENCE OR WANTED TO INFLUENCE YOU IN SOME WAY BUT YOU JUST SAID, NO, I'LL DO IT MY OWN WAY.
>> NOT REALLY.
THEY KNEW WHAT THE DEAL WAS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE RAN ON, REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY BOTHER ME.
AND NONE OF THE POLITICAL PEOPLE, THE GUY THAT BUILT 600 MILLION, PUT THE ROADS IN THE MOUNTAINS, DIDN'T HAVE EVEN KNOW WHO HE WAS.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO CONTRIBUTED TO MY CAMPAIGN.
I APPRECIATED IT, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO BE PERSONALLY HAVE ATTENTION TO SOMEBODY HELP ME OUT WHERE I THINK I HAD SOME OBLIGATION.
IT WAS THAT FREEDOM THAT GAVE ME THE FREEDOM TO DO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, AND I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT, AND WITHOUT THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT.
>> WHAT ABOUT THESE PERSONAL ALLIANCES THAT YOU BROUGHT, THIS CLOSE-KNIT GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT YOU PRETTY MUCH TRUSTED THEM AND ALLOWED THEM TO SUGGEST TO YOU, BUT YOU MADE THE DECISIONS, BUT THEY HELPED YOU, TOO.
IS THAT CORRECT?
YOU MENTIONED LARRY TOWNSEND.
>> WELL, NOW, LARRY WAS MY CLOSEST CONFIDANTE.
I TRUSTED HIM IMPLICITLY.
HE AND I, EVEN THOUGH, HE IS MORE RESERVED.
WE ALWAYS THOUGHT OUTSIDE THE BOX.
95% OF SOLUTIONS, BY NIGHTTIME WE WOULD HAVE A SOLUTION, HE'S GREAT TO WORK WITH.
HE BREWED BRUCE LUNSFORD, LONG GARY, GREG STUMBO, PEOPLE WERE THAT YOUNGER THAN ME IN THAT ERA.
THEN I BROUGHT THE OLDER PEOPLE LIKE W.T.
FUNCTION AND GEORGE FISHER.
BUT REALLY I DIDN'T HAVE VERY MANY.
I HADN'T BEEN IN KENTUCKY MUCH.
I HAD BEEN BUILDING DIFFERENT ENTREPRENEURIAL, WE WERE IN FLORIDA AND FRANCHISING BECAUSE THAT WAS THE BEST PLACE TO LOCATE AND HADN'T BEEN IN KENTUCKY THE PRIOR TWO YEARS.
BUT I LOVED COMING HOME, AND KENTUCKY IS ALWAYS HOME, AND I GREW UP IN POLITICS, SO I FELT VERY COMFORTABLE.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW I WOULD LIKE CAMPAIGNING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU -- AND KFC WAS RA, RA, RA, AND YOUA SAW IT REGRESS.
THEN WE WENT TO OUR FIRST BIG POLITICAL 17 AND THEY WERE SHAKING EVERYONE'S HANDS.
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT.
HE SAID, COME ON, WE'VE GOT TO SHAKE EVERYBODY'S HANDS.
AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN LEXINGTON.
I WON'T BOTHER THEM.
WE CALL IT FLYPAPER AND FEATHERS.
I'D GO IN -- BUT AFTER A WHILE I GOT TO ENJOYING IT IS AND ENJOYED IT IS A LOT AND REALLY ENJOYED THE SPEAKING BECAUSE AFTER YOU'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLAN A SPEECH.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY DID YOU HAVE PREPARED SPEECHES OR NOTES OR TELEPROMPTER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
>> I TRIED TO HAVE PEOPLE WRITE SPEECHES BUT I COULDN'T READ WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE SAID BECAUSE YOU USUALLY SOUNDED PHONEY.
>> WERE YOU ADDRESSING THE LEGISLATURE AND JOIN SESSIONS AT THAT TIME?
THOSE ARE ALL CAREOID KET NOW.
DID YOU HAVE A SCRIPT AT THAT TIME?
DID YOU HAVE A SPEECH?
>> I HAD A YELLOW OUTLINE.
>> NOTE PAD?
>> YEAH.
AND I HAD CATEGORIES.
I WOULDN'T READ IT.
ON NUMBERS YOU HAD TO.
I DON'T KNOW.
I GUESS MY AGE AND MEMORY WAS A LOT BETTER THAN IT IS NOW.
BUT I WAS BETTER TO READ THAT BUDGET.
THEY TALK ABOUT THE HARD TIMES NOW, AND WE HAD A $400 MILLION DEFICIT THEN THAT WOULD BE LIKE $2 TRILLION TODAY.
HOUSE BILL 44, ON NO MORE INCREASES OR COST OF LIVING ON REAL ESTATE TAXES, AND WE HAD A DEFICIT OF ABOUT $400 MILLION.
WE DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER.
WE JUST THOUGHT, WELL, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.
LET'S DEAL WITH IT.
WE DIDN'T RAISE A SINGLE TAX, WHICH WE'RE THE ONLY STATE AROUND US, THE SEVEN STATES AROUND US, THEY ALL HAD AN INCREASE.
>> THIS FOURTH TREND, THIS CASUAL STYLE THAT YOU BROUGHT TO FRANKFORT AND TO THE MANSION AND THE WAY YOU CONDUCTED YOURSELF, DID YOU LOOK AT IT AS THAT OR IS THAT JUST THE WAY JOHN Y.
BROWN WAS?
>> NO, I DIDN'T WANT TO BE SOMEBODY I'M NOT AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT.
>> RIDING YOUR MOTORCYCLE UP THERE WASN'T PHONY?
YOU DID IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU WANTED.
>> NO, FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO SEE IF I COULD MAKE IT.
AND SECOND OF ALL, I THOUGHTS IT WOULD BE FUN TO DO.
I DIDN'T TRY TO BE, YOU KNOW, GATHER ATTENTION.
BUTATHATHATHATHvñvñvñvñvñvñ WE FELT THAT WAS ONE AREA THAT WE COULD ELIMINATE REOCCURRING EXPENSES AND SO WE WENT FROM 37,000 STATE EMPLOYEES TO 29,000.
AS I LOOK BACK, YOU KNOW, I FEEL BAD ABOUT IT TO THIS EXTENT BUT THE STATE EMPLOYEES, AS I WORK WITH THEM, WERE MAYBE SOME OF THE BEST EMPLOYEES EVER HAD.
THEY REALLY KNEW THEIR BUSINESS.
BUT MOST OF THEM ALSO HAD SOME TYPE OF POLITICAL CONNECTIONS.
AND SO I HAD ONE CHANCE TO CLEAN IT P, GET IT LIKE MAYBE IT SHOULD BE, AND REALLY DIDN'T GET ANY CRITICISM AS FAR AS LACK OF SERVICE.
I WAS AFRAID SOMEONE WAS GOING TO WRITE AN ARTICLE THAT WE DIDN'T CUT THE GRASS DOWN IN WEST KENTUCKY ON SOME HIGHWAY OR SOMETHING, BUT THAT SAVED US ABOUT $250 MILLION A YEAR REOCCURRING SO THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE EVERY YEAR.
BUT MAINLY WE DID ALL THE THING ABOUT OVER LIKE DEPOSITS AND BIDDING OUT INSURANCE, BIDDING OUT EVERYTHING, AND ALL THE PRACTICES THAT YOU WOULD IMPLEMENT IN A BUSINESS.
IN FACT, I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING IN THE WHOLE OPERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT ANY DIFFERENT THAN YOU WOULD THINK OR APPLY OR TRY TO LAY ON THE A PLAN OF MANAGEMENT IN STATE GOVERNMENT.
>> WHAT WAS MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT OR, LOOKING BACK ON IT, THAT YOU DIDN'T GET HURRAHS ABOUT DOING IT?
MIGHT THAT HAVE BEEN -- LET'S JUST SAY, WELL, YOU MENTIONED THE JOBLESS RATE.
YOU HAD A BAD ECONOMY, HAD A DEFICIT.
THE JOBLESS RATES WAS UP IN DOUBLE DITS, OVER 11%, JUST SLIGHTLY OVER 11%, BUT THAT MUST HAVE BEEN TOUGH TO DEAL WITH.
>> WELL, IT WAS.
WE DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER.
WE DID THE BEST WE COULD.
WE PROPERTY IN U.P.S.
I THINK WE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SUCCESSFUL IN ATTRACTING INDUSTRY BUT LOOKING BACK AT OUR FOUR-YEAR REPORT I'LL BE GLAD TO SOOK AT A FEW OF THEM SAID.
BUT THE JOBS INCREASED.
HOW MUCH OF THAT IS PUFFERY AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS REAL COMPARED TO THE LAST YEAR'S FIGURES AND THIS YEAR'S FIGURES.
BUT I WAS REALLY PROUD OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
BUT I LOOKED BACK AT IT WITH SELF-PRIDE BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO A WHOLE LOT OF IT.
I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE FINE OF PEOPLE THAT YOU NIDED IN HUMAN RESOURCES OR IN TRANSPORTATION.
I THINK THAT'S BEEN PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW ROAD CONTRACTORS OR BUILDERS WE'VE EVER HAD AND DIDN'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT POLITICS.
I RAN A TOUGH SHOP.
THEY LAD A LOT OF BLACKTOP.
>> LET ME TAKE YOU BACK EVEN FARTHER.
LET'S GO BACK TO WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP AND THE RELATIONSHIP YOU HAD WITH YOUR FATHER AND THE KENTUCKY THAT YOU KNEW THEN.
WHAT AT THAT TIME DURING YOUR CHILDHOOD AND WORKING WITH YOUR FATHER DID SORT OF GIVE YOU THE ROOTS TO DO WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR LIFE?
>> WELL, ALMOST ENTIRELY, UNFORTUNATELY, WE FOLLOW OUR PARENTS WAY TOO MUCH.
HE'S A LAWYER.
AND I FINALLY GOT TO BE 29 OR 28 AND I REALIZED IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY, YOU BETTER MAKE MONEY IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO POLITICS OR IF YOU WANT TO EAT STEAK OR WHATEVER.
BUT I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS IN MANY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, MORE SO IN THE PAST THAN IT IS NOW.
I THINK OUR PARENTS ARE PUSHING OUR CHILDREN TO GO OUT OUT AND SUCCEED IN WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING.
I WASN'T ANY DIFFERENT.
HE GOT AN EDUCATION I DIDN'T HAVE.
BUT MY DAD WAS 5'6", HE WAS A FARMER, WENT TO CENTER VERY, PLAYED TO THE CENTER COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM THOUGH HE NEVER GOT TO PLAY BUT HE WENT TO PRACTICE EVERY DAY, WEIGHED 136 POUNDS.
HE WAS -- HE HAD GREAT DREAMS, UNREALISTIC HOWEVER MANY OF THEM WERE, BUT WE WALKED THE LINE, YOU KNOW, AND HE'S THE ONE THAT TAUGHT ME YOU DON'T GIVE JOBS AWAY IN STATE GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.
THAT'S NOT YOUR POLITICAL MONEY, IT'S THEIRS.
AND SO HE RAMMED THAT IN ME TO WHERE THAT WAS ONE OF MY CAUSES, THAT WOULDN'T IT BE WONDERFUL IF I GO IN AND CHANGE IT, SOMETHING HE FOUGHT FOR FOR 40 YEARS.
HE WAS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
HE WAS IN CONGRESS WHEN ROOSEVELT WAS THERE.
BUT THAT'S ALL I HEARD.
>> POLITIC WAS REALLY -- >> THAT'S ALL HE TALKED ABOUT.
SOME DAY HE'LL BE SENATOR.
HE RAN FOR THE SENATE SEVEN TIMES.
AND SO I HAD THAT INSPIRATION.
OKAY, POPS, I'LL DO IT.
AND I LEARNED A LOT BUT MAINLY WHAT I LEARNED FROM HIM WAS JUST DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
DON'T CUT ANY CORNERS.
BE STRAIGHT.
AND I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT, WHETHER IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS SELF-FUNDED OR WHATEVER, WHO KNOWS.
CERTAINLY I HAD A LOT MORE FREEDOM, THE FACT I HAD NO COMMITMENTS, AND I THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THAT ANYWAY.
>> WERE YOU CLOSE WITH HIM?
>> VERY CLOSE.
AND I NAMED THE STANDARD ACT ON AGING AFTER HIM BECAUSE IN HIS LATER YEARS HE SAID WE IGNORE OUR AGED AND THERE'S SOME OF THE BEST TALENT AND VISION AT 80 OBJECT 90 YEARS AGE.
I HOPE HE'S RIGHT.
I HOPE THEY WILL HAVE IT WHERE WE LIVE TO BE 100.
>> LET'S SPEND A MINUTE AND TALK ABOUT BUSINESS WHICH YOU CERTAINLY KNOW A LOT ABOUT, AND WITH KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN, NAME SOME OTHERS.
CHICKEN BY GEORGE.
KENNY ROGERS.
>> WELL, I'M AN ENTREPRENEUR.
JUST BY NATURE, YOU KNOW.
>> THAT A LEARNED TRAIT?
>> BILL YOUNG AND I DEBATED THAT.
I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE HIM AS MY MENTOR, MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, AND WE ARGUED OVER THAT BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU LEARNED IT, BUT HIGH SAID, NO, IT'S A NATURAL-BORN INSTINCT.
AND I THINK WARREN BUFFET IN HIS BOOK "SNOW BALLINGOR" WHATEVER SAID HE THINKS YOU'RE BORN WITH IT.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE.
I THINK I WAS BORN WITH IT.
ALL I'VE EVER DONE IS PROPOSAL ARE ENTREPRENEURIAL, ALMOST TOO MUCH SO TO GO OUT AND START SOMETHING BRAND NEW INSTEAD OF SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY WORKING ABOUT YOU ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEAS, IF YOU GET ONE OUT OF TEN YOU'RE LUCKY.
YOU'RE TRYING TO OVERCOME BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, AND YOU THINK YOU CAN COME IN.
BUT IT TAKES, I THINK THE KEY TO BEING AB ENTREPRENEUR IS KNOWING WHEN TO QUIT.
WHEN YOU GET IN A HOLE, STOP DIGGING.
BUT I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY NEW THINGS, AND THAT'S WHERE I SPENT MOST OF MY CAREER.
THE COLONEL, THOUGH, YOU ASKED ME ABOUT HIM.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND A MOMENT BECAUSE HE HAD A BILLION IDEAS AND WE HAD A BILLION IDEA WHEN HE STARRED IT, WORKING OUT OF HIS CAR, SELLING HIS RECIPE TO RESTAURANTS AND HE WAS AN I'M ON AMAN OOH OF THESE RESTAURANTS.
AND THEY WOULDN'T TALK TO HIM.
AND IT WAS QUITE -- WE ALL THOUGHT HE WAS A LITTLE BIT OFFCENTER, THE WHITE SUIT, THE GOATEE AND THE MUSTACHE.
I WAS ON THE SHOW, AND I WAS A MOD RAITT RARE, AND I WAS THE FIRST ONE TO KNOCK ON HIS DOOR WHEN HE OPENED HIS OFFICE IN LOUISVILLE.
BROWN CHANDLER, WE WERE OPPOSITE OF EACH OTHER ALL OF THOSE YEARS.
AND HE WENT TO THE STATION.
WANTED TO TALK TO HIS LAWYER.
I DIDN'T EVEN GO SEE HIM.
I SAW HIM AT A KENTUCKY DERBY GOVERNOR'S BREAKFAST AND THERE HE WAS IN HIS WHITE SUIT.
I SAID, I'M BORED IN LAW, I DON'T THINK I LIKE LAW, AND I'LL GO SEE HIM, AND I WAS FASCINATED.
THAT DAY, HE TOOK ME UPSTAIRS AND SHOWED ME THE FILE OF HIS ROYALTY CHECK, $120, $350.
I THOUGHT WHAT'S HE GOT?
AND HE WAS VERY NICE.
HE WAS LOOK MY DAD, BOTH A COUPLE OF MAVERICKS.
THAT DAY HE WANTED TO START A BARBECUE FRANCHISE.
WE WENT TO PINK PIG.
I THOUGHT, I'M GOING TO FIND A SEAT HERE.
I SAID, COLONEL, I'LL PUT AQUASH CUE THING TOGETHER WITH YOU, AND I BORROWED THE MONEY FROM A FELL NO NASHVILLE TO BUY THE COLONEL OUT, CHUCK MASSEY.
AND ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER.
I THINK ONE OF THOSE SHOWS WITH GATES AND WARREN BUFFET THEY SAID TO BE SUCCESSFUL YET GET YOURSELF IN GAME AS TO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, AND ALL I DID THERE WAS GOT IN THE GAME.
>> YOU GOT IN THE GAME.
>> AND THEN OPPORTUNITY GAME.
>> JUST A FEW MINUTES LEFT.
HOW MANY SETS OF ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA DID YOU SELL IN EASTERN KENTUCKY?
>> A LOT OF THEM.
THEY ARE WONDERFUL.
WHAT THEIR CHILDREN GET OUT OF IT -- >> WAS THAT YOUR FIRST REAL TRUE SALES JOB.
>> >> I THINK IT GAVE ME CONFIDENCE.
WE BROKE A RECORD FOR THE SIZE OF TERRITORY.
WE SOLD 100 SETS, MY TEAM DID, IN ONE MONTH, WHICH FOR THE 100 SETS OF BOOKS, $300 APIECE, YOU KNOW, BUT ALL YOU NEEDED WAS $10 DOWN.
AND NEVER KNOCKED ON A DOOR THAT THEY DIDN'T SAY, WELL, COME ON IN.
>> ISN'T THAT GREAT?
>> NEVER HAD DOORS SHUT IN MY FACE BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE GOT CHEATED BY THEM.
BUT THAT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND IS I THINK I LEARN HOW TO JUDGE PEOPLE.
YOU PRACTICE SOMETHING, JUST LIKE YOUR JOB, YOU LEARN HOW TO REACT TO PEOPLE AND STUDY PEOPLE.
IF I HAD NOT DONE THAT, I DON'T KNOW, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN NEAR A WELL-QUALIFIED FOR ANY OTHER UNDERTAKING I DID.
>> THE FUTURE OF KENTUCKY, THE THING THAT YOU STILL OBSERVE, THAT YOU SIT BACK AND WATCH ON TELEVISION OR READ ABOUT IN THE NEWSPAPER OR HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, WHAT CAN KENTUCKIANS DO TO MOVE THIS STATE FORWARD?
>> WELL, YOU SAY KENTUCKIANS?
LEADERSHIP.
WE HAVE MORE POTENTIAL THAN ANY STATE, AND I TOOK OUR -- I TRY TO FOLLOW A CHAPTER OUT OF -- OUT OF ATLANTA.
THEY DECIDED IN THE LATE '30s, '40S THEY WANTED TO BE A COMMERCIAL CITY.
THEY GAVE INCENTIVES TO BUSINESS, BROUGHT THE BANKING INDUSTRY AND BOUGHT WALL STREET OUT.
THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
UPS, THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE CAME HERE, NO INCENTIVES, A FEW TAX CREDITS, SHOWS THAT WE HAVE THE BEST LOCATION IN UNITED STATES FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS.
WHAT WHAT WE NEED DO IS BRING INVESTMENTS DOLLARS, BUSINESS HERE.
IT BREAK MY HEART.
YOU CAN TO HARRISBURG OR LAWRENCEBURG OR EVEN DANVILLE OR PAINTSVILLE OR ASHLAND OR PADUCAH, I HASN'T CHANGED, IT'S LIKE IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO, AND THE KEY IS HAVING THE VISION AND THE LEADERSHIP TO BRING INDUSTRY HERE.
ONE EASY WAY TO DO IT, WE ONLY HAVE A 4% OF CORPORATE INCOME TAX.
IF WE CAN FIND SOME WAY TO REPLACE THAT MONEY AND HAVE NO CORPORATE INCOME TAX, IT WOULD BE ONE OF THREE STATES IN THE COUNTRY.
THEN WE'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SELL.
AS YOU KNOW, FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE MOST LASTING.
YOU TELL A CEO THERE'S NO CORPORATE TAX IN THAT STATE, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
>> GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT BUT I SAW A GOOD NEW FRIEND OF YOURS, DR. PIERCE LYONS THIS MORNING, AND HE THINKS AS YOU DO, EDUCATION IS THE KEY.
>>Y THINK EDUCATION IS THE KEY, BUT ALSO YOU NEED MONEY, YOU NEED RESOURCES.
WE'VE GOT TO BRING THE JOBS TO THE PEOPLE, AND WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO LEARN AND GET AHEAD OF THE EDUCATIONAL CURVE, YOU DON'T TEACH ENTREPRENEUR AS MANY EVEN THOUGH IT'S A GREAT THING TO TEACH OUT HERE AT UK AND OUR OTHER COLLEGES, YOU NEED TO BRING THE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE PEOPLE.
NOW, IN NORTH CAROLINA IT WAS EDUCATION.
THEY STARTED BACK IN THE MID-40s.
AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE LEADERS IN UNITED STATES, BUT I THINK BOTH.
I THINK EDUCATION IS A KEY, BUT LIKEWISE WE NEED LEADERSHIP TO BRING THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TO TO OUR PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO CREATE THE JOBS FOR OUR PEOPLE.
>> WELL, YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT GUEST.
THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN.
IT'S BLOWN BY.
I SWEAR IT SEEMS LIKE WE SAT DOWN FIVE MINUTES AGO.
BUT MAYBE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE WE WILL BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND FURTHER EXPLORE THIS.
WE NEED TO GET YOU AND MR. BEFORE YOUET AND DR. LYONS ON THE SHOW.
>> I DO ENJOY YOUR SHOW AND I HAD TO ASK YOU TO COME ON.
>> NO, YOU DIDN'T.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU INVYING ME.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
IT'S BEEN ANKER TO HAVE YOU HERE.
FOR "ONE TO ONE," I'M BILL GOODMAN.
Support for PBS provided by:
One to One is a local public television program presented by KET
You give every Kentuckian the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through KET.