Edward T. Breathitt

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Edward T. Breathitt bigraphy, stories - Governor of Kentucky

Edward T. Breathitt : biography

November 26, 1924 – October 14, 2003

Edward Thompson "Ned" Breathitt, Jr. (November 26, 1924October 14, 2003) was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. A member of one of the state’s political families, he was the 51st Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1963 to 1967. After serving in World War II and graduating from the University of Kentucky, Breathitt worked on the presidential campaign of Adlai Stevenson, the senatorial campaign of Alben Barkley, and the gubernatorial campaign 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 A. B. "Happy" Chandler in the Democratic primary, ending Chandler’s political career. He went on to win the general election over Republican Louie B. Nunn. Breathitt continued Combs’ work of improving state highways and parks, improving education funding, and strengthening regulations on strip mining. His major accomplishment as governor was the passage of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act, the first desegregation law passed by a southern state. His biggest disappointment was his inability to win approval of a new state constitution.

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

Ancestors

Political career

In 1951, Breathitt was elected to the first of three consecutive terms in the Kentucky House of Representatives, representing the Ninth District. As a legislator, he was the acknowledged leader of a faction that opposed the programs of Governor A. B. "Happy" Chandler. He supported the state’s first legislation regulating strip mining, improved registration and election laws, and campaigned for revision of the state constitution.Pearce, p. 157 He also co-sponsored the Minimum Foundation Program for Education. From 1952 to 1954, Breathitt served as president of the Young Democrats Clubs of Kentucky and as a member of the national committee for the Young Democrats of America.Harrell, p. 201 He was chair of the state speaker’s bureau for Adlai Stevenson’s presidential campaign in 1952, and two years later, he worked on the staff of Senator Alben Barkley’s re-election campaign.

Bert T. Combs put Breathitt in charge of his campaign against Wilson Wyatt in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 1958.Pearce, p. 80 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. After successfully guiding the legislation through the General Assembly, Breathitt resigned as personnel commissioner to accept an appointment to the Kentucky Public Service Commission. 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.

1963 gubernatorial campaign

In 1962, two-time former governor and Democratic factional leader Happy Chandler had already begun his campaign for an unprecedented third term as governor.Pearce, p. 189 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. Leaders of the faction were solidly behind state Highway Commissioner Henry Ward, but Governor Combs was leaning toward Breathitt. Breathitt announced his candidacy on May 2, 1962, but many in his party remained skeptical due to his youth and relative inexperience.Pearce, pp. 198–199 Combs eventually convinced the anti-Chandler faction to back Breathitt, and Ward never became a candidate.Pearce, p. 199

During the primary campaign, Chandler focused his attacks on the Combs administration rather than the inexperienced Breathitt.Pearce, p. 210 A seasoned campaigner, he bitterly attacked the three percent sales tax enacted during the Combs administration. 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.Pearce, p. 213 He further charged that Chandler’s son-in-law was collecting campaign donations from individuals who desired favors from state government. 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.Harrison in A New History of Kentucky, p. 411 Breathitt won the primary by more than 60,000 votes and carried all but one of the state’s congressional districts. 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.Pearce, p. 215 This campaign ended Chandler’s political career.