Kentucky awaits a historic VP nomination, 75 years since Kentuckian Alben Barkley’s bid
It’s been 75 years since a Kentuckian was the vice presidential nominee. Can Gov. Andy Beshear break the dry spell?
We should know sometime this weekend who Democratic nominee Kamala Harris will choose as her running mate. The Herald-Leader reported Beshear is one of six finalists going through final vetting sessions, including potential conversations with Harris, Friday and Saturday.
It’s very likely we’ll have a VP nominee by midday Sunday.
The last Kentuckian to fill the #2 spot on a presidential ticket was Alben Barkley, a Democrat from Graves County. He won the vice presidential nomination in 1948 alongside Democratic Harry Truman from Missouri.
Barkley was born in a log cabin and had an impoverished upbringing as the son of tobacco farmers.
He had limited primary education and worked as a janitor until returning to school at Marvin College in Clinton, Kentucky, where he graduated in 1897.
Barkley continued his education at the Emory University School of Law and passed the Kentucky Bar in 1901.
His political career kicked off in 1905 when he campaigned in McCracken County for the county prosecuting attorney post.
His career hit hyperdrive from there as he served four years as a McCracken County judge and was elected to Kentucky’s 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In Congress, he passionately supported Woodrow Wilson’s presidency.
“He supported Wilson’s New Freedom agenda that included tariff reform, abolishing child labor, and federal aid for improving rural roadways, and was a leader in efforts to establish Prohibition,” the U.S. Senate website said.
Barkley unsuccessfully ran as the governor of Kentucky in 1923, but a few years later, he scored a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1926.
During his time in the Senate, Barkley worked on the committees on Banking and Currency, Finance, and Foreign Relations. This aided in securing a national reputation and his first attempt at a vice presidential nomination in 1928.
Franklin D. Roosevelt won the presidential election in 1932 and swiftly formed ties with Barkley.
There was a lively debate for Senate leadership in 1937 after the majority leader died abruptly of a heart attack. Roosevelt added to the fire when he sent a letter to Barkley, which was addressed to “My Dear Alben” and referred to him as the “acting majority leader.”
Barkley ultimately served at the Senate majority leader and “by 1944, Barkley had become ‘the president’s man’ in the Senate.”
After a political disagreement between Barkley and Roosevelt over tax increases to pay the cost of American involvement in World War II, they broke ties.
When the tax increase bill emerged from the Senate, it didn’t fulfill the monetary increase the president requested, so it was vetoed.
“In a dramatic turn of events, Barkley resigned as leader. ‘My resignation will be tendered and my services terminated,’ he proclaimed, and then added, ‘If the Congress . . . has any self-respect left, it will override the [president’s] veto,’” the U.S. Senate website said.
His resignation didn’t stick as the Senate Democrats unanimously reelected him the next day.
Likely due to this gap in leadership, Barkley lost the vice presidential nomination again in 1944, but secured the position for the start of Truman’s term in 1948.
He ran for the vice presidency again in 1952, but backed out of the race after criticism he was too old for the position. At 75, he returned to Kentucky where he was elected back to the Senate, aiding in the Democratic control of the Senate.
Barkley’s career came to an end when he dropped dead after giving a speech at Lee University.
“He hadn’t intended to give a farewell address, but for an old-fashioned stump speaker like Barkley, there could have been no more fitting end to a long and illustrious political career,” the Senate website said.
