Interview of John Carlin
Interviewed by Bob Beatty and Mark Peterson
This transcript of two oral history interviews of John Carlin, who served as the Governor of Kansas from 1979 to 1987. The interviews were conducted in February 12, 2004 and March 10, 2008 by Dr. Bob Beatty and Dr. Mark Peterson of Washburn University. In the interviews Carlin describes his transition from a dairy farmer in Saline County, KS to serving as governor of the state, exploring how his rural upbringing instilled a strong work ethic and practical decision-making skills. He recalls his unlikely 1978 election as governor over an incumbent, accomplishing goals in a Republican-controlled legislature through bipartisan cooperation, and management of controversial issues such as utility reform, the death penalty, and the severance tax. The transcripts are part of the record of the shift from traditional politics to a more modern, issue-driven executive style during a period of significant economic and social transition for Kansas.
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Interviews of former Kansas governors conducted by Dr. Bob Beatty of Washburn University during the early decades of the 21st Century for the Kansas Governors Recorded History and Documentary Projectprovide a view of the lives, political philosophies, and governing styles of governors who led Kansas from the late 20th to the early 21st Century. Beatty generously granted the Kansas Oral History Project (KOHP) permission to house the transcripts of these interviews conducted with former governors John Anderson, William Avery, John Carlin, Bill Graves, Mike Hayden, Mark Parkinson, and Kathleen Sebelius. These interviews are a significant addition to the Kansas Governors Collection, and the KOHP Board is grateful to Dr. Beatty for making the transcripts available for posting here.John Carlin has had a long career of public service at the state and national levels. He served two terms as Governor of Kansas and ten years as Archivist of the United States by appointment of President Bill Clinton. Carlin graduated from Kansas State University in 1962 with a degree in dairy science. He was first elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1970 as a Democrat from Smolan, Kansas and was re-elected to three additional terms, serving from 1971 through 1978. He served as minority leader of the House in the 1976 legislative session and as Speaker of the House in the 1977 and 1978 legislative sessions. Prior to his election to the Kansas House of Representatives, Carlin was an active dairy farmer. After his retirement, he returned to Manhattan, Kansas, where he served as a Visiting Professor/Executive-in-residence, in the Staley School of Leadership at Kansas State University.
March 8, 1940
Democrat
State Representative, Kansas House of Representatives 1971-1978
Minority Leader, Kansas House of Representatives 1976-1976
Speaker, Kansas House of Representatives 1977-1978
Governor, State of Kansas 1979-1987
Chair, National Historical Publications and Records Commission 1995-2005
Archivist, United States 1995-2005
Visiting Prof/Executive-in-Residence, Kansas State University (KSU) 2005-Present
Member, Kansas Bioscience Authority 2006-2012
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