Topic: Firearms permitting
Interview of Christine Downey, August 2, 2019
Interviewed by Dale Goter
Former State Senator Christine Downey recalls her three terms in the Kansas Senate (1993-2004) during her 2019 oral history interview. With her background as a teacher, education issues were important to her as the era of school-funding litigation continued. She was involved in water-related policy making, in particular at the nexus of water quality and agricultural practices. She recalls her service in the Senate and on the Kansas Board of Regents first developing the policy and then implementing fundamental changes to the postsecondary education system. Ms. Downey discusses numerous instances of working across the aisle Show Moreto accomplish policy objectives that did not break on strict party lines. Show Less
Interview of Bill Graves, December 5, 2022
Interviewed by Mike Matson
Mike Matson's 2022 interview of former Kansas Governor Graves shows the deep respect Matson has for the man he describes as "the last of the centrist, moderate Republican Kansas governors." The interview reveals the values that guided Graves throughout his 8 years in office--to whom much is given, much is expected. It shows how a well-grounded young man dealt with the news that the career for which he had prepared was no longer an option, and how he earned the respect of 73 percent of the state's voters resulting in a second term for Governor. Graves talked Show Moreabout his three most difficult decisions: replacing a US Senator (Dole), concealed carry and abortion restrictions. Graves concludes with a discussion of issues he thinks the Republican party should be embracing in the future. Following the interview, Matson wrote a column which summarized Bill Graves' success. A 2016 interview of Graves by Dr. Michael Smith of Emporia State University is published on this site. Two interviews of Graves conducted by Dr. Bob Beatty of Washburn University in 2004 and 2011 are also posted on this site. Show Less
Interview of Joe Hoagland, January 23, 2023
Interviewed by Richard Walker
Kansas government underwent a massive change in the 1970's. Governors Docking and Bennett began reorganizing state government and bringing together a lot of independent commissions and state agencies that were operating autonomously into a cabinet system under the direction of a Secretary, such as the departments of Revenue and Transportation. Joe Hoagland's interview expands the understanding of how Kansas government was modernized during that period and how new legislative leaders were developed and empowered to act. Hoagland was involved with several significant legislative issues: the 911 emergency phone system, the comparative negligence act, Show Moremandatory prison sentence for crimes committed with a firearm, banning the sale of handguns, small claims process. Hoagland, himself is an interesting person with many talents and wide-ranging interests. His business activities have been beneficial to Kansas, our country and the world. Sports lovers will like his description of being a professional baseball scout and the first one to discover Albert Pujols. His airline-related businesses took him abroad, living in Brussels, Belgium for over 20 years. He describes traveling around the world 15 times. He als describes his work to develop a new breed of cattle and establish the American Black Hereford Association. He developed a cellphone app to track the movement of cattle in the beef supply chain.
Highlight -- a short excerpt from the interview