Interviews Archive - Page 10 of 20 - Kansas Oral History Project

Interview of Bill Graves, December 5, 2022

Interviewed by Mike Matson

Matson's interview of 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 by winning a second term for Governor. Graves talked about his three most Show Moredifficult 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. It is worth reading. (Download it after the interview transcript.) Show Less

Interview of Kathleen Sebelius, October 28, 2022

Interviewed by Joan Wagnon and Duane Goossen

Kathleen Sebelius ran for the legislature to "go home." Her kids were ages two and five and she was eager to get out of a demanding job to spend more time at home--better work-life balance. In her 2022 oral history interview, she discussed the changes in the culture of the legislature and state government she experienced over the 30-plus years she served in public office. She observed that when both US Senate seats for Kansas came open in 1996, and Sam Brownback challenged incumbent Sheila Frahm for one of the seats, a fissure Show Morewas created in the Republican party. Sebelius observed the insurance industry being very partisan and tilted toward the industry interests. Her discussion of budget issues during her terms as governor reveals her problem-solving process, even though her time in office was bookended by recessions. School finance also posed some unique challenges during her administration because the Great Recession got in the way of the court's mandates. Phill Kline, the Kansas Attorney General at the time urged Republicans to do nothing regarding school finance. The BEST teams created in the Sebelius administration were important to solving the budget crisis. This interview concludes with discussion of her selections of Lt. Governors and her experiences at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and her activities after leaving government service.

Another oral history interview of Sebelius may be found in the Energy & Environment collection on this site.

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Interview of George Teagarden, October 28, 2022

Interviewed by Duane Goossen and Joan Wagnon

This interview with George Teagarden covers the 14 years he spent in the House of Representatives, mostly serving on the Ways and Means/Appropriations committee. Teagarden describes the committee whose job was to work the state budget every year. In the early years it was characterized by cooperation and working together on issues regardless of party. He notes that cooperation was changing as he left and becoming much more partisan. The use of provisos often bypassed the traditional legislative route for policy-making. He followed his legislative service by working 16 years as Kansas Livestock Show MoreCommissioner. The livestock industry had appointed him to that job, but it is now a gubernatorial appointment. Show Less

Interview of George Wingert, October 28, 2022

Interviewed by David Webb

The "legendary" George Wingert served in the Kansas House from 1971-1978, but his political career spanned 50 years, five governors and countless stories. He learned early on the importance of building connections to the Republican majority and leadership and when to vote your district even if your party leader objects. Wingert was involved with higher education issues and the changes to the correctional institutions and mental health institutions and many of the other progressive issues of that period. After leaving the legislature Governor Carlin appointed him to the Kansas Board of Regents where he and fellow Show Moreregent Jordan Haines "hired and fired" a lot of people including college presidents. Then he lobbied for dog racing issues for another 15 years. The interview concludes with a couple of interesting stories about his family's involvement with national Democratic politicians. Show Less

Interview of Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker, October 17, 2022

Interviewed by Deanell Reece Tacha

Nancy Kassebaum, still lively at age 90, recalled being a young girl in Topeka growing up with a famous father, Alf Landon. She described her motivation for entering a US Senate race in 1978 and turned to friends and the League of Women Voters in Wichita for help with that highly contested primary race. Kassebaum had a "special relationship" with the other Kansas Senator, Bob Dole. Her legislative interests in the U.S. Senate were foreign relations, Africa and apartheid, and a major health care bill she worked with Senator Ted Kennedy. Toward the end of Show Moreher senate career she married Tennessee senator Howard Baker, and went to Japan with him as wife of the Ambassador. After Baker's death she returned to the ranch in Burdick, Kansas where she still follows politics closely. Show Less

Interview of Ed Larson, November 4, 2022

Interviewed by Richard Ross

This interview of longtime Kansas lawyer and jurist, the Honorable Ed Larson, gives a clear understanding of the workings of both Kansas Court of Appeals and the Kansas Supreme Court. Joining the appellate court in 1987 as a general practice lawyer exposed him to many more criminal cases than he had seen in his practice in Hays. He liked the court's practice of traveling around the state for hearings. Larson believed that solving the problems of individuals was the most important work they did, although there were many high-profile cases such as the sale of Blue Cross Show MoreBlue Shield to an out-state company. Larson is a supporter of merit selection for judges and credits the availability of the retirement system for judges with allowing judges to retire with dignity and benefits. Show Less

Interview of John Vratil, September 13, 2022

Interviewed by Joan Wagnon and David Heinemann

John Vratil served 14 years in the Kansas Senate, chairing the Judiciary Committee eight of those years and serving as Senate Vice-President for 10 years. Vratil was a leader in the Senate on both education and judiciary issues. He served on the Judicial Council helping the courts coordinate policy initiatives with the executive and legislative branches. He discusses the change in the power structure of the Senate, from "moderate Republican to Right Wing Conservative." He cites Medicaid expansion as one example of an issue popular the public, but not with the "right-wing" conservative majority. Vratil comments Show Morethat the declining number of lawyers in both the Senate and House may be due to the low salaries. Show Less

Interview of Anthony Hensley, September 16, 2022

Interviewed by Alan Conroy

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley was first elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1976 at the age of 22. He moved to the Senate in 1992, finishing an unexpired term of Senator Nancy Parrish. His interview covers his 44 years in the House and Senate, and almost every issue the legislature dealt with in those years: taxes, reapportionment, school finance and labor issues, to name a few. His story about negotiating with Dick Bond to increase funding for schools is a "must read". Hensley's description of how the Show MoreBrownback tax cuts were enacted after the Senate reconsidered its vote to kill them is a lesson in how parliamentary maneuvering between House and Senate can have unexpected consequences.

Highlights -- short excerpts from the interview

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Interview of Phillip Martin, August 19, 2022

Interviewed by David Webb

Phil Martin served southeast Kansas, as county treasurer, senator, appraiser and and Kansas as the Director of Property Valuation. He influenced major tax changes like reappraisal & classification and the implementation of the severance tax while in state government. In this oral history interview, he recalls people with whom he served and the issues that arose during his years of public service.

Interview of David Owen, July 22, 2022

Interviewed by David Webb

Dave Owen's name is well known to most Kansans who follow politics. This interview is replete with stories about how Republican politics in the 60's, 70's, 80's worked. Stories include his friendships with Senator Bob Dole and Governor Bob Docking. One of his lasting accomplishments as Lt. Governor was the creation of the Kansas Cavalry for promoting business development. He left elective politics in 1972 but chaired Dole's Vice-Presidential run in 1976. His interests turned to banking and he became Chairman and CEO of the Bank of Stillwell. His affiliation with Ottawa University athletics Show Moreand his love of basketball led to the creation of the Dave Owen Leadership Institute. He will be leading a delegation to Ukraine this fall, 2022 from the Lenexa Baptist Church and the Leadership Institute. Show Less

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