Governor's leadership Archives - Kansas Oral History Project

Side by side photos of Mike Swenson and Mike Matson

Interview of Mike Matson and Mike Swenson, August 18, 2025

Interviewed by Jim McLean

In this 2025 oral history interview, Mike Matson and Mike Swenson described how they transitioned from being members of the Statehouse press corps to serving as press secretaries for governors Graves and Carlin, respectively. In the role of press secretary, they served as spokesperson for the governor and worked to get his message out, but they describe their role as including serving the public interest as a credible source of information. They understood the importance of working with the press to share their governor’s policy agenda and to get their message out to the Show Morepublic. Swenson explained how Governor Carlin was able to bring the leadership of both parties and cabinet members together to ‘hammer’ things out. Matson described how the Graves administration was faced with the challenge of a “conservative Republican in charge of the House…[that] was not interested in having the conversations that we’re talking about.” Governor Graves had to form coalitions with moderate members of both parties “in order to enact policy they felt most Kansans supported.”

Highlights -- short excerpts from the interview

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Interview of Kathleen Sebelius, January 18, 2023

Interviewed by Rex Buchanan

In this 2023 interview of Kathleen Sebelius by Rex Buchanan, the former Kansas governor explored key energy and environmental issues and how they were addressed during her administration (2003-2009). Those issues included rejection of a new coal-powered electricity generation plant in western Kansas, voluntary protection of the 'heart of the Flint Hills' from wind farm development, and increased pressure on the state's dwindling water supplies. Sebelius attributes many of the energy and environmental approaches of her administration to the expertise and creativity of her cabinet, including Rod Bremby, Secretary of Show MoreHealth and Environment, former Governor Mike Hayden who served as Secretary of Wildlife and Parks in the Sebelius cabinet, and Joe Harkins, a trusted advisor. This interview was recorded by Dave Kendall for Prairie Hollow Productions, LLC. Portions of this interview were included in the documentary Hot Times in the Heartland. The Kansas Oral History Project, Inc. is grateful to former Governor Sebelius, Rex Buchanan, and Dave Kendall for granting permission to include this interview in the KOHP Energy & Environment collection of oral histories.

Highlights -- short excerpts from the interview

Another oral history interview of Sebelius is included in the Kansas Governors collection on this site.

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Interview of Pamela Johnson Betts, March 25, 2022

Interviewed by Eric Sexton

The interview begins with Pamela Johnson Betts talking about attending Washington Elementary School, which was one of the schools noted in the landmark Brown v. Board Education case that overturned segregation. She describes her friendship with Cheryl Brown Henderson, daughter of Rev. Oliver Brown who was the plaintiff in the case, and the fact that the family never talked about the landmark case. The two women worked on saving the Monroe school building in the early days before it became a national historic site. This was the beginning of a 50 year career in public service Show Morefor both. Ms. Johnson Betts also talks about an experience she had in the 7th grade when a teacher slapped her (the only African-American student in the class) and the lessons from that experience. Later in the interview she compares the leadership styles of the three governors with whom she worked and some of the public policy issues she was responsible for managing, such as childhood immunizations, public health. Her own experience in working on issues affect the elderly was shaped by those earlier experiences. She was fortunate to find other African American women role models in top management positions, such as Dr. Joycelyn Elder, Surgeon General of the United States. Even as a member of the Governor's cabinet, she continued to experience incidences of racism directed at her. She talks candidly about how she dealt with those incidents and their impact on her. The interview concluded with her stating that "public service is the rent we pay for living on this earth." Show Less

Interview of James (Jim) Maag, September 28, 2021

Interviewed by Joan Wagnon

The Kansas Oral History Project reviewed the original transcript of Dr. Burdett Loomis's interview of former Kansas State Representative Jim Maag and decided to recapture part of the interview on video for inclusion in a civic education series about the Kansas legislature. This videoed interview follows the original Loomis interview, asking similar questions. A transcription of the video is also posted here.

In the original 2014 oral history interview, Jim Maag reflected on his service in the Kansas House of Representatives (1969-1976) including his term as Speaker pro tem (1975-1976). Maag's years in the House Show Morespanned a time of significant change and modernization of the Kansas Legislature and its processes. He provided a view into the evolution of the Legislature into a more professional organization. He commented on the bipartisan approaches to policymaking during that era when the urban-rural split affected legislative dynamic more often than purely partisan considerations. Maag was witness to the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's one person, one vote decision as well as the increased number of women legislators, and the reduced number of attorneys among the House members. Jim's recollections draw a vivid picture of an institution in transition. His connection with the Legislature continued in his role of legislative liaison for Governor Bennett and later as a lobbyist for the Kansas Bankers Association. Show Less

Interview of Mike Hayden, November 23, 2021

Interviewed by Rex Buchanan

Former Kansas Governor Mike Hayden talks about how his life-long concern for wildlife and natural resources informed his entry into electoral politics, service in the Kansas House, time as Governor, and his subsequent career. This interview provides insight into how one Kansan was able to make a lasting impact on the state in a key public policy area. Hayden provides perspective on policies that were initiated during his time in office that remain in place and some that may need to be re-examined in the light of recent developments.

Highlights -- short excerpts from the interview

Arc of Water Policy

Natural Boundaries

Another interview of Hayden may be found in the Kansas Governors collection on this site. Show Less

Interview of August (Gus) Bogina, February 6, 2018

Interviewed by H. Edward (Ed) Flentje

In this 2018 oral history interview, Gus Bogina discusses his service in the Kansas Legislature, focusing on his 14 years in the Senate (1981-1995). Bogina reflects on his relationships with Senate leaders and governors during 11 sessions as Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Bogina also describes his storied ride with the Highway Patrol when he was brought back from Johnson County following bypass surgery to cast the deciding vote on the water plan funding.

Interview of H. Edward (Ed) Flentje, June 14, 2019

Interviewed by Rex Buchanan

During this 2019 oral history interview of Ed Flentje, he recalled the intricate work of developing a water planning process and applying good governance principles to a highly contentious issue that involved a variety of entities both inside and outside state government in the 1970s. The innovations in water regulation that grew out of the agenda of Governor Bennett, for whom Flentje served as Planing Director, were carried out and implemented by succeeding Governors, Carlin and Hayden. Flentje's description of water policy rising to prominence in the Bennett administration demonstrates how governors benefit from Show Morelistening to a variety of voices when developing policy agendas. Show Less

Interview of Joe Harkins, April 24, 2019

Interviewed by Rex Buchanan

In 2019 Joe Harkins sat down for an oral history interview conducted by Rex Buchanan. Harkins describes a career that began in public health and ranged from addressing nursing home problems in Kansas to initiating a graduate program in health administration. Persuaded to take on running the Kansas Water Office, Harkins engaged in transforming the culture of water administration at a time when issues related to water had a high priority in the state. In a detailed discussion of water policy, he discussed the dynamics of the relationship between governors and the legislature in developing, adopting, and funding Show Morea state water plan in the 1980s and early 1990s. Harkins brings the perspective of a professional public administrator to the issue of water policy development. He recalls learning about water policy while he was in charge of developing it. Harkins also has the perspective of a key staff member in several administrations in which water policy was a high priority. He reflects on the importance of gubernatorial leadership and the power dynamics among the various interests that shaped the ultimate policy. Harkins laments that water issues are no longer among the highest priorities in state public policy administration. This interview provides the most comprehensive explanations of policy development in practice in Kansas state government that is available.

Highlights -- short excerpts from the interview

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Interview of Dave Heinemann, July 10, 2014

Interviewed by Burdett Loomis

In this 2014 oral history interview, Dave Heinemann recalled his long career in the Kansas House representing Garden City, a career that spanned the years during which there were important changes in Kansas government. He served during an era when rural influence in the Legislature was waning due to fundamental changes in legislative districts. Heinemann's recollections of how legislators served their constituents and how they worked with one another to craft legislation paint a picture of collaboration in the creation of public policy. His perspective points to the importance of personal relationships with colleagues within the chamber, Show Moreacross the rotunda in the Senate, and with the Governor's office.

Another oral history interview of Heinemann is included in the Reflections on Water collection on this site.

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Interview of Carl Holmes, September 3, 2020

Interviewed by Rex Buchanan

In this 2020 oral history interview, former State Representative Carl Holmes discusses his observations of state water policy formulation in the 1970's through 2012. Holmes began his involvement in water policy as a farmer and active member of his community in southwest Kansas. In many respects, his experiences reflect the water-energy nexus. Holmes observed cities and irrigators mining water in southwest Kansas. He recalled developing a comprehensive understanding of water issues by interviewing the managers of the state’s water resources. In this interview, Holmes described how he managed the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee by creating subcommittees and educating Show Moremembers on how to work bills and guide them through the process. He discussed his bipartisan work with Representative Ken Grotewiel and other committee Democrats in the 1990s, actions that resulted in the House Speaker removing him from the chairmanship of the committee. Holmes described how irrigation changed over time from flood to sprinkler technology and how sprinkler systems have become more efficient. However, Holmes observed that groundwater levels continued to decline leading to abandoned wells, the growing of crops that require less water, the return to dryland farming, and, for some, the call for diversion of water from distant sources, such as the Missouri River, to sustain farming and communities on the plains.

Another oral history interview of Holmes is included in the Energy & Environment collection on this site.

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