Hello, Happy Chandler!

One of the most remarkable controversies in Kentucky’s political history has arisen in connection with a meeting between President Kennedy and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, A. B. (Happy) Chandler. It centered on whether the President had said more than just hello to the former Kentucky Governor, U.S. Senator And Baseball Commissioner.

For three days the controversy raged throughout the state. The irrespressible Chandler, now seeking the governorship for the third time in 28 years, stuck to his story that he had conferred with his “old friend” the President “for at least 30 minutes, probably more.” But Presidential press secretary Pierre Salinger had said, shortly after the meeting, that Chandler had merely been on a tour of the west wing of the White House and that the President had “popped out just to say hello.”

JS

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Jack Sellers

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One of the most remarkable controversies in Kentucky’s political history has arisen in connection with a meeting between President Kennedy and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, A. B. (Happy) Chandler. It centered on whether the President had said more than just hello to the former Kentucky Governor, U.S. Senator And Baseball Commissioner.

For three days the controversy raged throughout the state. The irrespressible Chandler, now seeking the governorship for the third time in 28 years, stuck to his story that he had conferred with his “old friend” the President “for at least 30 minutes, probably more.” But Presidential press secretary Pierre Salinger had said, shortly after the meeting, that Chandler had merely been on a tour of the west wing of the White House and that the President had “popped out just to say hello.”