William Prentice Cooper - The Road To Tennessee Governor, Part III (September 28, 1895 - May 18, 1969)

William Prentice Cooper, Circa 1939

Very few people are strong enough to face adversity. When the rubber meets the pavement, the weak usually veer far away from the adventure. Time and time again, it's proven that people's words are seldom congruent with their actions. Last year's election fraud was evidence that a multitude of television and blog personalities lacked the fortitude to speak out against what was stolen from the American people as they coward down, failing to convey the corruption. Notorious Sidney Powell, Lin Wood, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Lindell, Patrick Byrne, and General Michael T. Flynn all stood behind their convictions and fought valiantly to unveil the vast amount of voter fraud and corruption. But sadly, others like Dan Bongino, Sean Hannity, Pat Gray, Glenn Beck, Stu (Steve) Bruguière, Tucker Carlson, and many others on the right remained muted! Instead of fighting for the reputations of those who supported them, they remained eerily quiet, playing the politically correct game invented with impossible rules by creators of Facebook, Twitter, and U-tube. Powell, Wood, Giuliani, Lindell, Bryne, and Flynn were willing to lay their names, careers, and finances on the line. But everyone else on the right kept their opinions unspoken to keep their cash cow fatly fed and placated the left's lie of a fair and honest election. Yes, corruption and duplicitousness enable imposters to occupy elected offices, but so does silence! Every radio and blog personality from the Republican party should have been incanting rhythmically that 270 pages of affidavits, evidence, and testimony from numerous witnesses and whistleblowers existed [1-3]. They should have played the countless videos that proved the fraudulence on a continuous loop [1-3]. They should have endlessly interviewed statisticians and computer experts [1-3]. And they should have never allowed the reputations of those fighting the fight to be stained. But instead, they veered from the course, afraid of letting the screech from their tires be heard. Few are strong in conviction like my distant cousin, Governor William Prentice Cooper, who believed in standing behind those who stood behind their certitude. His story continues.

1938, August 6, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 8

In 1938, Prentice succeeded his rivalry. Gordon W. Browning, by 72,998 votes (231,852 vs. 158,854) in the Democratic primaries [1-4]. But yet, in the political arena, he was still considered an unknown [6]. The editor from the Knoxville News warned Prentice that to succeed in the general election, Prentice would need to do three things [4-5]:  

1. He would have to get the cooperation and interest of the citizens he planned to govern [4-5].
2. He would have to position good men into office (no man could do it alone) [4-5].
3. He would need to appoint knowledgeable men to department head positions in his administration to ensure a smooth transition [4-5].   

But that voice would not be the only one vocalizing concerns regarding Prentice as a Governor [5]. There would be others who would question and debate whether or not Prentice would yield to the pressures of politics [5]. A writer for The Chattanooga News, Gordon Gaskill, warned Prentice that "the best-laid plans of mice, men, and Governor often go agley [5]." Gaskill cautioned Prentice, too, that there are often blurred lines of loyalty in politics, and sometimes politicians find themselves being more loyal to their friends than to their constituents [5].  

Fortunately, Prentice would have the opportunity to prove to all his naysayers and skeptics what type of Governor he would become. Because on November 5, 1938, he easily defeated Republican opponent Howard Baker Senior by 127,536 votes (210,567 vs. 83,031) [1,2]. Excitedly, Prentice vowed to his constituents to have an honest administration that would contain the most truthful and efficient men in top positions, proclaiming that his administration would not accept any gifts from anyone. Therefore, he would hold no allegiance to any lobbyist [7]. Prentice also promised to have an administration of sound economics and not an administration based on a false economic premise [7]. He vowed to reduce the people's taxes but assured the citizens of Tennessee that he would do so without injuring the government [7]. On January 16, 1939, with his parents in attendance, Prentice was sworn in as the 39th Governor of Tennessee, beginning his new administration [7].

August 1, 1939, The Knoxville Journal,
 Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 1

Immediately after Prentice's gubernatorial inauguration, Prentice's words and honorability became challenged when he faced the daunting task of balancing the state budget. It would be difficult since his predecessor, Gordon Browning, had left Tennessee with a million-dollar deficit [8]. What complicated budget matters worse was the proposed acquisition of the Tennessee Valley Authority; however, Prentice felt that it was an essential purchase necessary for the growth of Tennessee [9-10]. Prentice's vow of tax reduction slowly became muted as the legislative branches argued over a litany of proposed taxes, though [11-12]. Legislatures suggested tax increases or the initiation of a tax on one-pump filling stations, liquor sales, theater ticket sales, local sales revenue, realty involvement, personal property, kilowatt usage, and receivership taxes [11-12]. The state scavenged for other areas for funding, too [13-14]. They initiated a license for beauty shop operators and negotiated an increase in the weight allowance for heavy trucks if, in return, they agreed to pay higher interstate fees [13-14].

1939, August 13, The Jackson Sun,
Jackson, Tennessee, Page 18

Prentice's efforts to balance the state budget were a trying effort. But besides increasing taxes, he proposed reducing the number of state employees on the payroll [15]. His reduction of 931 (7,154 to 6,223) employees resulted in savings for the citizens of Tennessee of $35,866 monthly, which he hoped would eventually lead to a deficit reduction of half a million dollars annually [15]. But where Prentice saved the citizens of Tennessee 500,000, other areas in the state budget needed desperate attention that would absorb those dollars, and the prison system was one of them [15,16]. After releasing a report by three prominent physicians regarding the state's penal institutions, Prentice found it necessary to allocate 500,000 for emergency relief [16]. The reformatories for both male and female black prisoners had "deplorable" living conditions, stated investigating physicians [16]. They reported that the "living quarters, sanitation, and food support rations were below standard [16]." They also claimed the prisoner's food rations were below daily nutritional requirements [16]. Although all the state prisons had problems, the report stated that the outrageous conditions of the black institutions illustrated gross bias and prejudice [16]. Prentice promptly reacted! But that was not the only way he intended to reform the state penal institutions. He also purchased buses to transport prisoners to and from state highways, using their labor to help clean up alongside state roads [17]. However, where Prentice saved dollars, Prentice also spent them. His adding a squad of trained highway patrolmen to stamp out gambling and liquor establishments added to the state deficit [18]. 

1939, July 22, The Tennessean,
 Nashville, Tennessee, Page 1

There are two sides to every story, and by May, the headlines questioned, "Why can't Tennessee get a good Governor?" [19-20]. According to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, the people's confidence in their Tennessee government had long ago waned [19-20]. After only three months, according to news accounts, Prentice had fired 1271 state job employees [19-20]. However, the problem was that in their place sat 1303 employees who contributed or could contribute to Prentice's "personal political machine [19-20]." The accusations against Prentice claimed that jobs had stopped being awarded for merit and were, instead, issued as a political pay-off system [19-20]. Opponents also charged Prentice with creating jobs to fulfill political obligations, even if the positions were not warranted [19-20]. The Sentinel stated that the people of Tennessee needed to be aware that Prentice was not just replacing "Cooper" men with "Browning" men [19-20]. But Prentice was also terminating employees who never played a role in politics [19-20]. Prentice counteracted the allegations by saying the accusations were unwarranted [21]. Prentice claimed that there were 10,000 state employees. According to Prentice, they had hired 226 and fired 300 employees [21]. Therefore, saving the state money [21]. Prentice also declared there had not been a single comment about the qualifications or characters of the employees instated [21].

1940, November 26, The Tennessean,
Nashville, Tennessee, Page 3

Besides facing the criticisms surrounding the hiring and firing of state employees, Prentice also encountered accusations of corruption [22]. The Tennessee Valley Authority had created eight lakes on private property, and critics claimed they were made "primarily to appreciate the real estate value of lands owned by politically prominent persons [22]." Prentice was among the eight accused of profiting from the state. Prentice said of the accusations [22], "I don't know where this lake is. I have never visited the site [22]." "Neither I nor any of my relatives own any land within miles of this place [22]." "I am not aware of any possible way in which it could enhance even by 10 cents the value of any property in which even [any of my] family is interested [22]." 

1940, October 26, Chattanooga Daily Times,
 Chattanooga, Tennessee, Page 2

As Prentice continued to make political waves by firing five conservation officers, he continued touting the necessity of balancing the budget regardless of the cost [23]. By the end of Prentice's first year as Governor, he had accomplished what he deemed a priority [23]. He had balanced the Tennessee budget [23]! Believing that his administration had an accomplished year, he placed a report for the Tennesseans to view his achievements [24]:

• A reduction of state employees on the payroll by 8%, resulting in $322,000 savings annually.
• He reduced legislative costs annually by $162,384.
• He reduced state employee travel expenditures.
• He increased the number of boards that collected taxes, which led to an 8.62% increase in tax revenue.
• He increased the social security payout and placed 2/3 more people on public assistance.
• He allocated 880,000 more towards public education.
• He enforced food purification laws.
• He expensed 330,000 more towards unemployment benefits, distributing funds to 500,000 receivers.   
• He increased unemployment checks from $5.00 weekly to $6.50 a week.
• He forced 6014 more employers to pay for unemployment compensation.
• He increased monies paid by 70% to aid disabled children.
• He increased free dental services for children by 60%.
• He added 85,000 acres of national forest.
• He decreased the monies allocated to the highway department by 577,554.27.
• He borrowed 2,465.000 for erecting new government buildings.
• He economized prisons.
• He increased the size of the National Guard.
• He increased raids on roadside gamblers and liquid dives, which doubled the state's revenues.

1940, September 2, The Knoxville News Sentinel,
Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 13

As the end of Prentice's term was nearing, the reviews for his performance were mixed [25]. Some voters believed he was cleaning up Nashville and reducing the existing thuggery [25]. Others thought he had the gall to run again and summarized his term as "repudiations and broken promises [25]." In the Democratic primaries, two opponents challenged Prentice for his office [26-28]. George Roby Dempster, a businessman, inventor, and upcoming politician, was the most threatening contender [26-28]. The other, J. Bailey Wray, was hardly a threat [26-28]. In August, Prentice successfully defeated them both by large margins (Prentice 237,319, Dempster 44,122, Wray 3,150), verifying the people's acceptance of his performance [26-28]. On November 5, Prentice defeated the Republican party nominee, Arthur Bruce, by 184,177 votes (206,699 vs. 112,522), securing his second term as Governor [29]. 

1940, September 2, The Knoxville News Sentinel,
Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 13

During a Rotary tour in 1937, Prentice met someone who would profoundly affect his second term in office, Adolph Hitler [30]. Despite the United States' attempt to remain neutral in World War II, Prentice believed it inevitable America would have to participate [30-31]. His instincts were right, and on December 8, 1941, the United States passed a motion to declare war after the surprise attack and bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces on December 7 [30-31]. Thanks to Prentice's insight, Tennessee was the first state to engage in military preparedness and created an Advisory Committee for organizing war efforts [30]. Before the United States had become engaged, Prentice had already started readying the state for war supply manufacturing industries [30]. In anticipation of the 117th Infantry Regiment of the 30th Division of the National Guard getting deployed to Europe, Prentice established the Tennessee State Guard to provide additional protection to its citizens in their absence [30, 32]. But beyond that, Prentice's advanced preparations included designating land for military bases for necessary training exercises, resulting later in the establishment of Camp Campbell near Clarksville and Camp Forrest near Tullahoma [30]. He also led the way in the state's purchase of 3000 acres near Smyrna [30]. Acreage the state cleared and leased to the federal government, eventually becoming Stewart Air Base [30]. On the same day of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's notorious speech declaring to Americans that December 7 would" live in infamy," Prentice pledged to the citizens of his state, "Tennessee is ready and willing to do whatever the citizens are called upon to do [33-34]." 

1942 Inauguration

All is fair in love, war, and politics, and Prentice's challenger for the 1942 primaries, Judge J. Ridley Mitchell, was determined to prevent Prentice from serving a third gubernatorial term. Mitchell was unimpressed with Prentice's leadership abilities during the war, and he accused Prentice of using the war to frighten constituents into electing him to a third term [34]. Mitchell said of Prentice, "Go join the army and sure victory on the morrow for the forces battling against dictatorship in Tennessee [34]." Mitchell accused Prentice of being like Hitler and proclaimed, "You are not just voting to elect Ridley Mitchell as your Governor. You are voting for an end to the dictatorship of Tennessee's Hitler [34]." Mitchell concluded, "You may never have another chance in the next 14 or 20 years to vote freely in an election for Governor in Tennessee [34]." Mitchell also accused Prentice of not being a good steward of the people's money, stating, "The truth is, as every man knows, that Prentice Cooper is utterly unable to account for the expenditure of an increase of more than $26,000,000 in tax revenue [35]. However, despite all of the accusations uttered by Mitchell, Prentice managed to defeat him by 47,208 votes (171,259 vs. 124,037) [27]. In the general election, fortunately for Prentice, there wasn't a Republican candidate who was much of a political threat to his gubernatorial office [27, 37-39]. With one of the lowest voting turnouts recorded, Prentice easily defeated his Republican opponent, C.N. Frazier, by 37,123 votes (68,207 vs. 31,084) [27, 37-39].   

1939, The Leaf Chronicle,
Clarksville, Tennessee, Page 1

During Prentice's third term as Governor, World War II raged in Europe. But secretly, the United States government had plans to retaliate against Japan in a way never seen before. To do so meant acquiring vast amounts of rural acreage [27, 40]. In October 1942, federal lawyers sued Tennessee to gain permission for the government to take ownership of 50,000 acres of land in Anderson and Roane counties, affecting nearly 1000 displaced families [27, 40]. With little warning (six weeks or less), the government served the ousted families eviction notices without financial compensation [27, 40]. Furious, they approached Prentice about their property becoming appropriated for federal purposes [27,40]. Completely unaware, Prentice became immediately outraged and accused the government of stealing land for socialist purposes [27,40]. Without Prentice's knowledge, the government was beginning to experiment with building an atomic bomb right underneath his nose on Tennessee land in a project later dubbed the Manhattan Project [27, 40]. The government wanted to use the Oak Ridge site to process uranium ore, and even Prentice was oblivious to their goal objective [27, 40]. When Prentice received the Presidential proclamation from an Army lieutenant declaring the land to be in federal land and out of state control, Prentice became so furious and disgusted that he tore up the official documents [27, 40]. Unfortunately, or fortunately, though, Prentice was unable to do anything to prevent the United States from sending Japan its loudest message that ended the war on August 6, 1945, when the government destroyed a Japanese city, Hiroshima, with its atomic bomb [27, 40]. World War II was ending thanks to the people of Tennessee, and so was Prentice's career as their Governor since it was unconstitutional for him to serve beyond three terms [27, 40]. His final day as Governor was January 16 that same year [27]. 

1948, September 18, The Jackson Sun,
 Jackson, Tennessee, Page 20

Prentice's Governorship may have ended, but his political career was far from over, and many feared what Prentice would do next with idle hands. But the first thing on Prentice's agenda was to "take a furlough, go fishing, and decide how to serve my country," he said [41]. Prentice did not stay idle, though. He soon resumed practicing law with his father, William Prentice Cooper I [41]. During the war, food was scarce and needed rationing [42,43]. But the American patriot spirit wouldn't allow tables to be void, and to help feed themselves and their neighbors, Americans began growing what later became termed as "Victory Gardens [42,43]." Prentice heavily promoted and supported the gardens, serving as a Commissioner for the United States Victory Garden Committee [41]. President Harry S. Truman praised Prentice's participation in the war-time cultivation efforts at a White House ceremony after Prentice's post expired on July 4, 1945 [41]. After the ceremony, Prentice met the President informally in the Oval Office [41]. It was a relationship that would later benefit Prentice's career substantially. 

1939, February 28, The Knoxville Journal,
 Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 2

Prentice's absence from the political arena worried long-term Senator Kenneth D. McKellar [41]. Senator McKellar feared Prentice returning to politics and challenging him for his senatorial seat [41]. Senator McKellar pleaded with President Truman to offer Prentice a position in his Presidential Cabinet to eliminate the threat of Prentice as a potential opponent in his next upcoming election [41]. Truman denied McKellar's request despite liking Prentice [41]. However, Prentice was far from naive, doubting that he could defeat Senator McKellar, who had served nearly thirty years as a state representative. Prentice knew it would be hard to run in opposition to him [41]. As an alternative, in April 1946, Prentice flew to Washington seeking a high-level federal position [41]. Prentice returned home without a single offer [41]. Despite being aware of a new and desirable ambassadorship available to Australia, Prentice didn't want it [41]. It was too far to travel to, and he didn't want to be that far away from his aging parents [41]. Fortunately, his trip to Washington did yield him the appointment as the Ambassador of Peru, despite his inexperience in foreign affairs [41]. On May 15, 1946, with approval from the Senate, Prentice was sworn into the oath of office by Judge Wiley B. Rutledge, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court [41]. 

1958, August 5, Nashville Banner,
Nashville, Tennessee, Page 17

Prentice's campaign manager, John Horton, once said of him, "He will stand side by side with those in whom he has confidence and fight." Unfortunately, Prentice was not the only Democrat with unyielding loyalty. Nearly all of the Democratic Party is willing to stand side-by-side with one another. They stood unified with one another even when it meant becoming culpable in another's crime. Unfortunately, the Republicans will not unite even when it means exposing the Democrats' duplicitousness. This week's Maricopa, Arizona audit of the November ballots has illustrated the Democrats' abilities to lie, deny, and deceive to conceal their malversation and malfeasance. The evidence continues to lead to the corruption that illegally altered the outcome of the highest offices in the free world and the positioning of imposters, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. And sadly, nearly every level of our government is fighting to keep the Democrats' criminality a secret while we battle with limited troops. They fight as warriors in their fierce war to maintain power! The shots fired in the dogfight toward truth are not those Republicans with loaded arsenals. Instead, softer voices with penetrable armor and few armaments are the ones crossing the battlefield to try and destroy those enemies of the United States that threaten to destroy our Republic. And hopefully, their whispers united will result in a roar! It is time to stand side by side with those with whom we have confidence and fight. It is also time for the Republicans to stand behind Giuliani, Powell, Woods, Lindell, Bryne, and Flynn and be willing to sacrifice a part of ourselves to protect what is worth fighting for -- the United States of America!

Next week, Ambassador William Prentice Cooper's story continues!

Part I:    https://progenitorportal.blogspot.com/2023/12/william-prentice-cooper-road-to.html

Part II:   https://progenitorportal.blogspot.com/2024/01/william-prentice-cooper-road-to.html

Part  IV: https://progenitorportal.blogspot.com/2024/01/william-prentice-cooper_23.html

Responsible for this week's theme, this blog's dedication is to my husband. As always, his thoughts and my words combine to educate and mold our granddaughters, Natalie and Emmalyn, into becoming the wonders we know they will be! 

Photo Gallery:

1931, December 16, Chattanooga Daily Times,
Chattanooga, Tennessee, page 3

1938, January 19, The Tennessean,
Nashville, Tennessee, Page 2

 1939, August 1, The Knoxville Journal, Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 1

Sources:

1. https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Prentice_Cooper
2. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=263033
3.  Brainard, Cheney, “Trio Wins Without Shelby Vote-Cooper Holds Lead Over 64,926 Over Browning With 162 Precincts,” 5, August, 1939, Nashville, Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 1
4. “Crump Willing To Let Election Results Speak-Memphis Political Leader Rest From Another Hot Campaign, 1939, August 5, The Jackson Son, Jackson, Tennessee, Page 1.
5. “Four Men Too Good To Loose-A Suggestion To Prentice Cooper, 8, August 1939, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 4.
6. “Will Prentice Be A Good Governor Or Will He Yield To The Pressure of Politics,” 1939, January 3, The Chattanooga News, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Page 5.
7. Smith, Charles W., “Tennessee’s New Governor Early Set Three Goals To Achieve-To Be A Lawyer-Become A Statesman-And Find Time To Write,” 1938, November 20, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 29.
8. “Report Shows Financial Task Browning Rate Faced Million Deficit, So Kefeauver Reveals,” 1939, February 22, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 1
9.  “No Shirking of Taxes-TVA To Pay Two States Big Sum-$1,250,000 To Go To Alabama & Tennessee Power,” 1939, February 9, The Knoxville News, Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 13.
10. “Tax Loss Through TVA Sales Stirs Wets Hope,” 1939, February 7, The Knoxville Journal, Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 1
11. “Cooper Okay To Be Asked Friedson To Seek Approval Of 4 Measure,” 1939, February 7, The Knoxville Journal, Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 1
12. Hixon, Fred, “Hudson Fights Cooper Plan, Stops Tax Rise-Befriends The Small Filling Stations-Theaters Win Fight in Committee,” 1939, February 4, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Page 1
13. “Beauty Operators To Discuss Law,” 1939, February 28, The Knoxville Journal, Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 2.
14. “Bill Increasing Truck Weights Believed Saved-Cooper Measure Plays Part On Trade In Taxes,” 1939, February 28, The Greenville Sun, Greenville, Tennessee, Page 1.
15. “Cooper Cites Payroll Cut,” 1939, August 6, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 21.
16. “The Report On Prisons,” 1939, August 12, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Page 26.
17. “Trailers Arrive To Begin Convict Labor On Roads-Use of “Road Prison” Eliminates Necessity of Building Camps,” 1939, August 25, The Jackson Sun, Jackson, Tennessee, Page 2.
18. “Governor Chagrined, “ 1939, August 26, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Page 26.
19. “Why Can’t Tennessee Get A Good Governor-Prentice Cooper’s Spoils Orgy Climaxes 12 Long Years of Misrule,” 1939, May 8, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 4.
20. “Cooper Travels The Browning Broad,” 1939, April 3, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 4.
21. “Cooper Cites Job Report-Attack on Personnel Program Answered By Governor,” 1939, April 7, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 1
22. Timmons, B.N., “WPA Said Used To Lift State Land Values Tennesseans Named As Profiting From Lakes Bult-Cooper In Group,” 1939, May 11, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 1.
23.  “Dismissals Seen As Deficit Hint,” 1939, September 23, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 1
24. “Governor Prentice Cooper Gives Account of His Stewardship,” 1940, July 21, The Jackson Sun, Jackson, Tennessee, Page 5.
25. “You Tell Us: Letters Are Almost 2-to-1 Backing Governor Cooper,” 1940, February 25, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 29.
26. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Roby_Dempster
27. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prentice_Cooper
28. “State Democrats-GOP Map Drives,” 1940, August 22, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 7.
29. “Roosevelt Carries State 2-1-Gore’s Majority Is Great,” 1940, November 8, The Rutherford Courier, Smyrna, Tennessee, Page 1.
30. https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/world-war-ii/
31. https://www.historyonthenet.com
32. “State Guard Regiment Seeking To Volunteer,” 1941, December 8, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Page 16.
33. https://www.ushistory.org/documents/infamy.htm
34. “Tennessee Is Ready Says Governor Cooper,” 1941, December 8, Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 8.
35. Caldwell, Nat, “Join Army, Show Military Leadership Cooper Told,” 1942, August 6, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 2.
36. Thompson, Beasley, “Hudson joins Cooper, Stewart-Last Coalition Please At Franklin-Governor Again Praises Himself,” 1942, August 6, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 1.
37. “Cooper Easily Wins 3rd Term As Governor-Stewart, Jourolman Also Reelected By Decisive Margins,” 1942, November 4, Johnson City Chronicles, Johnson City, Page 1.
38.  “Quiet Election Expected Here,” 1942, October 29, Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 20.
39. “Cooper Elected Third Time As Governor,” 1942, November 4, Kingsport News, Kingsport, Tennessee, Page 1.
40.  http://www.tn4me.org/article.cfm/era_id/7/major_id/9/minor_id/72/a_id/219
41. Cooper, William Prentice. “Ambassador Prentice Cooper, 1946-1948, Part I.” Tennessee Historical Quarterly, vol. 45, no. 1, 1986, pp. 41–55. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/42626569. Accessed 13 May 2021.
42. “Victory Gardens Are More Important Now, Mrs. Simpson Writes,” 1945, July 21, The Jackson Sun, Jackson, Mississippi, Page 6.
43. https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/CAT31030569/PDF
44. “Tennessee’s New Governor Early Sets Three Goals-To Be A Lawyer-To Become A Statesman-And To Find Time To Write, 1938, November 20, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 29.

𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘

Presented by Progenitor PortalThis blog has been created for my granddaughters, Natalie Elizabeth and Emmalyn Rose Herron, to share the experiences of Mitch and me, along with our viewpoints towards politics, religion, and the history we are creating. I respectfully understand that you may not always agree with our perspectives. We want to teach the two of them our history, their family history, and American history so they, too, will learn to question with boldness! Should you disagree with our viewpoints, please keep your negative commentary in your mind. This blog may not be for you. We will leave it up to our granddaughters to judge our character and the lives we led!

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