Mayors--Kentucky--Louisville

Mr. Burke was Mayor of Louisville from 1969 to 1973. This interview covers the reorganization of Louisville's city government. Some restrictions apply.

Former Mayor of Louisville remembers the process of school integration in Jefferson County.

Former mayor Harvey Sloane provides some personal background and then shares his memories of working with Joe Hammond.

Dr. Sloane served as Mayor of Louisville from 1973 to 1977. Sloane explains that the decision to reorganize was influenced by the need for better inter-departmental coordination and decision-making at lower levels. He also mentions that the reorganization was not a campaign pledge. The reorganization involved merging departments, creating a cabinet structure, and changing the reporting mechanism. The cabinet structure was designed to improve the delivery of services and government interaction with the public. The reorganization faced criticism, with some claiming it was a ploy to give friends jobs and others suggesting it was a means to increase political power. Sloane refutes these claims, stating that the reorganization was about professionalizing the service to the public and encouraging long-term thinking in city government.

Dr. Sloane gives an exit interview for a newspaper article.

Mr. Wyatt is the past mayor of Louisville and the past lieutenant governor of Kentucky. He discusses his involvement in Louisville's rationing board during World War II, which was the only integrated rationing board in the United States. He discusses how the decision was reached to integrate and how this was worked out for the members of the board and the community.