Ruby Laffoon

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Ruby Laffoon (January 15, 1869 – March 1, 1941) was the forty-third Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1931 to 1935.

[edit] Early life

Ruby Laffoon was born January 15, 1869 in Madisonville, Kentucky, the son of John Bledsoe and Martha (Earle) Laffoon. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Madisonville and the private school of W. C. O'Bryan. In 1886, he moved to Washington, D.C. with his uncle, U.S. Representative Polk Laffoon. While there, he served as a messenger in the office of Judge C. R. Faulkner, director of the pension office.^[1]

Laffoon attended Columbia Law School before earning a law degree from Washington and Lee University in 1890.^[2] He returned to Madisonville at age 21, was admitted to the bar, and began practicing in the office of Judge William H. Yost.^[1] He married Mary Nisbet on January 31, 1894; the couple had three daughters.^[3]

[edit] Political career

Laffoon's first foray into politics was in 1907, when he lost the race for state treasurer. He suffered another defeat in the election for state auditor in 1911. In 1912, he was appointed the first chairman of the newly-created State Insurance Rating Board. From 1921 to 1931, he sat on the bench of the Hopkins County Circuit Court.^[2]

In 1931, Laffoon was chosen as the Democratic nominee for governor. He defeated Republican William B. Harrison in the general election by a margin of just over 72,000 votes, the largest margin for any Kentucky governor at the time.^[3]

Laffoon's administration was confronted by the economic realities of the Great Depression. While he proposed a number of improvements, money was not available from the usual sources to implement his plans. He proposed a state sales tax in 1932, but it was blocked by members of his own administration, notably highway commissioner Ben Johnson and Lieutenant Governor Happy Chandler.^[3]

Denied in his efforts to raise revenue with a sales tax, Laffoon vetoed a measure to lower the state income tax along with several appropriations bills. He further responded to the economic crisis by declaring a banking holiday in March 1933 and closing burley tobacco markets in December of that year. Kentucky was also unable to secure significant financial assistance under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal because the state was often unable to raise the required matching funds.^[3]

In the legislative session of 1934, Laffoon secured passage of a governmental reorganization bill that curbed the powers of the lieutenant governor and state auditor. Most notably, the lieutenant governor was removed from his post as president of the Kentucky Senate.^[1] Later, in a special session, Laffoon again introduced the idea of a state sales tax, agreeing to lower the state income and automobile taxes in order to secure its passage. Johnson and Chandler again led the opposition to Laffoon's plan, but the General Assembly approved a three-cent tax.^[3]

During his term as governor, Laffoon commissioned a record number of Kentucky Colonels, most notably Harland Sanders. He also issued a record 560 pardons to relieve prison crowding.^[2]

The wide rift between Laffoon and Chandler came to a head in 1935. As his term neared expiration, Laffoon and political confidant Thomas Rhea kept the Democratic Party from requiring a direct primary, hoping to prevent Chandler from securing the nomination for governor. When Laffoon traveled to Washington, D.C. to explain his actions to President Roosevelt, Chandler was left as acting governor under the provisions of the Kentucky Constitution. Chandler immediately called the legislature into special session to consider a primary election bill.^[3]

Before Laffoon could return to the state, the General Assembly passed a measure to require a primary with a run-off if no candidate received a majority on the first ballot. In the primary, Rhea achieved a plurality, but not a majority. In the run-off, Chandler defeated Rhea, securing the nomination for governor. Following this, Laffoon and Rhea left the Democratic Party, and Chandler went on to succeed Laffoon as governor.^[4]

[edit] Later life

Following his term as governor, Laffoon returned to his legal practice in Madisonville. In 1936, he served as a member of the Democratic National Committee, and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1940.^[2] He suffered a stroke on February 19, 1941 and died ten days later.^[1] He was buried in Grapevine Cemetery in Madisonville.^[2]

[edit] References

• Harrison, Lowell H. (1992). "Laffoon, Ruby", in Kleber, John E.: The Kentucky Encyclopedia, Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter, Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813117720. 
• Kentucky Governor Ruby Laffoon. National Governors Association. Retrieved on 2007-09-08.
• Powell, Robert A. (1976). Kentucky Governors. Danville, Kentucky: Bluegrass Printing Company. OCLC 2690774. 

[edit] Further reading

• Ellis, William E. (2004). "Ruby Laffoon", in Lowell Hayes Harrison: Kentucky's Governors. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky, pp.164–167. ISBN 0813123267. 
• Gipson, Vernon (1978). Ruby Laffoon, Governor of Kentucky, 1931-1935. 
• Jillson, Willard Rouse (1932). Governor Ruby Laffoon: A biographical sketch. Kentucky Historical Society. 

[edit] External links

• Ruby Laffoon at Find A Grave
• Political Graveyard
• Kentucky Governors 1927-1955

v • d • e Governors of Kentucky Shelby • Garrard • Greenup • Scott • Shelby • Madison • Slaughter • Adair • Desha • Metcalfe • J. Breathitt • J. Morehead • Clark • Wickliffe • Letcher • Owsley • Crittenden • Helm • Powell • C. Morehead • Magoffin • Robinson • Bramlette • Helm • Stevenson • Leslie • McCreary • Blackburn • Knott • Buckner • Brown • Bradley • Taylor • Goebel • Beckham • Willson • McCreary • Stanley • Black • Morrow • Fields • Sampson • Laffoon • Chandler • Johnson • Willis • Clements • Wetherby • Chandler • Combs • E. Breathitt • Nunn • Ford • Carroll • Brown Jr. • Collins • Wilkinson • Jones • Patton • Fletcher • Beshear Kentucky also had two Confederate Governors: George W. Johnson and Richard Hawes.