Wendell H. Ford

Wendell Hampton Ford ( born September 8, 1924 in Owensboro, Kentucky ) is a retired American politician (Democratic Party) and former governor of Kentucky. He was also a U.S. Senator for that State.

Early years

Wendell Ford attended the public schools in Daviess County. From 1942 to 1943 he studied at the University of Kentucky. In 1944, he joined as a soldier in the U.S. Army, three years later he completed further studies at the Maryland School of Insurance. Subsequently he worked in the insurance industry. Between 1949 and 1962 he was a member of the National Guard of Kentucky.

Political career

During the tenure of Governor Bert Combs (1959-1963), he was the main advisor (Chief Assistant). From 1965 to 1967 he was a member of the Senate from Kentucky. The next step on his career ladder followed in 1967 with his election as Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. Four years later, he applied for his party's nomination for the office of governor. He had to sit down in internal primaries against his old mentor Bert Combs. He won the actual election with 50.6 % of the vote against Tom Emberton, who came to 44.3 %. During his tenure from 1971 to 1974 foods were exempt from VAT, for a production tax on coal products has been introduced. Also, worth mentioning that the powers of the Board of Education, higher education institutions have been extended. After he was elected to the U.S. Senate, Ford resigned in December 1974 as governor.

More career

Between 28 December 1974 and the January 3, 1999 Wendell Ford was continuously a member of the U.S. Senate. During this time he was a member of various committees. So that He experienced all the political events in these years close, beginning with the Watergate scandal, to the government of Bill Clinton. In 1998, Ford opted not to run again in early 1999 and withdrew into private life.