The Coal Miner Who Became Governor

by Paul E. Patton

Born in a tenant house in Fallsburg, Kentucky, Paul Patton had a humble upbringing that held few clues about his future as one of the most prominent politicians in the history of the state. From the coal mines to the governor's office, Patton's life exemplifies hard work, determination, and perseverance, as well as the consequences of personal mistakes.

In The Coal Miner Who Became Governor, Patton, with Jeffrey S. Suchanek, details his personal, professional, and political life in Kentucky, starting with his career in the coal industry. After working for his father-in-law, J. C. Cooley, in the 1950s, he partnered with his brother-in-law to establish their own coal company, which they sold for millions in 1978. Patton leveraged his business connections into a political career, raising money for Democratic candidates before becoming the chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party. He first took elected office in 1981 as Pike County judge/executive; he then served a term as lieutenant governor (1991–1995), followed by an unprecedented two consecutive terms as governor. His overhaul of higher education in Kentucky led to his role as the University of Pikeville's president and chancellor, even after his political career.
In this compelling account, Patton reveals the decision-making process for campaign strategies, selection of running mates, postsecondary education and workers' compensation reforms, early childhood development initiatives, and attempts at tax reform. He gives his unfiltered opinion about Mitch McConnell's "scorched-earth political philosophy" and how it has failed Kentucky, and he draws connections between public policy and party machinations during his time in office and the present day. He also addresses his fall from grace—his extramarital affair with Tina Conner and its effects on his personal and professional life.

429 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2023

Reviews

[Cullen Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an avid fan of Kentucky history (and someone who was born the year Governor Patton was elected), I found this a really interesting book. It reads much like a transcript of an oral history (which it essentially is), and that gives it a very informal, conversational feel; however, because of that, there are many times where his train of thought jumps from topic to topic or when he repeats something that he’s already stated in a previous place.

His re-telling of his tenure as Pike County Judge-Executive, his accomplishments on postsecondary education as Governor, and his wife’s passion for helping victims of abuse (make sure to read the Afterword!) were my favorite parts. He went into great detail explaining the rationales behind his actions, and I thought that candor was very enlightening. He also made sure to address his most high-profile gubernatorial controversies, but (as with many memoirs), the discussions on them were either brief or were dismissals of the controversy. That was to be expected!

When it came to his discussions of his political rivals, he kept a gracious tone much of the time, but he also didn’t shy away from offering an unvarnished take on a few of them. It would be difficult to name a high-profile political figure at the state level from the last fifty years that he didn’t at least mention in this book.

All in all, I felt it was a really worthwhile read. I learned a lot about Governor Patton’s management style and his innovative mind. He is a complicated figure in our commonwealth’s history, but I now have a greater knowledge of what he implemented during his years in public life (much of which still remains today!).

Somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars. ⭐️

[Dan Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Governor Patton is equally transparent in his true beliefs and his political calculations. He is more candid in explaining his political motivations than most political books.