Coup: The Day the Democrats Ousted Their Governor, Put Republican Lamar Alexander in Office Early, and Stopped a Pardon Scandal

by Keel Hunt

Coup" is the behind-the-scenes story of an abrupt political transition, unprecedented in U.S. history. Based on 160 interviews, Hunt describes how collaborators came together from opposite sides of the political aisle and, in an extraordinary few hours, reached agreement that the corruption and madness of the sitting Governor of Tennessee, Ray Blanton, must be stopped. The sudden transfer of power that caught Blanton unawares was deemed necessary because of what one FBI agent called "the state's most heinous political crime in half a century"--a scheme of selling pardons for cash.On January 17, 1979, driven by new information that some of the worst criminals in the state's penitentiaries were about to be released (and fears that James Earl Ray might be one of them), a small bipartisan group chose to take charge. Senior Democratic leaders, friends of the sitting governor, together with the Republican governor-elect Lamar Alexander (now U.S. Senator from Tennessee), agreed to oust Blanton from office before another night fell. It was a maneuver unique in American political history."From the foreword by John L. ""The individual stories of those government officials involved in the coup--each account unique, but all of them intersecting--were scattered like disconnected pieces of a jigsaw puzzle on the table of history until the author conceived this book. Perhaps because it happened so quickly, and without major disagreement, protest, or dissent, this truly historic moment has been buried in the public mind. In unearthing the drama in gripping detail, Keel Hunt assures that the 'dark day' will be remembered as a bright one in which conflicted politicians came together in the public interest.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Robert Gowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Tennessee political junkie should read this book.

[Andra Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keel Hunt's recounting of Lamar Alexander's Coup of the Tennessee governorship in 1978 is riveting. While it came under the most trying of circumstances, it gave me hope that our bi-partisan, highly divided country can come together to resolve a problem quickly. I was very impressed that Republicans and Democrats exhibited such a high degree of professionalism and willingness to compromise in the face of a stressful, dangerous situation. Would that this could serve as a lesson to our legislators today, and to the people who elect them.

[Daniel Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stellar history not just of the events that make up the “coup” — the day Lamar Alexander was put into office early — but also of the individual histories that make up each person involved in the story, major or minor.

There are parts of this book that are basically an oral history of what happened during the coup events and everything around it. Keel Hunt does a great job letting that part of the story breathe.

But he also chases multiple rabbit trails of people’s lives and everything that was happening around the date in question. It’s meticulously researched, paced well, and hard to put down. It can get repetitive in some sections, but the repetition can help since you jump around to different people’s points of view.

If you’re a Tennessee political junkie of any stripe — it’s must read.

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little repetitive and plodding in parts, but ultimately one of those "the past comes alive" sort of histories that slows down events during a crucial period in Tennessee history so that you can really almost hear the conversations happening while major decisions are being made. Hunt's book enhances my own recollections of the aftermath of the events within, and I think this would be interesting to anyone who is interested in Tennessee politics or who would enjoy a window into an era not dominated by a selfish and/or partisan approach to crisis.

Also, thanks to Dave O'Flaherty for bringing this to my attention.

[John Schachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has an incredibly small audience of potential readers. The book is about a scandal that ended one Tennessee governor's term and brought the new governor in a few days early. It's actually a fascinating story, pretty well told by a former journalist. If you have an interest in Lamarr Alexander and And other Tennessee political players from the 1970s, and you will enjoy this book as I did.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally I was very excited to read this account of the transition of government in 1979 when Lamar Alexander took the oath of office 3 days early. Nothing like it has happened in American History before or since. It was a peaceful transition of power but it was in fact a coup, undertaken during a period when members of both parties, and the governor-elect, and the US Attorney for the middle district (a Democrat) were concerned that the outgoing governor was about to pardon many dozens of dangerous criminals -including quite possibly James Earl Ray, the man who assassinated Martin Luther King, Jr. Such a pardon would have been devastating for justice in Tennessee, but would have been irreversible. So they pulled the rug out from under the feet of Governor Blanton -"Impeachment, Tennessee Style." It was really the only thing they could do.
Keel Hunt has these fascinating biographical sketches for each of the major players in this event. If I had a complaint, however, it would be that these sketches were too voluminous; he covers everyone who had anything to with the event and those who covered the event. I'm sorry but I really didn't need to know about all the various journalists who worked at every newspaper in Nashville or the major news affiliates. As a journalist, Keel Hunt got tangled up in that, almost obsessed with it, and their roles were largely irrelevant. Probably because he's a journalist, he didn't see that. He could have cut the size of the book down by a third if he had edited out a lot of that.

[Steven Kaminski · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when a president trump was impeached in his trial was in the senate I really didn't expect a lot of republicans to defect and vote against him but I have to tell you one of the biggest surprises for me actually came from senator who's retiring this year: Lamar Alexander.
And the reason why I was so surprised at Lamar Alexander didn't vote to impeach the president was because his own history. This book gets into that history essentially looking at how he became a political figure in Tennessee where he's been a political figure for over 40 years. But more importantly Lamar Alexander is the 1st governor in Tennessee's history that was sworn in before his inauguration and the reason why is because both political parties agreed to throw the Governor he was replacing out of office. But the WHY is crucial.
Why was Governor Dean Blanton of Tennessee thrown out of office before his term expired because he was selling pardons for cash. He pardoned 52 prisoners many of them convicted of murder and rape. He had lined up more lists of prisoners many of their families or representatives paying thousands per pardon. He and several members of his administration would be later thrown in gaol for opening up the prisons and selling pardons to the highest bidder the FBI had him under investigation and posing as As lawyers for prisoners paid cash bribes to Blanton's legal counsel. This book sets up the story and its wild watching it come together...

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update of saga that details the early 1979 swearing-in as Tennessee governor of now U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander in light of his predecessor releasing prisoners in a clemency-for-cash scheme. Author, who worked in Alexander's election, used a wide variety of interviews to tell the story from various viewpoints. Largely well done but a good bit repetitive in plowing over the same facts. Update is inclusion of Alexander's long lost semi-manuscript of the race and the swearing-in. His clear, simple writing is a good addition to the narrative, adding more of his thoughts to those he gave to the author for the original book.

[Corbin Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun meander through a history of Tennessee politics in addition to a firsthand account of a political crisis and the men and women in leadership who laid aside their party loyalties and rose to the occasion.

[Khette Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Easy read considering the complexities of the events. Many of the players I recall from my early youth. Interesting read under the current political climate

[Brandon Schexnayder · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long & drawn out, but incredibly detailed.

[Stacie Odeneal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ordered the book after hearing Keel Hunt, Hal Hardin, and Sen. Alexander discuss for a CLE.

Fascinating and timely in today’s political climate.

Plus, who doesn’t love Ned Ray McWherter!?!

[Patrick Sheehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An indispensable account of an historic political event for Tennessee and the nation and a keen record of the men, women, Titans and mortals that took part and shaped Tennessee politics then and in many cases still today.

Even knowing the outcome I could hardly put the book down. Hint did a fantastic job bringing the men and women to life.

[Charles Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're not from Tennessee, or don't live here in Johnson City, or if you don't want to think of political courage as a virtue this book is not for you.

In the early 1970s a fellow named Roger Humphreys murdered his wife and a "male friend." The case was sensational for a time in Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee.

Fast forward to 1978-79 and a governor who pardons Humphreys allegedly as a political favor. Facing him was an angry state government, an angry populace, and a coalition of a Republican governor-elect, Democratic speaker of the House, and Democratic lieutenant governor. The "coup" is their early swearing in of the governor-elect to halt yet more pardons (by the dozens) from releasing some seriously nasty people back into the community.

While told from a journalist's point of view with lots of media-focused detail, this makes for fascinating reading. Coups have never been a part of the American political scene and I hope we never see one again. But, three strong men got together to stop a problem, a serious problem, and should be awarded respect for that.

As for Roger Humphreys, he walked out the back door of the prison two days before the coup and was never seen again.

[Lynn Grundset Milner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in elementary school in Tennessee when the events described in this book took place. I was aware that something was happening but didn't know the details at all at the time. Later, when I was working at a local architectural firm in my 20's, Ray Blanton visited our office. I remember him shaking my hand and it giving me a very unsettled feeling. I then read a little about him and was surprised that our firm was associating with him. This book was not only a detailed account of The Coup, but a who's who of the political movers and shakers in Tennessee's history. I found the story fascinating and was amazed that the principal players never discussed that day's events with each other ever again. One of the most chilling sentences to me is found in the Epilogue: What Became of Them: "Roger Humphreys has not been seen since January 15, 1979, the night Blanton released him". Fact is stranger than fiction indeed.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating chapter in Tennessee history... made more intriguing to me by the proximity to my current job (hey! I just walked that hallway yesterday!) and yet less interesting by the author's willingness to chase rabbits & hop around chronologically to give background.

[Debbie Heibert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having just moved to TN when this happened, my husband and I thought what kind of state have we moved to? This is a fascinating story of the events and people involved, well written and full of history. Would recommend this to any Tennessean.

[Damon Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! A great read about our Tennessee history!

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a very enjoyable book. I was surprised with a few errors like stating Elizabethton was part of the Tricities.

[Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great TN political history. Pretty easy story to read although a little repetitive. Amazing true life issue detailed and explained.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book about something that had never been done and has not been done since. That is Lamar Alexander taking the oath of office for governor three days early. This could have been seen as a coup but was done with the help of both parties to prevent the sitting governor Ray Blanton from freeing prisoners in a scandal which included payments for commutations of sentences. The story is very well told and interesting. I now live in Tennessee but moved here in 2003. I was not aware of this unique part of Tennessee history. I know of some of the players such as Alexander, Howard Baker, Fred Thompson, etc due to their roles in national politics. I am glad I was able to read this book and learn more about Tennessee politics and history. I do recommend this for anyone who is interested in studying something more about this unique piece of not only Tennessee history, but US history as well.