ABSTRACT
The two regimes which held power after the defeat of the administration faction possessed neither of the two defining characteristics of politically autonomous organizations. They did not adhere to values and interests which were distinguishable from those of other institutions and forces; nor did they attempt to insulate their decision making apparatus from the intrusion of non-political groups. Both Louie Nunn, who defeated Henry Ward in the 1967 gubernatorial election, 1 and Wendell Ford, who outpolled ex-Governor Bert Combs in the 1971 Democratic gubernatorial primary, 2 aligned themselves with social and economic forces which had bitterly resented the high level of political autonomy attained by the administration faction. In the realm of strip mine policy, for example, both regimes proved to be highly responsive to the wishes of various economic interests—electric utilities, coalfield bankers and merchants as well as the coal operators themselves—who had opposed Breathitt’s strip mine control program and who were seeking to dampen the zeal with which this regulatory scheme was enforced.
