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Show Acknowledgments When J. Bracken Lee announced his retirement from public life in September 1971, I decided to research his fascinating career and write a political biography. Accordingly, I brought my family back to Utah for the summer of 1972; then I returned for additional research in 1975 and 1976. I spent several delightful hours with the intellectually acute and spirited Governor Lee, who not only willingly cooperated in answering a myriad of questions about his career but never requested to approve the finished product or to control it in any way. He responded candidly to all questions, making the oral history contribution to this work immeasurable. In 1977 I was invited by Charles S. Peterson, professor of history at Utah State University, to present a paper on Lee's career as mayor of Price, Utah, as part of a lecture series funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lee responded publicly to the paper in a formal critique in the Price City Hall Auditorium and demonstrated an unusual ability to accept criticism and to view his career with perspective. Therefore, I would like to extend special gratitude to the former governor, who imbued this project with a credibility and excitement that would have been impossible otherwise. I would also like to thank his most gracious wife, Margaret, for many personal kindnesses. I had the pleasure of interviewing numerous contemporaries of the governor and would like to thank them for their willing contributions and expertise, especially those who furnished personal papers and documents: J. D. Williams, professor of political science at the University of Utah, furnished me with his own personal file on Lee; J. W. Pace, former liquor commissioner under Governor Lee, loaned me a thick and informative scrap-book covering his tenure; W. Cleon Skousen, former Salt Lake IX ACKNOWLEDGMENTS City police chief, allowed me to borrow his personal file concerning his tenure as chief and the clash with Lee that led to his dismissal. The file contained primary sources indispensable to this work. Skousen also spent several hours with me in analytical discussion of the events surrounding his dismissal. Finally, Wayne L. Black, attorney and former Democratic party official, provided me with an important speech, unavailable elsewhere, made by his politically prominent father, Parnell Black. He also contributed unusually perceptive opinions and background on Utah politics. I am grateful to the Utah State Archives, where the Lee gubernatorial papers are housed; to T. Harold Jacobsen, archivist; Forrest Terry, deputy archivist; and especially, Merle V. Budd, secretary, who was most gracious and expert in securing the materials I needed. Similarly, I would like to extend thanks to Everett L. Cooley and the Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah, where Lee's mayoralty papers from Salt Lake City are held; P. Hampton McArthur, Price city recorder, and his staff for assistance in securing important documents relating to Lee's tenure as mayor of Price; O. N. Malmquist and M. DeMar Teuscher, former political editors, respectively, of the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News, who offered perceptive insights into Utah politics gained from long, firsthand experience. I am grateful to several other key figures in Utah's past and present who willingly and knowledgeably answered my questions: former governors Calvin L. Rampton and Herbert B. Maw, and former senators Arthur V. Watkins, Wallace F. Bennett, and Frank E. Moss, all of whom shared intimate knowledge of Lee's style and substance; former representatives Reva Beck Bosone, William A. Dawson, and Sherman P. Lloyd; Sen. E. J. (Jake) Garn; former Salt Lake City commissioners Jennings Phillips, Conrad Harrison, and James L. Barker; D. James Cannon, who opposed Lee in his final campaign for mayor; Calvin W. Rawl-ings, prominent attorney and former Democratic party official; Roland V. Wise, former director of the Internal Revenue Service in Utah; M. Lynn Bennion, former Salt Lake City superintendent ACKNOWLEDGMENTS of schools; Richard A. Bateman, son of former state superintendent of public instruction, E. Allen Bateman, who provided his father's viewpoint on important issues; Roy W. Simmons, banker and former liquor commissioner; William Smart, editor and general manager of the Deseret News; Ezra Taft Benson and LeGrand Richards, apostles of the Mormon church, both of whom discussed the church and politics; and Judge Fred W. Keller of Price, who knew more about the problems of Price than anyone except Lee himself. Special gratitude must go to the following employees of the Utah State Historical Society: Stanford J. Layton, coordinator of publications and public information, Miriam B. Murphy, associate editor, and Melvin T. Smith, director, for demonstrating constant interest and faith in this project from its inception until its publication by their agency. All read the manuscript carefully and made valuable suggestions. The Society donated tapes for use in my interviews, and these will be returned for inclusion in an oral history collection. Gratitude is also due the scholarly support committee of Bridgewater State College for awarding me financial aid in the fall of 1976 to help pay travel expenses to Utah for research purposes, and the History Department and the administration of the college for allowing me a reduced teaching load in the spring of 1975, and a sabbatical in the fall of 1976, so that I could pursue this work. Finally, I would like to recognize the unique contribution of my wife, Marti, whose intellectual acumen and sense of balance have been indispensable in polishing the manuscript, and whose criticism and suggestions have improved it immeasurably. Her loving support has given this task a glow of excitement. Yet, for whatever errors of fact or judgment may be evident, for the approach, the method of considering the evidence, and the conclusions drawn, only I can take responsibility. It has been a fruitful experience. Dennis L. Lythgoe Abington, Massachusetts xi |
