Berkeley L. Bunker: Complete Document |
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| Title | Berkeley L. Bunker: Life and Work of a Southern Nevada Pioneer: Businessman, Funeral Director, Mormon Church Leader, Legislator, U.S. Senator, and Congressman |
| Oral History # | 067 |
| Interviewee | Bunker, Berkeley L., 1906-1999 |
| Interview Date | 1971 |
| Document Date | 1999 |
| Description | Berkeley Lloyd Bunker was a native of Nevada, born in St. Thomas in 1906. The Bunker family pioneered the southern part of what became Nevada as members of an early-day Mormon colonizing effort. Some of the Bunkers served with the famous Mormon Battalion, lived in Utah's "Dixie", and settled in Nevada towns, including Bunkerville, which is named in honor of Berkeley Bunker's grandfather. As faithful members of their church, the male Bunkers served their obligatory missions; Berkeley Bunker also became an evangelist "street preacher" on one such expedition through the southern United States. Berkeley Bunker received his education in southern Nevada and then entered business there. As an energetic young businessman, he gained prominence sufficient to win election first to the Nevada legislature, serving as a member of the state assembly from 1937 to 1940 (chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and later Speaker), appointment to the U.S. Senate from 1941 to 1942, and election to the U.S. Congress from 1945 to 1946. In 1946 Bunker was defeated as a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator, and at the age of forty he resigned from active political campaigning. He was then active in the family mortuary business in Las Vegas for many years. Included in this biography are insights into Bunker's formative years as a Mormon farmboy in southeastern Nevada. Bunker believed that the decisive influences on him were that he was taught to be religious, hard working, and disciplined. Vividly he recites his growing-up years, his riding, farm work, athletics, et cetera. Bunker remained active in the Mormon Church as a missionary and later as a bishop. In his oral history is a discussion of his missionary years and an analysis of the church's political power and of the Mormon Church and the Negro. But it is the political discussion which dominates Bunker's narrative, and perhaps merits most attention from scholars. This oral autobiography has lively profiles of leaders such as Harley Harmon, Archie Grant, Roger Foley, George Marshall, Richard Kirman, Eva Adams, Norman Biltz, James Scrugham, Vail and Key Pittman, and most importantly and lengthily, Pat McCarran. More recent leaders discussed in detail include George Franklin, Floyd Lamb, Grant Sawyer, and James G. "Sailor" Ryan. On the national level, Arthur Vandenburg, Kenneth McKellar, Robert Taft, and Harry Truman associated with Bunker in the U.S. Senate. Berkeley Bunker's oral autobiography is characterized by sharp observation of individuals and insights into the Nevada social and political fabric. |
| LC Subject Headings | Las Vegas (Nev.) -- Biography |
| Publisher | University of Nevada, Reno Libraries |
| Ordering and Permissions Information | All Oral History Archive interviews are copyrighted materials. They may be downloaded and/or printed for personal reference and educational use, but not republished or sold. Under “fair use” standards, excerpts of up to 1000 words may be quoted for publication without permission as long as the use is non-commercial and materials are properly cited. The citation should include the title of the work, the name of the person or people interviewed, the date of publication or production, and the fact that the work was published or produced by the University of Nevada Oral History Program (and collaborating institutions, when applicable). Requests for permission to quote for other publication, or to use any photos found within the transcripts, should be addressed to UNR Special Collections, 1664 N. Virginia MS 322, Reno, NV 89557-0322. Original recordings of most interviews are available for research purposes upon request. |
| Identifier | F849.L35 B865 1976 |
| Date Digital | 2012 |
| Interviewer | Glass, Mary Ellen, 1927-2007 |
| Contributing Institution | University of Nevada, Reno |
Item Description
| Title | Berkeley L. Bunker: Complete Document |
| Publisher | University of Nevada, Reno Libraries |
| Ordering and Permissions Information | All Oral History Archive interviews are copyrighted materials. They may be downloaded and/or printed for personal reference and educational use, but not republished or sold. Under “fair use” standards, excerpts of up to 1000 words may be quoted for publication without permission as long as the use is non-commercial and materials are properly cited. The citation should include the title of the work, the name of the person or people interviewed, the date of publication or production, and the fact that the work was published or produced by the University of Nevada Oral History Program (and collaborating institutions, when applicable). Requests for permission to quote for other publication, or to use any photos found within the transcripts, should be addressed to UNR Special Collections, 1664 N. Virginia MS 322, Reno, NV 89557-0322. Original recordings of most interviews are available for research purposes upon request. |
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