Code,500012
Subject,William G. Batchelder III
Date,7/25/14
Interviewer,Joe Wickens
Abstract,"This interview was conducted as part of Cleveland State University's 50th Anniversary Comemmoration Project. William G. Batchelder III is a native of Medina, Ohio and is the current Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. He attended Ohio Weslyan University where he recieved a BA in history and following graduation went on to law school at the Ohio State University. While in law school he served as an aid for Lt. Governor John W. Brown. He was elected to the legislature in 1969 and served for 30 years, returning to the house in 2007. In this interview Batchelder describes the relationship his district has with Cuyahoga County and relates many of the political forces/manuevers that impacted CSU during the first years of its existence. The Speaker describes Governor Rhodes at length, some of his personal experiences with him, as well as some of the policies that he endorsed during his 16 years as Governor. Batchelder also discusses CSU development over time and describes some of his personal involvement with the university as a guest speaker and lecturer in the Levin College. "
Special Notes,"Phone rings @ 2:34, Chimes @ 10:57, 20:08, 40:01, and 56:00"
Minutes,
0,Introduction. Involved in Medina politics. Father was also involved in politics and grandfather was a master tool maker from Cleveland.
1,Attended Ohio Weslyan University. After that attended OSU law. Also taught at a few universities. Studying history was a family tradition. Son teaches college history. 
2,"Father was a history major and was the first in family to go to college. History is important, if not studied even a republic can die. *Phone Rings* "
3,"OSU law, ""The Big Farm."" Faculty at law school was excellent. Law school was much different. It was amazing how many people made it through."
4,Being let out of school meant a possibility of serving in Vietnam. Describes working under Lt. Governor John W. Brown. Went to the floor of the Ohio Senate everyday. Kept Brown up to speed on legislation.
5,"There was a tremendous growth in higher education. ""They were very very oriented to expanding higher education in the state."" Gov. Rhodes was sensitive to creating opportunities for blacks."
6,Carl Stokes. Many people took an interest that werent involved. Akron became a state school at this time.
7,A big thing was creating opportunities for inner cities. Friction experienced from other schools in Cuyahoga County. Rhodes was forceful about it. 
8,"""Why would people assume kids could go to Baldwin-Wallace from downtown Cleveland?"" ""I always liked Gov. Rhodes."" Talks about the growth of CSU. Rhodes did not have the chance to go to college. "
9,Three people that were enthused about higher education in legislature who did not go to college. Served under Rhodes as a member of the House. 1966 campaign described.
10,"Story of opponent losing soundly. Didn�t even win his own country. ""I think we spent too much time in Pike County."" People did not take themselves as seriously. "
11,"Drafted during 1968 campaign. Federal law states you get shipped home if you get elected, it was fairly common back then."
12,"Cuyahoga Delegation described. Voinovich, Howlington, Masticks."
13,"Bartunek leader of Democratic Party in the county. Allen Bartunek ""riding on his back."" Carl Stokes a member of the House in 1967."
14,Diverse group of people out of the county. Medina has a history of alliance with Cuyahoga County. 
15,Discussion of Medina history. Destruction of Civil War. Many people commute to Cuyahoga County from Medina.
16,Impact of Van Swerigen construction projects. Discussion of transit between the two areas. Cleveland was Medina's marketplace.
17,People also went to school in Cleveland. Area not as sophisticated as Cleveland. Story of a well to do family that would go to the orchestra but would wait to put fur coats on until they arrived in the city.
18,"Description of railroad to Akron, relating ties to surrounding urban areas. Medina provided those areas with a labor force. "
19,"""Governor was an unusual person."" He was politically astute. Never operated at the Federal level. Was Governor for 4 terms, 16 years ""and thats the world's record."""
20,Bypassed statutory term limit by not serving consecutively. Was very concientous about advancing business and industry and education in urban areas. Traditionally colleges were in rural areas.
21,"Rhodes efforts entailed taking over city colleges and establishing a school in CSU. We had a war going on which means an expanding economy. ""Rhodes Raiders"" described."
22,"""  ""; Increased automobile jobs brought to Ohio. Most of the legislators supported that. Methods of gaining votes described."
23,"""It was almost as if he was not partisan at all."" Budgets passed House easily. "
24,There was an effort to get rid of law schools that depended on night classes. Story of Gov. Voinovich and law practice.
25,"Voinovich did not veto bill that would have hurt those law schools. ""Theres nothing wrong with night school."" The goal was to have a better bar assoc. "
26,Story of Cincinnatti law students attending night classes in KY. 
27,"There was concern about helping schools that had focus on specialties as well. ""Ive never been a wild fan of the Board of Regents."" John Bricker came to see him about OSU."
28,Rhodes did create the Board of Regents though. Did not know Gov. Gilligan well. He was always friendly and kind though. Story of state employee who was fired.
29,"""   ""; Gilligan had him transferred to another place. Gilligan was well motivated but did not have the same opinions about urban colleges as others."
30,"Gilligan knew his literature. Republicans did not control the House at that time. ""He had vision but we werent in tune."" "
31,"Rhodes second two terms were not so good. ""It was sad really."" He had so much experience. Rhodes was still doing challenging things. ""My favorite was trying to build a bridge across lake Erie to Canada."" "
32,"He went over to see Mr. Honda in Japan. ""We had good bonds and paid our bills."" Batchelder met Honda and he and Rhodes and genuinely liked each other. "
33,Teased the Governor that he spoke english as a second language because of how far south he was from. The differences in production as well as the jobs it brought to the state was huge for Ohio.
34,Other companies adopted those techniques to their own production. That was totally Rhodes. There was also a considerable expansion of CSU.
35,Describes taking trip to CSU. Relates the sinking of what is now Rhodes Tower. 
36,Outstanding engineers testified that it was the other guys fault. Out of no where it stopped sinking and everyone wanted to take credit for it. Other schools wanted to make fun of that but they also didnt have a building like that.
37,Wanted to make sure that the minority groups had access to the school. People went there that more than likely would not have gone to college otherwise. We have a lot of graduates now.
38,"""Thats something I have always been proud of."" Taught there with Patrick Sweeney."
39,Went in in the morning and taught until 4pm. Wouldnt take any money for teaching because they voted their budget. Enjoyed the experience. There was students there who were well to do. 
40,One class had 3-4 welfare mothers. Great deal of diversity in those courses. Description of voucher bill.
41,"""  ""; Those are the things you can get done if you hang around the legislature long enough. "
42,Praise for Cleveland Public School teachers. Relates teachers taking on extra student in each class. 
43,"Urban College budget described. ""They did give me a rocking chair for teaching."" Need for higher education to be separate from state government."
44,Praise for Michael Schwartz. Difficulty in doing budgets for schools like the Urban College. Description of NEOMED and integration with CSU.
45,"""  """
46,"""They are silly enough to invite me up for discussions."" Experiences with speaking at CSU."
47,Often speaks when legislation is being proposed impacting CSU. Also utilizes CSU for researching issues impacting the state. 
48,"""The school reaches out to legislators that are receptive."" More talk about the research done by CSU."
49,"Reasoning for why OSU was called ""The Big Farm."" It was no denigration. "
50,Description of how Cleveland/Cuyahoga County impacts rest of the state. Banking discussed.
51,Banking discussion continued. Relationship of big and small banks. 
52,Banking continued. Loss of lending to small businesses.
53,Cleveland's aid prior to intervention of Federal Government.
54,Central National. Did not know James Nance but father did. Wishes we still had Packard Motor. 
55,Pipeline production. Never took classes at CSU. Did at Akron.
56,Was on the banking committee until he became Speaker. Relationship with CSU during career described.
57,Contributions that the Levin College made in terms of research described. 
58,"Faculty has a desire to be helpful. People did not understand the potential that was there. ""A lot of people were given the opportunity to do things they never could have done because of CSU."""
59,*END OF INTERVIEW*