History's Hook 9-09-23 RM

<p><strong>Episode 39: The Clements of Tennessee: A Story of Politics<br></strong><br></p><p>Mr. Bob Clement was raised, in large part, at the governor’s residence, as he was the son of three-term Tennessee Governor Frank Clement. As such, he was at the center of Tennessee history-in-the-making, in the 1950’s and 60’s.</p><p>Mr. Clement learned the value of public service at an early age. After graduating from the University of Tennessee as an ROTC student and the University of Memphis, Clement was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Mr. Clement would eventually serve 29 years in the Tennessee National Guard, retiring as a colonel.</p><p>Mr. Clement began his career in public service when he was only twenty-nine years old, becoming the youngest state-wide office holder in the history of Tennessee. Later, he was appointed as a director of the Tennessee Valley Authority by President Jimmy Carter. He was later named the president of Cumberland University to great success for that institution.</p><p>Elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1987, where he spent the next fifteen year, Mr. Clement was known as a bipartisan member, often voting with the opposition on issues he championed. He served on the House Transportation, Foreign Affairs, Budget, and Veterans’ Affairs Committees. He also founded and co-chaired the Education Caucus.</p><p>After leaving Congress, our guest formed Clement &amp; Associates, a public affairs consulting firm in Nashville, Tennessee. Clement, is also the author of the acclaimed political memoir, <em>Presidents, Kings and Convicts</em>:<em> My Journey from the Tennessee Governor’s Residence to the Halls of Congress </em>published by Archway Publishing in 2016. He is a sought after<em> </em>public speaker.</p><p>In this two-part series, Mr. Clement talks to hosts Tom Price and Dr. Barry Gidcomb about his life in politics.</p>