Former Kentucky Governor and U-S Senator Wendell Ford has died at the age of 90. His family says Mr. Ford, who had been diagnosed with lung cancer, passed away in his hometown of Owensboro.
Ford, a Democrat, served in the Senate for 24 years. He was governor of the Commonwealth from 1971 to 1974. As a politician, Mr. Ford was known more for making deals than authoring legislation. In an oral history interview he described the give and take of working across party lines to get things done.
"Henry Clay said compromise is negotiated hurt. You and I work it out but you give up something that hurts and I give up something that hurts. We leave that for another day."
Ford is credited with helping shape several pieces of historic legislation, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act, National Energy Security Act of 1992, Age Discrimination Act Amendments of 1986, Tobacco Reform Act of 1985 and the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1977. He also was a key player in passing the 1993 motor-voter law, which allows people to register to vote when they get their driver's license. Funeral arrangements for Wendell Ford are pending.