Tennessee Governorship
Blanton's administration was noted for extensive recruiting of foreign industrial and trade opportunities. Also, it was during his term that the state Office of Tourism was raised to a Cabinet-level position, making Tennessee the first state in the nation to do so. Blanton's administration emphasized equality for women and blacks, tax relief for older and fixed income citizens, and penal reform.
Blanton soon displayed an abrasive style that was interpreted by many as arrogance. He was suspected of playing favorites with his family and other highway contractors. He gained considerable negative attention when he told Carol Marin, then a reporter with Nashville's WSM-TV, that he would be pardoning Roger Humphreys. During the interview, he also declared extemporaneously that he "never sold a single pardon". His administration seemed rife with "cronyism", and this became more apparent when Roger Humphreys, a convicted double murderer, was pardoned for his crimes and it became public knowledge that his father was a county chairman for Blanton. It was later discovered that members of Blanton's staff were involved in the apparent sale of pardons. Several of them were subsequently convicted of selling pardons. Blanton himself was never charged, and seemed unfazed by any criticism. On August 18, 1977, he represented President Jimmy Carter at the funeral of Elvis Presley.
In February 1978, the Tennessee State Constitution was amended to allow Blanton and future Tennessee governors to succeed themselves. Blanton did not run for reelection. However, in light of the controversy surrounding his administration, it seems unlikely that he would have been renominated, let alone been reelected, if he had run. His Republican opponent in 1974, Alexander, won in November.
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