The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 1

WEATHER- -INDEX- Page Page Uvlafl OMtMifa 43 RdlTV.S041 OoMlM.iS-71 UMwWt. 10,11 See Poga 18 TENNESSEAK Second Clou Pottoge Paid ot Nashville, Tenn. VOL. 73 No. 285 15 CENTS NASHVILLE, THURSDAY, JAN.

18, 1979 76 Pages ma Id) 0) nc By LARRY DAUGHTREY and DOUG HALL Lamar Alexander was sworn in as governor of Tennessee three days early last night after a federal prosecutor warned state leaders Ray Blanton might free convicts involved in a pay-for-f reedom investigation. Alexander, 38, a Republican who walked the state to gain public confidence, raised his; right hand in a moment unprecedented in Tennessee history and repeated after Chief Justice Joe Henry: rn 3 i' mjuiui iiwi i i in in 1 i'. IS: vv. it 0fr' fM Ail1 S's (u i4 --i fi --n if "iin'T i i i -i inm i 01 i i Alexander, 38, a Republican who walked the state to gain public confidence, raised his right hand in a moment unprecedented in Tennessee history and repeated after Chief Justice Joe Henry: LAMAR ALEXANDER, do solemnly swear that I will perform with fidelity, the duties of the office of governor of the state of Tennessee to which I am elected and which I am about to assume." Seconds before, he told a crowd of friends, supporters and legislators in the Supreme Court's courtroom: "It is not a happy day for me." BLANTON, AT HIS new home on Jefferson Davis Drive, heard of what amont-ed to his ouster from office from a television news bulletin, and two hours later emerged from his house to talk with re Ray Blanton "No bitterness" Staff phots by i.T. Phillips porters.

"I am saddened and hurt for the state of Tennessee that this clandestine action has taken place this evening," he said. "There is such a thing as courtesy, and there was no courtesy extended to me today "The thing that saddens me is that this action today leaves a blemish on Tennessee's record, and I have worked to promote Tennessee around the world. "I HAVE NO BITTERNESS, and I won't have, because I have enjoyed serving the state of Tennessee. I am let down that an action of this kind has taken place." Somber Ritual on a Tumultuous Day His hand resting on the 1 1 0-year-old family Bible, Lamar Alexander takes the oath of office from Chief Justice Joe Henry. Alexander's wife Honey holds the Bible as children Drew and Leslee place their hands on the pages.

House Speaker Ned McWherter, Attorney General William Leech and Secretory of State Gentry Crowed watch. The Bible is open to the favorite verse of Alexander's father, II Timothy 2:15: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Li I lard, Freeland 2 More Subpoenaed Carter: Budget Deficit Lid Bill At $29 ion Blanton complained he had been told he could not return to the Capitol last night to retrieve personal belongings. As Alexander representatives arrived to secure documents and offices, the door to the governor's suite was nailed shut. But Tom Ingram, deputy to Alexander, said the governor was refused admission to the Capitol after his legal counsel, Robert Lillard, requested permission to take executive clemency papers to Blanton for his review. "MR.

LILLARD WANTED to take files from the office for Blanton's review," Ingram said. "He talked by phone with Governor Blanton and told him of our decision. The governor then asked to speak with Lewis Donelson (Turn to Page sial patronage operation for the past four years. Freeland, from Blanton's hometown, is one of Blanton's closest associates. Bruce Purcell of Nashville, president of Purcell Enterprises, a major Tennessee contracting firm.

Purcell said he is a long-time friend of the governor's. He said he has already talked with the FBI. but de-, clined to say what he was asked. Tommy Wilson of Brentwood, president of White Truck Sales and operator of a Chattanooga-to-Memphis trucking lijje. Wilson said he is a friend of both the former governor and his brother, Gene.

Wilson and Purcell are also owners of Five-Star Industries, a Nashville-based real estate operation that has leased two office buildings to the state during the Blanton administration. It was also reported that Personnel Commissioner Ben Haynes was subpoenaed, but that could not be confirmed last night. IN A RELATED development, Nashville attorney John J. Hooker Jr. said last night he will meet this morning with Davidson County's three Criminal Court judges to discuss the legality of Blanton's actions Monday night com-(Turn to Page 7.

Colu mn 7) By JOHN HAILE Former Gov. Ray Blanton's legal counsel, his administrative assistant and at least two other close associates were subpoenaed late yesterday to testify in an apparently broadening investigation of Blan-ton's administration. Sources indicated the federal grand jury has now expanded its probe beyond its initial inquiry into allegations that top officials took bribes to secure the release of prison inmates. The grand jury resumes work today, and FBI agents began serving subpoenas late yesterday afternoon. Those known to have been summoned before the grand jury are: Robert Lillard, the Nashville lawyer named just three weeks ago to replace Eddie Sisk as Blanton's legal counsel.

Sisk is one of three aides already charged in connection with an alleged scheme to sell executive clemency. O.H. (Shorty) Freeland, Blanton's administrative assistant and the man who has headed Blanton's controver i i i From WIRE REPORTS WASHINGTON President Carter said yesterday he would hold his 1980 federal budget deficit to about $29 billion $1 billion under his cost-cutting goal. But Carter said at his first news conference of 1979 his budget will not hurt low-income Americans, and said spending on social programs will increase in the budget he will send Congress next week. HE SAID total allocation of funds for the poor will be increased by $4.5 billion in fiscal year 1980, which begins Oct.

1. Carter addded that about $11 billion will be spent to create jobs and provide job training. Before he addressed the press, administration sources disclosed the projected $29 billion deficit figure and noted it (Tin to Page 13, Column 1) i I 4 Swearing Action To Oust Governor Precedent in State By HUGH WALKER The swearing-in of a new governor for the purpose of pushing the old governor out of the off ice has no known precedents in Tennessee history. The unscheduled ouster of Gov. Ray Blanton, in what officials called the "best interest of the people of Tennessee," was unhappy history in the making.

THE FIRST governor of the state, John Sevier, came close to being removed from office by Andrew Jackson, who challenged the governor to a duel. At Southwest Point, now Kingston, the two met on the road. Sevier tripped on his sword and his horse ran away if jr ".,1" it. vv.U Officials, Public Hail Early Oath Decision By ALAN CARMICHAEL and ADELL CROWE Public officials and private citizens alike last night hailed Gov. Lamar Alexander's decision to take office early and prevent Gov.

Ray Blanton from releasing any more prisoners. Some Nashvillians surveyed, however, felt Alexander should have acted even earlier to have kept Blanton from releasing double murderer Roger Humphreys and giving clemency to 51 others. "I FEEL like they did this a few days late," said Miss Donna Peach, of 434 Fatherland St. "When Blanton started talking about letting these people out, that is when Alexander should have taken office." Most persons contacted, though, said Alexander and legislative leaders acted properly, especially in light of U.S. Attorney Hal Hardin's admonition that more releases could affect his pardons and paroles investiga- (Turn to Page 7.

Column 3) Mill "-f with his pistols. Jackson came near to ending the career of the venerable governor with a bullet, but friends restrained him and Sevier served out six terms. In 1829 Gov. Sam Houston, having married young and beautiful Eliza Allen of Sumner County, found himself unhappy in love and unhappy in office. He thereupon left the state, to live among the Indians and later to liberate Texas.

He was succeeded in office by the speaker of the state senate, William Hall, who served the remaining months of Houston's term. ISHAM G. Harris was a native of Franklin County who later lived in Paris and Memphis. He was a strong, pro-Southern governor who has been credited with taking the state almost single-handedly out of the Union. (Turn to Page 7.

Column 4) 11 irinm.il iril i 111 I mill fi I 1 imnn aitnti mwnninntia 1 ir Tl -ii-rrmnn i iifimii if! inilin m.jiilttyn0nriMfmrVWfy Unparalleled Ceremony Opens Term Gov. Lamar Alexander is surrounded by his family and Lt. Gov. John Wilder, left, House Speaker Ned McWherter, bock center, and Secretory of Stote the state's 45th chief executive. Alexander is accompanied by his wife Honey, holding the 110-ycar-old family Bible; his daughter Leslee, 6, left; son Drew, 8, and daughter Kathryn, 4.

Gentry right, moments after being sworn in as.