Ken Toole’s father, K. Ross Toole, is among the most highly respected historians from Montana. Ken shares what it was like to grow up with a Montana icon, as well as how K. Ross influenced his attitude and approach to his own work as a political activist. Ken has worn many hats during his career, serving a term in the Montana Senate, as well as on the Public Service Commission. But probably his most significant achievement was founding the Montana Human Rights Network, which was calling attention to some of the extremist activities in Montana and the rest of the nation long before it became public knowledge. One of my favorite interviews yet.
Episode Eleven - Ken Toole
Former State Senator and founder of the Montana Human Rights Network
Mar 10, 2024

The State of Montana
Montana has a long history of very complicated politics, often influenced by major corporations, as with the Copper Kings in our early history, or oil money. But we also have a strong track record of very progressive milestones, the most significant of which was the election of the first woman to ever serve in Congress, Jeanette Rankin. We also have what most constitutional historians consider one of the strongest state constitutions in the country. We have always boasted a very significant balance of power as well, but recently that has changed, and I want to understand why, and what can be done about it. So I'm going to interview some of our more high-profile citizens, not necessarily politicians, to explore this issue. My first guest will be Dorothy Bradley, who was the first woman to run for governor of the state. Dorothy just barely lost to Marc Racicot in 1992.
Montana has a long history of very complicated politics, often influenced by major corporations, as with the Copper Kings in our early history, or oil money. But we also have a strong track record of very progressive milestones, the most significant of which was the election of the first woman to ever serve in Congress, Jeanette Rankin. We also have what most constitutional historians consider one of the strongest state constitutions in the country. We have always boasted a very significant balance of power as well, but recently that has changed, and I want to understand why, and what can be done about it. So I'm going to interview some of our more high-profile citizens, not necessarily politicians, to explore this issue. My first guest will be Dorothy Bradley, who was the first woman to run for governor of the state. Dorothy just barely lost to Marc Racicot in 1992. Listen on
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