The 1979 Coup - When Tennessee Democrats unseated their own governor to swear in a Republican early

40 years ago, Tennessee's transition from one governor to the next was a somber event. On Jan. 17, 1979, Lamar Alexander, a 38-year-old East Tennessee Republican, joined forces with key Democratic leaders, the chief justice for the state’s Supreme Court and a U.S. attorney, to take the oath of office early.It was an unprecedented coup. The group were forced into action because of the actions of then Gov. Ray Blanton, who was being investigated by the FBI for selling pardons for cash. The story of how all this unfolded is remarkable.On this episode of Grand Divisions, we talk with many of the key players involved in the coup and how it remains relevant today.