[ MUSIC PLAYING ] >>> HE KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TIME THE LIEVENL HE KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE JOB DONE AND GETTING PAID FOR THE DAY'S WORK.

HE HAD THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AT ALL TIMES IN HIS HEART AND IN HIS MIND.

IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST WONDER WHERE DID THIS MAN DOM FROM?

>> HE WAS AN ORDINARY GUY THAT WOULD TRY TO FACE CERTAIN DAYS AND TRY TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN ACHIEVING WHAT THEY WANT TO ACQUIRE.

YOU KNOW, HE'D LIKE, HE WOULD TRY TO HELP ANYONE THAT HE COULD.

>> HE WANTED TO INSURE AND PROVIDE FOR THE PEOPLE OF VIRGIN ISLANDS THE BEST GOVERNMENT YOU COULD THINK OF.

AT TIEMTS TIMES, LIKE EVERY GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE TO MAKE DECISION, THEY ARE NOT POPULAR.

HE COULD AFFORD TO DO THOSE THINGS, AS WELL AS MAKING THE POPULAR DECISIONS.

TO ME, WORKING WITH HIM FOR THREE YEARS WAS AN EXPERIENCE THAT WILL LIVE WITH ME FOREVER.

>> HE WAS BORN IN ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS ON APRIL 7th, 1921.

HIS MOTHER MALDINA CARL KING WORKED AS A COOK AMMEND HIS FATHER MARTIN KING WAS A CARE-TAKER FOR SEVERAL PROPERTIES.

KING AND HIS SIBLINGS WERE YOUNG, BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, HE WAS SENT TO LIVE WITH HIS MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER.

>> IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BECAUSE OF HARDSHIP OF GETTING HIM BACK AND FORTH.

BECAUSE MY MOTHER HAD TO WORK.

MAYBE HE WENT OVER MY GRANDPARENTS TO LIVE AS A BABY-SITTER.

>> IN THOSE DAYS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ALWAYS PARENTAL SUPERVISION AND IF THE PARENTS WERE OFF, OUT WORKING, THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE GRANDPARENTS WERE AT HOME.

SO IT WAS INTERCHANGEABLE AND SO IF HE WERE HERE NOW, HE WOULD SPEAK EQUALLY OF HIS PARENTS AND HIS GRVEND PARENTS.

-- GRANDPARENTS.

>> HE ATTENDED SAINT ANNE'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL AND GRADUATED FROM SAINT MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL?

CHRISTIANSTED.

WHILE IN SCHOOL, HE MET HIS FUTURE WIFE AGNES SHUTSER.

>> -- SCHUSTER.

HE AND MY MOTHER WERE CLASSMATES.

HE CHASED HER EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL WITH A WATER PISTOL.

THE REGULAR FRIENDS WERE LOUIS BROWN.

THEY BECAME ARMY BUDDIES TO THE LATE ALEX FARELLY.

>> AFTER GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL, KING WAS INTERESTED IN JOINING THE MILITARY.

BUT BEFORE VOLUNTEERING HIS SERVICES TO THE U.S. ARMY, HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORE.

>> WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN GROWING UP, HE WAS A PART OF THE CCC, WHICH IS A CONSERVATION CORE.

MY FATHER AT THE TIME EARNEST BENJAMIN WAS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM.

I THINK DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, HE GOT TO KNOW MY FATHER AND MY FATHER WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR DRAFTING HIM AND I IMAGINE QUITE A FEW OTHERS INTO THE MILITARY, BECAUSE MY FATHER WAS RANDOMLY SELECTED IN KOREAN WORLD WAR I AND KOREAN WARS.

>> IT WAS A SEMI MILITARY TEAM.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE MILITARY BUT THE FELLOWS THAT RUN IT STRICTLY FEDERAL.

EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE ARMY, WE HAD TO WEAR THEIR SHIRTS AND BUNGALOWS AND SHARE.

HE SLEEP IN A DIFFERENT BUNGALOW.

I SLEEP IN HERE BECAUSE MY NAME IS ADAMS.

I WAS IN A.

AND A, B, AND C. THEN THE OTHERS GO BELOW.

THEY HAD EVERYONE DOWN BELOW, A BIG BUILDING, YOU KNOW.

>> THEY WERE SELECTED BECAUSE THEY WERE IN NEED OF A JOB.

THIS WAS LIKE A DEPRESSION PERIOD LIKE WE HAVE NOW.

THESE BOYS WERE GIVEN A STIPEND.

I THINK IT'S ONE-THIRD, THAT MUCH.

THE PARENTS WERE GIVEN TWO-THIRDS OF WHAT THEY WERE GIVEN BY THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT.

SO THEY WERE ABLE TO LIVE, THEY WERE ABLE WORK, THEY WERE ABLE TO LEARN A TRADE, THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP THEIR FAMILY.

THE FAMILY WERE ABLE HELP.

THEN THERE WERE FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WHERE ALONG WITH YOUR STIPEND, YOU WERE GIVEN FOOD.

YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN, EVEN WHEN THEY WERE IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL, THEY WERE GROWING UP, THE GIRLS WERE SENT TO HANDY KRAST SCHOOL AND THE BOYS WERE SENT TO MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOL.

SO AT A PARTICULAR AGE AND TIME, NOT BECAUSE WE WERE AT WAR, THEY, THAT WAS LIKE ANOTHER LEVEL OF PROGRESSION.

>> DURING HIS TIME AT A CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORE, KING WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS COMPETITIVENESS, LEADERSHIP AND SKILLS.

ARTHUR HENRY WAS CHARGED WITH SELECTING A YOUNG MAN FOR THE CAMP.

HE OFTEN SPOKE HIGHLY OF KING TO HIS WIFE.

>> HE WAS AN EMOTIONS PERSON.

AND MY HUSBAND LIKED AMBITIOUS PEOPLE.

AND IF YOU WERE AMBITIOUS ENOUGH FOR HIM TO HELP YOU, HE WAS ALWAYS THERE AND WILLING TO HELP YOU IN WHATEVER WAY YOU WANT OR ASK HIM FOR HELP.

AND THAT'S WHY HE WAS SO ATTRACTED TO CYRIL.

>> AFTER ATTENDING THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORE IN THE 1940s, THE UNITED STATES WAS IN THE MIDST OF WORLD WAR II AND THAT IS WHEN KING AND A FEW OTHER'S CHILDHOOD FRIENDS VOLUNTEERED THEIR SERVICES TO THE U.S. ARMY.

>> THERE WERE TWO PORT COMPANIES, THE 872nd FROM SAINT THOMAS AND THE 873rd FROM ST. CROIX.

LOUIS BROWN, ALEX FARELLY, CYRIL KING.

THOSE WERE THE FOUR THE FOUR MUFKT TEARS.

-- MUSKETEERS.

THEY WERE BOYHOOD FRIENDS AND THEY REMAINED SO UNTIL THE END.

THEY VOLUNTEERED AND THEY SIGNED UP.

THEY WENT DOWN TO PUERTO RICO TO SIGN UP.

THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY ACCEPTED AND SHIPPED OUT TO CAMP LE JEUNE.

>> WHEN KING ARRIVED TO CAMP LE JEUNE IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, HE WAS SELECTED FOR THE ARMY LEADERSHIP SCHOOL.

UPON COMPLETION OF HIS TRAINING, KING INSTRUCTORS RECOMMENDED HIM AS A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICERS TRAINING SCHOOL.

HOWEVER, HE WAS ASSIGNED OVERSEAS.

>> AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM MY MOM BECAUSE HE AND MY MOTHER WROTE TO EACH OTHER EVERY DAY.

THEY WERE ENGAGED.

THAT GROUP WAS SET TO SHIP OUT TO THE PHILIPPINES, TO JAPAN.

PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER IF YOU READ YOUR HISTORY BOOK ABOUT CORRIGADORE, ALL IN THE PHILLIPINES.

THE DAY THAT VJ DAY WAS DECLARED, SO THEY DIDN'T GO.

>> BEFORE LEAVING THE VIRGIN ISLANDS FOR HIS MILITARY DUTIES, KING HAD PROPOSED TO HIS CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART, AGNES SCHUSTER.

WHEN HE RETURNED TO ST. CROIX IN THE SUMMER OF 1946, THEY WERE MARRIED ON AUGUST 23rd.

AFTER MOVING TO SAINT THOMAS, KING WORKED AS A BOOKKEEPER AT LINQUIST 150 GARAGE AND LATER AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE, BUT KING WHO WAS FILLED WITH AMBITION WANTED MORE.

SO THE COMPANY DECIDED TO RELOCATE TO NEW YORK.

THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME FOR THE KING FAMILY.

THEY WERE EXPECTING THEIR FIRST AND ONLY CHILD.

>> HE WENT TO NEW YORK TO MY GRANDMOTHER, IMMEDIATELY STARTED LOOKING FOR WORK.

THEY WERE ADVISED TO GO DOWN TO WALL STREET TO PASS A CIVIL SERVICE EXAM.

THEY PASSED IT.

THEY HAD OPTION AT THE AMERICAN VETERANS COMMITTEE AND THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAD -- THEY WERE READY TO HIRE THEM.

THEY SAID THERE WAS ONLY ONE DRAWBACK, THEY WERE MOVING TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND.

THIS WAS FRIDAY MORNING AND HE SAID, THAT'S NO PROBLEM, WE HAVEN'T UNPACKED, SEE YOU MONDAY.

THAT'S HOW THEY ENDED UP IN WASHINGTON, D.C. >> THIS PLAYED OUT TO BE A BENEFICIAL MOVE FOR THE KING HOUSEHOLD.

ANOTHER REASON THE FAMILY MIEG GLATED TO -- MINUTE AGO GREATED TO -- MY GREATED TO THE UNITED STATES, MIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES.

>> THEY WANTED TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION.

OKAY, THEY HAD TO WORK WHILE THEY WERE DOING IT BECAUSE MY FATHER DID NOT BY VIRTUE OF HIS RACE WAS NOT GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF THE GI BILL.

SO HIS EDUCATION, HE WORKED AND PAID FOR.

MY MOM WORKED AND PAID FOR.

IN FACT, MY MOM WENT TO -- SHE TOOK CORRESPONDENCE COURSES SO THEY SHE COULD TAKE CARE OF ME AND WORK.

AND MY FATHER MATRICULATED AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN THE AFTERNOONS FROM 3:00 UNTIL 11:00 P.M. BECAUSE HE WORKED FROM 7:00 UNTIL 3:00 AT HUBERT HUMPHREY'S OFFICE.

>> SIR HUBERT HUMPHRIES WAS A FRESH FACE IN CONGRESS.

HE REPRESENTED THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND WAS AN AD VOKE FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

DURING THIS TIME, THE UNITED STATES WAS PLAGUED WITH RACISM AND SEGREGATION.

HUMPHREY OFTEN SPOKE OPENLY ABOUT THE NEED FOR CHANGE AND HE EXEMPLIFIED HIS BELIEVES IN EQUALITY BY HIRING KING IN 1949.

>> AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE DEALING WITH THE POINT OF RACIAL PROBLEMS AND TO BE HALF AMERICAN AND THEN TO BE EMPLOYED BY A CAUCASIAN AND ALSO BY A SENATOR, I THINK THAT WAS QUITE A MOVE FOR OUR PEOPLE, OF OUR SOCIETY SO TO SPEAK.

>> I ENDED UP IN MINNESOTA AND I HEARD ABOUT SENATOR HUMPHREY AND HIS, HIS PUSH AND HIS FAIRNESS AND HIS REALLY BACKING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

HE WAS OUTSPOKEN.

HE MET AMONG THE COMMUNITY CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS AND HE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE A CHANGE AND, YOU KNOW, HE MADE A CHANGE BECAUSE HE BROUGHT A PERSON OF COLOR ON HIS STAFF AND THAT WAS CYRIL KING FROM THE ISLANDS AND THAT WAS FANTASTIC.

>> HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR TO BE ON THE STAFF OF A SENATOR OF THE UNITED STATES SINCE RECONSTRUCTION.

IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT DURING THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD WHEN YOU HAD PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE CONGRESS, THAT YOU HAD PEOPLE ASSIGNED A SENATOR.

BUT IN THE MODERN ERA, HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO BE A MEMBER OF THE STAFF OF A MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND SENATOR HUMPHREY WAS NOT JUST ANOTHER SENATOR.

SENATOR HUMPHREY WAS A VERY IMPORTANT, A VERY INFLUENTIAL SENATOR CHAMPION OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

SOMEONE WHO LATER ON BECAME THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND WAS A NOMINEE TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO HE WAS WORKING FOR VERY OUTSTANDING AND INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN THE SENATE AND IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> IN DEPOSITION, I THINK HE WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE UNITED NATIONS TO TRAVEL OVERSEAS TO REPRESENT SENATOR HUMPHREY IN A NUMBER OF VARIES, IMPORTANT -- WHAT'S THE WORD -- ISSUES OR MEASURES ACROSS THE SEAS.

SO HE GOT SOME INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS NATIONAL POLITICS, POLITICAL EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH SENATOR HUMPHREY.

>> CYRIL WAS LUCKY.

AT THAT TIME HE WAS IN A HIGH POSITION.

I KNOW I'M TELLING YOU.

>> THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KING AND HUMPHREY WAS ONE OF IMPORTANCE, NOT ONLY IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVE HIM, BUT WHAT INTRODUCED KING TO THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REALM OF POLITICS.

HE WORKED CLOSELY WITH SPECIAL SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISARMAMENT WHICH HUMPHREY WAS CHAIRMAN.

KING QUICKLY ROSE TO THE RANK OF A SENIOR STAFF MEMBER AND DURKE HIS 12 YEARS WORKING AS A SENATOR, KING MAINTAINED CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE TERRITORY.

HE SERVED AS A DEPUTY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS LEGISLATURE TO SECURE CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO AMENNED THE ORGANICING A.

KING ENJOYED THE WORK HE WAS DOING IN WASHINGTON.

HIS PLANS WERE TO RETURN HOME AND ENTER THE POLITICAL ARENA AND IN 1961, THAT OPPORTUNITY AROSE.

>> HIS WORK WITH THE SENATOR CAME IN PARTICULARLY HANDY WHEN CONGRESS WAS READY TO CONSIDER THE ELECTED GOVERNOR LEGISLATION.

AND HE AND MY MOM WERE POW WOWING FOR WEEKS, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE, OF COURSE, UNTIL I GOT OLDER, BUT WHAT HE -- THEY WERE DISCUSSING WAS THAT HE WANTED TO APPLY FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL POSITIONS, BUT RALPH PILANSKI WAS APPOINTED BY THE LATE PRESIDENT, BUT KENNEDY APPOINTED MY FATHER TO GOVERNMENT SECRETARY, WHICH IS NOW CALLED LEIUTENANT GOVERNOR TODAY.

>> WHEN HE WAS UP FOR THAT POSITION, HE SAID TO MY HUSBAND, HE ASK HIM WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT IT AND MY HUSBAND TOLD HIM, "GO FOR IT, GO FOR IT."

WELL, HUMPHREY SENT HIM DOWN AS GOVERNMENT SECRETARY.

>> HE SERVED EIGHT YEARS AT GOVERNMENT SECRETARY UNDER THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

HIS POPULARITY GREW AMONGST VIRGIN ISLANDS NEWS WHILE THE POLITICAL CLIMATE EVOLVED AROUND HIM.

WHAT WAS ONCE KNOWN AS A UNITY PARTY WAS NOW MARRIAGE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AS THE PARTIES CHANGE IN THE TERRITORY, KING SEEMED TO BECOME DISSATISFIED WITH HIS LOCAL POLITICAL PARTY.

THIS DISSATISFACTION WAS ALSO FUELLED BY THE TENSION THAT EXISTED BETWEEN HIM AND THEN CURRENT GOVERNOR RALPH PILANSKI.

>> THE UNITY PARTY AND ORIGINAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY WENT TO COURT I THINK IN 1963, A DECISION WAS RENDERED WHERE THE UNITY PARTY RECEIVED THE AUTHORITY TO USE A DEMOCRATIC SYMBOL AND TO BE CALLED A DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

OF COURSE, THAT ANGERED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

CYRIL KING WAS STILL A PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THEN.ENENE THINK HE LIKED THE POLITICS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND HE STARTED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE PRINCIPLES AND THE PRACTICES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, GOVERNOR KING WAS GOVERNMENT SECRETARY AT THE TIME AND RALPH PILANSKI DID NOT GET ALONG.

THERE WAS DIFFERENCES.

THERE WAS A SORT OF A ROCKY RELATIONSHIP BOTH HAD.

>> I BELIEVE DURING THE COURSE OF THE TIME HE WAS GOVERNMENT SECRETARY, HE WAS PRETTY WELL UNDERMINDED BY THE PILANSKI ADMINISTRATION.

I REMEMBER THE LICENSING SECTION WAS UNDER THE OFFICE OF THE LEIUTENANT GOVERNOR AND FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THIS TRIP, THE SAME THING WITH THE DIVISION OF PERSONNEL STRIPPED HIM BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T DO WHAT PILANSKI WANTED HIM TO DO.

>> THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT WENT TO WASHINGTON TO TRY TO GET RID OF HIM AS LEIUTENANT GOVERNOR, BUT HE HAD A STYLE HEARTY SUPPORTER IN HUBERT HUMPHREY.

THE LATE SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY WHO HE HAD WORKED FOR.

AND PRESIDENT KENNEDY DID NOT FOLLOW THOSE WHO WISHED TO GET RID OF HIM, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE SOME STRONG DEMOCRATS.

THAT INCLUDE THE LATE GOVERNOR PILANSKI.

BUT THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO, I MEAN, REALLY WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO GET HIM OUT OF OFFICE.

>> BUT IT WAS KING'S PERSEVERANCE THAT KEPT HIM FOCUSED ON HIS CAREER.

AS POLITICAL TENSION GREW INTO RIVALRY WITHIN THE LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, A MAJOR ADVANCEMENT WAS ALSO IN THE MAKING.

AND ON AUGUST 23rd, 1968, IT BECAME A REALITY.

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ELECTIVE GOVERNMENT BILL WAS SIGNED BY PRESIDENT LINDEN JOHNSON.

THE NEW LEGISLATION GAVE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS THE FRANCHISE TO ELECT THEIR GOVERNOR, LEIUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND OTHER OFFICIALS.

DURING THIS TIME, KING HAD BECOME DISTANT FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE BEGINNING OF A NEW POLITICAL ORGANIZATION WAS IN THE MAKING.

>> HE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A GROUP OF PERSONS THAT EVENTUALLY BECAME THE INDEPENDENT CITIZEN MOVEMENT, BUT IT BEGAN WHAT WAS CALLED VICTORY '66 AND THEN EVOLVED INTO A POLITICAL MOVEMENT AND BECAME A POLITICAL PARTY SUBSEQUENTLY.

AND THAT HE ASSOCIATED HIMSELF WITH THAT GROUP AND WAS A VERY RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE GROUP.

>> HE WAS NOT JUST A MEMBER.

IT WAS HIS BRAINCHILD.

THEN, OF COURSE, YOU CAN'T HAVE A POLITICAL PARTY WITHOUT MEMBERS AND HE WAS ABLE TO INTEREST MANY.

>> HE WAS THE REAL IMPETUS FOR THE FORMATION OF THE ICM PARTY BECAUSE HE WAS -- THE THINGS THAT THEY DID TO HIM As THE NUMBER TWO OFFICIAL IN THIS GOVERNMENT WERE NOT NICE.

>> THE INDEPENDENT CITIZENS MOVEMENT, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS ICM PARTY, SOON GAINED A MOMENTUM THAT WAS NEEDED FOR THE FIRST GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.

AFTER BEING A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT SINCE HIS DAYS IN WASHINGTON, KING DECIDED IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE.

SO HE ENTERED THE 1970 ELECTION AS AN ICM CANDIDATE.

HAVING BEEN APPOINTED AND SERVING AS ACT ING GOVERNOR OF THE TERRITORY FOR FOUR MONTHS, KING FELT HE WOULD BE SUITABLE TO BE ELECTED THE FIRST LEIUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> HOWEVER, THIS MISSION WOULD NOT BE AN EASY TASK.

KING WOULD FACE THE LAST APPOINTED GOVERNOR, MELVIN EVANS AND FORMER TERRITORIAL COURT JUDGE, HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND IN THE ELECTION.

>> THE 1970 ELECTION WAS A VERY RO BUST ONE.

IT WAS HOTLY CONTESTED.

IT WAS ROBUST IN THE SENSE THAT IT WAS LIVELY.

PEOPLE WERE OUT.

THE ISSUES WERE CLEAR.

THE SIDES WERE VERY WELL DEFINED AND GOVERNOR KING WAS THE MAN AS FOR HIS -- AS FAR AS WE WERE CONCERNED.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS, THE QUESTION HE ASKED, PROSPERITY FOR WHOM AND AT WHAT COSTS?

DURING THOSE DAYS, YOU COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS A SECTION OF THE XT THAT WAS DOING EXTREMELY WELL AND OTHERS WERE DOING VERY POORLY.

IF YOU WERE NOT IN THE CIRCLE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, YOU WAS OUTSIDE THE RIM.

AND WE EMPHASIZED THAT AND, YOU KNOW, PROSPERITY FOR WHOM AT WHAT PRICE?

THAT WAS THE KEY.

>> HE CAMPAIGNED USING THE OLD TRADITIONAL STYLE, HOUSE-TO-HOUSE, STREET RALLIES, FISH FROO PFEIFFERS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE STARTED A FISH FIRE HABIT.

SO HE WAS VERY EXPERIENCED AND A TERRIFIC SPEAKER.

ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS TELL HIM THE TOPIC AND HE CAN SPEAK FOR HOURS ON IT, A VERY GOOD ORATOR.

>> AND THE WAY PEOPLE REACTED BY KING HAD EVERY CHANCE TO WIN THE ELECTION.

WHAT WE ALSO KNEW THE LARGE PART OF THE GROUP THAT FRO LICKING WERE NOT REGISTERED VOTERS AT THE TIME, WERE NOT FULL CITIZENS AT THE TIME, BUT THE CROWD WAS THERE AND IN THE NOVEMBER 3rd ELECTION, KING CAME OUT FIRST AMONG THE THREE.

>> ALTHOUGH KING CAME OUT VICTORIOUS AS A CANDIDATE, THE NUMBERS WERE TOO CLOSE.

A RUNOFF VOTE WAS IN ORDER.

AT THE END KING WAS DEFEATED.

>> HE WON THE POPULAR VOTE BUT HE DIDN'T GUARD AS THE 50 PLUS 1, AND SO THERE WAS A RUNOFF AND, OF COURSE, THE DEMOCRATS AND SO ON, THEY SORT OF WAIT BEHIND GOVERNOR EVANS AND GOVERNOR EVANS WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR.

I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED.

BECAUSE I RARELY WANTED FOR POSTERITY SAKE TO HAVE TWO NATIVE SONS ELECTED, NOT ONE FROM CAROLINA, THE OTHER ONE FROM ST. CROIX, TWO NATIVE SONS, BOTH OF WHOM FROM ST. CROIX OR BOTH WHO ARE FROM SAINT THOMAS.

>> ALL OF US WHO WERE EQUAL SUPPORTERS, WE GOT TOGETHER TO DECIDE WHO WILL WE SUPPORT?

IT'S NOT AT THE LEVEL WE SUPPORT WOULD WIN, YOU KNOW.

AND THERE WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY AT THAT MEETING AT NIGHT AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE SUPPORTED EVANS AND A FEW OF US DIDN'T LIKE GET WE FELT THAT KING WAS A REAL DEMOCRAT.

HE WAS ONE OF US.

HE CAME FIRST.

THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T SUPPORT HIM.

SO I MADE A SPEECH THAT NIGHT CALLING US TO SUPPORT KING AND BUT I WAS TOLD WE ARE -- VOTE AND THE VAST MAJORITY WENT WITH EVANS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY LEFT THAT NIGHT WITH WHAT BECAME A CHANT, THANK HEMPS FOR -- THANK HEAVENS FOR EVANS.

THAT BECAME THE EXPRESSION.

>> OTHERWISE THE MAJORITY AT THE TIME OF THE VOTERS WERE DEMOCRATS AND FOR SOME REASON THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE STYLE OF OPERATION, HIS ADMINISTRATIVE STYLE AND THEY WERE AFRAID THAT HE WAS ELECTED, IT WAS GOING TO BE DICTATETORIAL.

>> THE PARTY LOYALTY IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DON'T ALWAYS, ARE NOT ALWAYS ADHERED TO, OF COURSE, PERSONALITY SOMETIMES PLAYS A STRONGER ROLE THAN THE PRINCIPLES OF THE PARTY.

SO WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE DEMOCRATS, THE REPUBLICANS RUN OVER THE ICMTs OF KING.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY REGRETTED IT OR NOT, BUT I JUST SIMPLY HAVE TO QUOTE MY MOTHER WHEN SHE SPOKE WITH LEE CARLA AT THE HEADQUARTERS THE NIGHT THAT IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT DADDY HAD LOST THE RUNOFF, THAT IT JUST WASN'T HIS TIME YET.

BUT IT WILL COME.

>> KING'S CHANCES OF BEING GOVERNOR WOULD EVENTUALLY COME.

HIS LOSS IN THE FIRST GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION DID NOT DISCOURAGE HIM FROM PUBLIC OFFICE.

IN 1972 HE WAS ELECTED INTO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS SENATE, REPRESENTING A DISTRICT OF SAINT THOMAS, SAINT JOHN.

KENG WAS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL OF WINNING THE SEAT IN THE LEGISLATURE, BUT THE POLITICAL DIVISIVENESS BETWEEN THE PARTIES WAS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE SENATE.

AND KING WOULD, ONCE AGAIN, HAVE TO FACE POLITICAL BACKLASH.

>> HE HAD A STAFF OF TWO.

I HAPPEN TO HAVE BEEN ONE OF THEM AND THE SECRETARY WAS THE OTHER.

AT THE TIME THE SALARY WAS $8,500 AND HE WAS INSIST THAT THERE WAS NO WAY PAYING MORE THAN HE WAS MAKING.

AT THE TIME HE WAS MAKING 9.

BUT WE KNEW WHY WE REALLY WENT TO WORK WITH HIM.

HE ASKED ME TO DOM WAS I NEED -- HE ASKED ME TO COME.

WHAT I NEEDED WAS HE WAS GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN.

ONCE HE GAVE ME HIS ASSURANCE, I WILLINGLY WENT OUT TO WORK FOR HIM.

>> WHEN HE WAS IN THE SENATE, HE DESPERATELY WANTED TO BE THE SENATE PRESIDENT.

THIS WOULD LOOK GOOD BECAUSE HE WAS PLANNING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

AND IN THE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WERE SMART ENOUGH TO DIVIDE ITS OWN PARTY BY SAYING, HEY, TAPPY McLOY, CLAUDE MALLOY, WHY DON'T YOU BE PRESIDENT?

BECAUSE CLAUDE MADURA HAD THE SAME PRESIDENCY BEFORE.

SO, OF COURSE THAT SPLIT THE FEW SENATORS.

SO MALLOY ENDED UP GETTING THE PRESIDENCY.

CYRIL KING DID NOT GET THE PRESIDENCY.

IT MADE HIM VERY, VERY UNHAPPY, BUT HE WAS AN EFFECTIVE SENATOR.

HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST CHARISMATIC PEOPLE YOU EVER MET IN YOUR LIFE.

>> THOSE WHO WERE ELECTED AS MEMBERS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITIZEN MOVEMENT SPLINTERED OFF AND FORMED A CO-LITION WITH -- COALITION WITH CLAUDE MALLOY TO SUPPORT HIM AS PRESIDENT.

SO IRONICALLY, ALTHOUGH SEVERAL OF US RAN TOGETHER AS CANDIDATES FOR THE SENATE, WE ENDED UP BEING A MINORITY AND OTHERS IN THE MAJORITY BECAUSE OF THAT SPLIT THAT OCCURRED AND HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE MINORITY WITH ME AND, WELL, WE DID THE BEST THAT WE COULD TO CONTINUE TO ACHIEVE THE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT.

>> AS KING DEVOTED HIS TIME AND ENERGY INTO HIS SENATE DUTIES, THE SECOND GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION WAS QUICKLY APPROACHING AND KING HAD HIS EYES ON A NEW RUNNING MATE.

HE WANTED SOMEONE THAT REFLECTED HIS IDEAS, THE PEOPLE OF THE TERRITORY, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS LOYAL.

HE ASKED JUAN LUIS TO BE HIS RUNNING MATE.

LUIS, WHO WAS IN THE CORE DISTRICT SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE WITH KING.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALLY SAW THAT COMING.

SO, BUT CYRIL REALIZED THE POPULATION OF ST. CROIX, WHAT, 25% HISPANIC NOW, AT THAT TIME 20%/25% MAYBE AT THAT TIME.

AND REALLY FELT THAT HE COULD -- HE WAS POPULAR, HIMSELF, ON ST. CROIX AND HE NEEDED TO REALLY SWEEP ST. CROIX.

I DON'T THINK HE FELT HE WAS THAT STRONG IN SAINT THOMAS.

AND SO HE DID.

I MEAN, THE TWO OF THEM MADE A GREAT ELECTIVE TEAM.

>> HE VOTED A LOT OWE HE DEVOTED A LOT OF TIME TO DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE IN THE SPANISH DISSENT, PARTICULARLY RESIDENTS OF THE ESTATE PROFIT AREA AND EVEN HAD A, AS I RECALL, A HEADQUARTERS IN HIS STATE PROFIT.

IN 1974, WHEN HE RAN AGAIN, THEN IT BECAME EVEN STRONGER WITH HIS CANDIDATE BEING HISPANIC, HIMSELF.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T KNOW, IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE A LOT, YOU DIDN'T HAVE MANY, LET ME PUT IT THAT MANY, YOU DIDN'T HAVE MANY OF THE HISPANICS TAKING AN ACTIVE POLITICAL ROLE IN THE TERRITORY.

SO IT JUST HAD TO BE.

IT JUST MADE SENSE THAT IF ARE YOU GOING TO UNITE ALL OF THE POPULATIONS ON THE ISLAND, THAT YOU INCORPORATED SOMEONE FROM EVERY SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION INTO YOUR POLITICAL PICTURE.

THAT WAY, PEOPLE DON'T FEEL DISENINCHED.

>> -- DISENFRANCHISED.

>> IN 1974, EXCITEMENT WAS IN THE AIR.

MANY PEOPLE WERE ENER UNITED STATES ABOUT THE KING AND LOUIS TEAM.

ON THE NIGHT OF THE ELECTION, KING AND HIS SPORTERS LISTENED CLOSELY TO THE RADIO.

WHEN THE NUMBERS STARTED COMING IN HE KNEW THAT THE GOVERNORSHIP WAS SOON BE HIS.

>> THAT WAS A NIGHT OF TURBULENCE.

WE HAD A FEELING HE WAS GOING TO WIN.

I MEAN, THE TREND WAS THAT THE PEOPLE WAS READY FOR HIM.

WHEN WE HEARD, WHEN WE SAW THE CONKS COMING IN, WE KNEW AT THAT TIME THAT WE NEEDED SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BE VERY VIGILANT, VERY ATTENTIVE AND TO STAY CLOSE TO THE MAN BECAUSE WE WASN'T SURE WHAT THE OTHER SIDE WAS THINKING.

>> WE KNEW HIM AS POPS.

I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO WIN THIS THING TONIGHT.

YOU NEED TO GO UP AND STAY WITH C KING.

WE USED TO CALL HIM C KING FOR SHORT.

I REPORTED TO HIS HOUSE, REPORTED IN, SIR, POPS SENT ME.

ONE THING I DIDN'T KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW HE DIDN'T DRINK.

SO I GOT INTO THE ELECTION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.

I SAID, WOW, SERVE HIM A DRIMPLTH HE SERKTSD YOU WANT A DRINK?

HE BOUGHT A BOTTLE OF COGNAC, BRAND-NEW, EVEN HAD DUST ON IT.

HE SAID, I DRINK THAT.

>>> I SAID, "OKAY."

SO HE BROUGHT ONE GLASS.

I SAID, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO JOIN ME?

I ASKED?

HE SAID, "NO, I DON'T DRINK."

HE SAID, "BUT YOU GO AHEAD."

I TOOK A SHOT.

THAT WAS THE ONLY DRINK HAD EVER TAKEN WITH HIM, AROUND HIM, NOT KNOWING THAT YOU KNOW HE WAS NOT A DRINKER.

>> HE HAD A KEEN SENSE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AROUND HIM POLITICALLY AND OTHERWISE.

HE HAD ALREADY STARTED TO PLAN HIS CABINET, HIS SECURITY FORCES, EVERYTHING.

>> EVERYTHING KING HAD PLANNED WENT INTO ACTION ON JANUARY 6th, 1975.

THAT WAS THE DAY GOVERNOR CYRIL EMANUEL KING WAS INAUGURATED.

RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY TOOK TO THE STREETS AS PARADES AND MOTORCADES MADE THEIR WAY ON EACH ISLAND.

KING IMMEDIATELY STARTED PICKING MEMBERS OF HIS CABINET.

THE KING ADMINISTRATION IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE YOUNGEST.

IT WAS COMPRISED OF MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL POLITICAL PARTIES.

KING HAD PLANNED ON MAKING CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT.

HE OFTEN EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR MORE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND BETTER WORK ETHICS IN GOVERNOR EMPLOYEES.

>> HEARING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, THERE WAS NO QUESTION THAT YOU HAD PEOPLE COLLECTING PAYCHECKS, NEVER SEE A DAYS OF WORK.

HE HAD PEOPLE WORKING ELSEWHERE, STILL GAVE THEM A CHECK.

AND HIS POSITION WAS THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO COLLECT A GOVERNMENT CHECK, YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON THE GOVERNMENT JOB, HE EXPECT AN 8-HOUR WORK DAY FOR 8 HOURS PAY.

>> HE DID NOT LOOK TIMELY TO FINDING SOMEONE OR HEARING OF SOMEONE MEETING IN A BAR WHEN THEY SHOULD BE AT WORK.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD GET HIM VERY MOTIVATED TO SEE THAT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> I REMEMBER ONE TIME HE WAS DRIVING TO 47TOWN -- TO FRENCHTOWN.

HE HAD AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT VEHICLES IN THE GENERAL AREA.

AND SO HE ASKED US TO STOP.

HE DROVE US TO STOP, REALLY, THEN HE WENT INTO NORMANDY.

MY GOD, YOU SEE PEOPLE FLYING OUT OF NORMANDY.

>> GUYS WERE FLYING OUT OF NORMANDY BY GIVING BACK THE BEST WAY THEY CAN TO PUBLIC WORK BECAUSE THEY HEARD, HERE COMES GOVERNOR KING.

HE WAS A NO NONSENSE FELLA.

>> HE WOULD JUMP OUT OF HIS OFFICE AND GO CHECK ON THE PROJECT.

HE'D CHECK ON THE ROAD.

HE STARTED JUMP OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECK ON IT.

OF COURSE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

EVERY MAN GRABBING A SHOVEL, DOING SOME WORK.

KING WAS COVERED.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S HOW HE WAS.

HE WOULD GET IT DONE TYPE OF GUY.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, RESPECT THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE RESPECT ABOUT HIM.

>> SOME PEOPLE GO IN THE DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

HE'D BE THERE FOR 8:00.

AND SOMETIME THEY OWE OWE HE'D -- HEAD SIT DOWN AT HIS DESK.

THEY SENT THEM HOME.

>> EVERYBODY KNEW WHERE HE STOOD AND HE WAS VERY MUCH ADMIRED BY SOME AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE NOT SO ADMIRED BECAUSE SOME FELT HE WAS TOO STRICT AND A WAY TOO CONSERVATIVE IN SOME WAYS AND HE WAS CONSERVATIVE IN FISCAL MATTERS IN PARTICULAR.

>> HE WOULD SET THE EXAMPLE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SPENT AND KEPT WITHIN THERE, IT WAS GIVEN FOR ANY PARTICULAR EXPENDITURE.

THEREFORE, HE DID NOT WANT AT ANY TIME FOR THE RECORDS TO SHOW DURING HIS TERM THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO TO LEGISLATURE TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY OR WE OVERSPENT WHATEVER WAS ALLOTTED FOR THAT PARTICULAR GOVERNMENT.

WHETHER IT WAS SALARY OR BENEFITS WHETHER FOR MATERIAL AN SUPPLIES OR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.

WHATEVER IT IS, THERE WAS AN AMOUNT THAT SET FOR EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES.

>> CYRIL WANTED TO ALWAYS KEEP THE LABOR FORCE, GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL AT A CERTAIN LEVEL.

THAT'S WHY SOME PEOPLE THINK ILLINOIS BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT -- HE WAS NOT ONE FOR, OH, YOU SUPPORTED ME, HERE'S A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION.

>> HE WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR FREE BECAUSE YOU ARE HIS FAMILY MEMBER.

HE WORK, HE BUILT HIS JOB AS WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT FOR HIS FAMILY.

THAT'S THE TYPE OF GUY HE WAS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I TRIED TO GET A JOB WITH HIM ON THE STREETS AND AT THAT TIME I WAS WORKING AT HESS.

HE SAYS, I THINK IT'S BETTER IF YOU STAY IN HESS, WHICH I DID.

>> KING'S NO-NONSENSE STYLE DID NOT APPEAL TO EVERYONE.

SOME THOUGHT THE NEW GOVERNOR WAS TOO STRICT.

OTHERS THOUGHT HE WAS DETERMINED AND TO ACTION.

ONE CRITICAL MOVE KING IS KNOWN FOR IS THE EXPRESSION OF THE AIRPORT ON SAINT THOMAS.

>> THEY OPERATED ON A WORLD WAR II HANGAR FOR YEARS.

THEIR DIRECTION WAS TO BUILD ROOM CAPACITY AND AT THE TIME BUILDING THAT CAPACITY, HE SAW WAS ESSENTIAL AND AT THE RIGHT TIME HE WANTED TO MOVE FOR AGAIN THE EXPANSION OF THE AIRPORT TO INCREASED LIFT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE ROOMS TO HAVE PASSENGERS COME IN.

WE DON'T STAY AT AN AIRPORT AND SLEEP THERE.

AND AGAIN, WHAT WAS INTERESTING IN THE FINANCING PROCESS OF THE AIRLINES BECAME SIGNATORES TO THE NOTES, WHERE IN ST. CROIX, IT'S BEEN A DIFFERENT ISSUE.

GOOD THINKING, CLEAR THINKING, UNDERSTANDING AT THAT TIME ZANE ST. THOMAS WAS REALLY THE DRIVING FORCE IN TOURISM AND TO BECOME CONTINUALLY SUCCESSFUL, YOU UPGRADE YOUR AIRPORT.

>> AND THERE WERE SO MANY FITS AND STARTS IN THIS NEW AIRPORT, EXPANDING THE AIRPORT.

THEY HAVE PLAN A, PLAN B, ALL KIND OF PLANS.

HE'D CALL EVERYBODY IN GOVERNMENT DEALING WITH ALL THE PLANS AND EVERYBODY SAY WHAT THEY HAD TO BE ON AND HE SAY, GENTLEMAN, WE GO ON PLAN B.

LET'S GO TO WORK.

AND THEY FINALLY BUILD EXTEND THE AIRPORT IN ST. THOMAS.

>> I THINK ONE CAN SAY THAT THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE ST. THOMAS AIRPORT OCCURRED LONG AFTER, IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE FACT THAT CYRIL KING THOUGHT IT WAS TIME FOR US TO PUT THAT, MAKE A DECISION ON THAT AND MOVE FORWARD.

>> BESIDES MAKING STRIDES IN IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE TERRITORY, KING WAS ALSO A FIRM BELIEVER IN OUR CULTURE.

THE GOVERNMENT THOUGHT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT FACET OF THE COMMUNITY AND MANY TIMES HE SUPPORTED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SHOWED AN INTEREST IN FARMING.

>> WE, WITHIN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, CLEARED LOTS OF LAND, LOTS OF PROPERTY AND BEGAN TO PRODUCE FOOD AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, APPARENTLY, GOVERNOR KING HEARD ABOUT US AND HE CAME AND VISITED US.

I DON'T THINK HE KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT.

BUT HE CAME AND SAW WHAT WE WERE DOING, HE BEGAN TO SMILE.

HE SAW ABOUT TEN YOUNG MEN WHO WERE SERIOUS, WHO WERE DILL JENT FOR TWHA THEY WANT -- FOR WHAT THEY WERE WANTED TO DO, THEY WERE PREPARING LAND FOR FOOD AND SELLING FOOD, TOO.

WHEN HE CAME, HE SPOKE WITH US FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.

BUT HE WAS BASICALLY ASSESSING OUR NEEDS AND SAYING HOW HE COULD HELP US.

THE FOLLOWING DAY, HE CAME BACK, ACTUALLY, HE DID NOT COME BACK.

HE SENT HIS ASSISTANT COMMISSION OFFING A CULTURE, HIS CHIEF OF STAFF, I THINK, THEY CAME ON A TOUR OF GOODS AND SUPPLIES TO HELP US DO A BETTER JOB.

>> HE WAS DOING AGRICULTURE TOO, HE CAME UP THERE TO VISIT US AND HE SAW THAT WE WAS DOING SOME GOOD AGRICULTURAL WORKS AND HE SAW THAT WE HAD SOME TOOLS AND THE TOOLS WASN'T LOOKING FIT ENOUGH TO DO THE WORK, SO HE TOLD US HE GOING TO GET US SOME BRAND-NEW TOOLS.

SO THE SAME DAY WHEN HE LEFT, HE PROMISED TO BRING US NEW TOOLS.

HE PROMISED TO LOOK INTO THE LEGALITY OF THE LAND WHICH YOU ARE DOING AS A CULTURE AND THEN THE NEXT DAY, HE SENT A TRUCKLOAD FULL OF BRAND-NEW TOOLS TO MY HOUSE.

>> THE NAME OF THE GROUP AT THIS TIME WAS UJAMA.

AND THEY DECIDED TO PLANT AND BREAK THEM DOWN.

SO WHEN THE CROPS BEGAN TO COME UP AND HE WENT DOWN, THE FIRST QUESTION HE ASKED, I'M SURE IS EIGHT MARIJUANA PLANT -- IS IT A MARIJUANA PLANT?

WHEN HE GOT DOWN TO THE PROPERTY, HE WAS VERY IMPRESSED, IMPRESSED TO THE POTENT WHERE AGRICULTURE WAS ORDERED TO MAKE SURE IF THEY NEEDED A BULLDOZER, THEY GET THE BULLDOZER.

I BELIEVE THEY PUT SOME PUMPS DOWN AT THE DAM, YOU KNOW, FOR THEM TO GET THE WATER AND THEY, AFTER THEY BEGIN TO PRODUCE, HE WENT AND BOUGHT THEM A TRUCK SO THEY COULD GET THE PRODUCE FROM BORDER TO TOWN.

>> ONCE HE PUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN VARIOUS FARMING PROGRAMS, GOVERNOR KING ALSO IMPLEMENTED THE VIRGIN ISLANDS'S YOUTH COMMISSION.

DURING KING'S DAYS AS GOVERNMENT SECRETARY, HE EMPLOYED THE YOUTH OF THE TERRITORY.

HE OFTEN SPOKE AT GRADUATION SUMMER CAMPS AND JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE EXPRESSING THE NEED TO UPLIFT THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.

>> IN THE '70s, GOVERNOR KING WANTED TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT WOULD BASICALLY MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CROSS-SECTION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

AND HIS MANDATE TO ME WAS TO PLAN, IMPLEMENT AND DEVELOP A PROGRAM.

ONCE THAT WAS DONE, I PROVIDED HIM WITH A WORKING PLAN OF WHAT I ENVISIONED THAT I THINK WOULD BE NECESSARY AND HE WORKED ON MY PROPOSAL IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAM, THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM, DEVELOPMENT OF A PUBLIC ADS PROGRAM, STEEL BAND, FARMING PROGRAM AND SEVERAL OTHER PROGRAMS AND HE ENDORSED IT 100%.

>> HE LIKED SPORTS AND HE LIKED THE YOUTH AND AT THE TIME WE HAD A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, WE HAD BASEBALL.

I RAN THAT LEAGUE FROM ALMOST EIGHT TO NINE YEARS AND EVERY TIME WE WOULD HAVE THE OPEN OF THE LEAGUE, HE WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE TO BE SURE THAT HE WOULD GIVE WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

>> HE FOUND THE YOUTH WERE THE FUTURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND TO GET THEM MOVING TOWARDS BEING PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS THAT HE HAD SOME TYPES OF PROGRAMS FOR THEM AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS SO THEY COULD BE INVOLVED IN BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, SOCCER, AND HE INSURED THAT WE GOT INVOLVED INTO THE AGRICULTURE ALSO.

HE WAS INTO FEEDING OURSELVES, TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES.

SO HE PUT US TWO TOGETHER AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO MAKE SURE OUR FUTURE IS LOCKED IN.

>> ALONG WITH THE IDEAS OF SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING THE YOUTH, THE GOVERNOR ALSO FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER CARIBBEAN NATIONS.

KING OFTEN TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND BECAME VERY CLOSE WITH OTHER HEADS OF STATE.

ONE OF HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS WAS PREMIER ROBERT BRAD SHAW FROM ST. KITTS.

>> I ADMIRE HIM FOR THAT, HE BELIEVED WE SHOULD HAVE CLOSE TIES WITH THE CARIBBEAN BECAUSE HE WERE ACTUALLY A PART OF THE CARIBBEAN.

THEREFORE, HE WAS VERY CLOSE TO PREMIER BRADSHAW AND PEOPLE IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN.

AT THAT TIME A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGRATED FROM THE OTHER VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THEY FOUND A CHAMPION IN GOVERNOR KING.

>> I WAS ALSO A GOOD FRIEND OF PREMIER BRADSHAW.

I THINK HE WANTED CARIBBEAN INTEGRATION.

HE FELT THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WAS A PART OF THE CARIBBEAN REGION AND WE SHOULD NOT BE ISOLATED FROM OUR CARIBBEAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT GENOLOGY, YOU WOULD FIND THAT ALMOST EVERYONE FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAVE CONNECTIONS TO OTHER ISLANDS.

HE BELIEVE IN INTEGRATION.

AND ALSO, I BELIEVE, THIS IS JUST MY BELIEF, THAT HE LOVED BRADSHAW'S STYLE.

>> YEAH, HE WAS VERY CLOSE WITH PREMIER BRADSHAW BECAUSE WITHIN I WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, I HAD A RELATION WITH HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL, YOU SEE, SO IT WAS NOT JUST THAT, HE WAS ALSO, HE HAD ALSO, OF COURSE, WITH THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.

>> GOVERNOR KING HAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY WORLD WIDE LEADERS, INCLUDING ROYALTY.

WHILE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AT THE PRESS CLUB, HE MET HER MAGESTY QUEEN MARGARET OF DENMARK AND IN 1976, THE QUEEN AND HER FAMILY VISITED THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.

THE GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY HOSTED SEVEN EVENTS DURING HIS HISTORIC TRIP TO THE TERRITORY.

>> SHE WAS SOHU -- SHE WAS SO HUMAN.

SHE CAME WITH A COUPLE COUSINS, ALONG WITH HER IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND SHE CREATED SUCH A WONDERFUL BOND WITH MY PARENTS AND SHE JUST LOVED THE FACT THAT WE ACCEPTED HER THE WAY WE DID.

>> AT MY YOUNG TENDER AGE, YOU KNOW, TO MEET THESE HIGH OFFICIALS, IT WAS A KIND I DON'T THINK I COULD FORGET.

I REMEMBER AT THE DINNER OF THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, I EXPECTED TO SIT NEXT TO MY WIFE TO FIND OUT THAT SHE WAS AT ONE END OF THE TABLE AND I WAS SOME PLACE ELSE.

BUT THE QUEEN WAS VERY IMPRESSED AND I'M SURE THAT SHE REMARKED THAT THEY MADE A MISTAKE WHEN THEY GAVE UP THE TERRITORY.

>> WHEN THE GOVERNOR WASN'T HANDLING POLITICAL AFFAIRS, HE ENJOYED TAKING WALKS.

AND IN HIS SPARE TIME, KING LOVED TO GO TO THE ANNUAL HORSE RACES AND HE ALSO LIKED BASEBALL.

HE EVEN ORGANIZED A SOFT BAIL TEAM CALLED -- A SOFTBALL TEAM CALLED SWING WITH KING.

IT WAS NOT HIS ATHLETIC SKILLS PEOPLE RECALL.

IT WAS HIS COMPASSION AND THE LOVE HE HAD FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE TERRITORY.

>> EVERY THURSDAY, HEED A NOON HE DECIDE -- HE AT NOON, HE DECIDED TO GO ON THE STREET FOR A WALK.

THE DRIVER WILL GO TO THE OTHER SIDE OF MAIN STREET.

HE WOULD HEAD DOWN AND CHIT CHAT IN STORES.

WE'D HEAD TO THE STORE FOR ICE CREAM.

WE HAD CONES ON THE STREET.

AND HE WAS THE INDIVIDUAL THAT IF YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SAY TO HIM, HE'D STOP.

HE LISTENED TO WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY.

THEN WHEN HE SAY, CYRIL WILL TAKE CARE OF IT.

HE WOULD TAKE NOTES AND MAKE SURE WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS, IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES.

THE ONE THAT RESONATE IN MY MIND OCCURRED WHEN WE WAS WALKING THE MAIN STREET AND THERE WAS A LOT OF LITTER.

AND I TOLD HIM WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF LITTER COLLECTION AT THE PUBLIC WORKS AND WE CALL HIM AND IT WAS A PERSON THAT HE SERVED IN THE ARMY WITH AND SO HE WENT BACK UP TO GOVERNOR HOUSE AND HE CALLED THE PERSON.

THE PERSON SAID, GOVERNOR, WHAT ARE YOU REFERRING TO, LITTER OR GARBAGE?

THE GOVERNOR SAID I AM GOING TO BE BACK DOWN IN AN HOUR, IF IT IS NOT CLEAN UP, YOU WILL BE LITERALLY GARBAGE, BECAUSE I WILL TAKE YOUR RESIGNATION.

[ LAUGHTER ] .

AFTER WHAT I RECALL MOST OFTEN.

>> KING WAS ON A MISSION OF IMPROVING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF GOVERNMENT.

HE WAS A VERY HANDS-ON LEADER AND HE EXPECTED THE BEST FROM GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.

HOWEVER, KING'S MISSION WAS CUT SHORT IN THE FALL OF 1977.

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE MAINLAND, THE GOVERNOR TOOK ILL AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING TO A TRAGIC END.

>> HE CALLED US FROM CHICAGO AND TOLD US HE WAS COMING HOME EARLY.

AND MOMMY, I -- SHE LOOKED A LITTLE PUZZLED, BUT SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING TO ME AND WHEN I GOT HOME LATER IN THE DAY, SHE SAID, YOUR FATHER'S BACK AND HE -- I SAID, WHAT'S THE MATTER?

SHE SAID, HE'S SO THIN.

AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING.

THAT WAS SEPTEMBER OF 1977.

>> PEOPLE WERE SO SAD.

WHEN HE WAS BAD, CHURCHES PRAYED FOR HIM IN SERVICES AND THE PEOPLE WERE VERY CONCERNED.

I RECALL WHEN HE CAME FROM SLOAN KETTERING AT THE AIRPORT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE THERE TO GREET HIM.

AND YOU COULD SEE HE WAS SICK.

AND THE PARADE AND THE SHEER ADMIRATION THAT THEY HAD FOR HIM.

>> HE WAS STILL IN CHARGE.

HE DID HIS WORK FROM HOME.

AND YET THE LEIUTENANT GOVERNOR, BUT IT WASN'T THE SAME.

IT'S NOT SEEING HIM IN THE OFFICE.

NOT HEARING HIS VOICE BECAUSE ALMOST EVERY SINGLE MORNING WE MEET.

>> YOU KNOW THE ONE THING I TELL YOU, I HEARD OF PEOPLE GETTING SICK OR GETTING WEAK, YOU KNOW.

I COULD NEVER BELIEVE ANYBODY COULD BE SO WEAK THAT THEY COULDN'T SIGN THEIR NAME, YOU KNOW.

AND I REMEMBER THERE WAS SOME DOCUMENTS THAT GOVERNOR COMMISSIONERS AND SO ON SOME WANTED HIM TO SIGN AND THEY TOOK THEM INTO HIM ON HIS SICK BED, BUT WHEN THEY BROUGHT IT OUT TO ME, THEY SAID, NO, WE CANNOT USE GET THAT IS NOT CYRIL KING'S 60.

HE WAS SO WEAK.

>> HE PASSED AT 9:05:00 P.M. JANUARY 2nd, 1978.

I AM PROBABLY THE ONLY PERSON WHO REMEMBERS THIS.

BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN IN A COMA.

IT WAS JUST, THE BEDSIDE DIALYSIS, IT WAS JUST WASN'T -- NOTHING WAS WORKING ANYMORE.

AND HE WOKE UP, PATTED MY MOM ON HER CHEEK AND THEY EXCHANGED A GAZE AT EACH OTHER THAT IS INDESCRIBABLE AND HE HAD A LITTLE SMILE AND SAID, "THANK YOU."

HE CLOSED HIS EYES AND HE WAS GONE.

IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, I STAYED WITH THE NURSE TO START DRESSING HIM TO GO DOWNSTAIRS TO THE MORGUE AND WHEN MOMMY AND I WERE WISKED OFF TO THEED A MEN STRAF OFFICE ON WEST WING AND -- WISKED OFF WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE ON THE WEST WING, THE KENG JUDGE SWORN JUAN LUIS IN AS THE SUCCEEDING GOVERNOR.

>> GOVERNOR KING WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STOMACH CANCER AND DIED JANUARY 2nd, 1978 FROM HIS ILLNESS.

HIS UNTIMELY DEATH WAS A SAD MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE ENTIRE CARIBBEAN.

>> PEOPLE JUST SIMPLY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

HE WAS A MORNING, IT WAS A SAD MOMENT.

AS A COMMUNITY, WE REALIZED THAT LIFE MUST GO ON.

SO WE HAD TO CARRY ON, BUT IT WAS NOT EASY.

>> EVERYONE WAS IN MOURNING.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE CARIBBEAN WAS IN MOURNING WHEN HE DIED.

IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR US HERE.

>> RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS ADMINISTRATION WHEN IT WAS GOING SO WELL, GETTING SO MUCH DONE, IT JUST ENDED.

>> HIS UNTIMELY PASSING WAS A VERY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE THIS WAS A MAN OF VISION WHO WANTED TO DO SO MANY THINGS AND HE DID NOT GET TO ACCOMPLISH IT WITHIN THE THREE YEARS THAT HE WAS IN OFFICE AND, FOR ME, THAT WAS NOT EASY TO DEAL WITH.

SO IT WAS HARD.

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

>> GOVERNOR KING LAY IN STATE THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY AND WAS BURIED AT THE KING'S HILL CEMETERY ON ST. CROIX.

HE HAD TEN MONTHS LEFT IN HIS TERM.

MANY PEOPLE SAID HE WAS A VISIONARY, A MAN OF THE PEOPLE AND HE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO SIMPLY WANTED MORE ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT.

>> IN GOVERNOR KING'S LEGACY, IT PROVED, AGAIN, IT WAS A SHORT TENURE, WHAT HE WAS SETTING OUT, EVEN IN HIS NATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS, HE WAS SETTING OUT TO BUILD A PLATFORM WHERE WE COULD HAVE A BETTER LIFE ALTOGETHER TO PRIDE AND SERVICE.

>> EVEN THOUGH HIS TENURE IN OFFICE WAS BRIEF, HE DID LEAVE A LEGACY FOR OTHER GOVERNORS AND LAWMAKERS WHO EMULATE AND IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHETHER HE WAS AN ICM ER OR A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN, I THINK HIS STYLE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME FOR THE PEOPLE.

A MAN OF THE PEOPLE.

WE REFER TO HIM AS THE WHITE STALLION, A GREY-HAIRED STALLION AND THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY ABOUT CYRIL KING, OH THE GREY-HAIRED STALLION.

>> AND EVEN THOUGH HE HAD BEEN GONE NOW FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, YOU CAN SEE THE TWINKLE AND THE SPARKLE IN PEOPLE'S EYES WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT CYRIL KING.

[ MUSIC PLAYING ] >> WE HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, 23 CELEBRATE A NUMBER OF HOLIDAY, WE CELEBRATE THROUGH MUSIC AND SONG AND CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF THE PEOPLE AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES.

WOULD YOU JOIN US?