doi:10.7916/rbmr-p459Oral history interview with John Palmer and Teresa A. Palmer, 2022Palmer, Johnoral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesCoal trade--History--West VirginiaCoal mines and mining--History--West VirginiaCoal mines and mining--Management--West VirginiaLabor leadersLabor movement--History--21st century.--United StatesDirect actionGeneral strikesIndustrial safety--Law and legislation--United StatesHazardous occupations--United StatesLongwall mining--United StatesWest Virginia Social conditionsPalmer, JohnPalmer, TheresaObama, BarackUnited Mine Workers of AmericaJohn and Teresa Palmer discuss their lives in West Virginia, and John reflects on his career as a coal miner, including his service as president of United Mine Workers of America (UMW) Local 1570 during the years of the Obama presidency. John speaks widely about the recent history of the coal industry in West Virginia, describing the changing ownership of the mines; the evolution of UMW and Local 1570; strikes, walk-outs, and other direct actions over safety conditions, pensions, and healthcare coverage; relations with regulatory agencies, the National Labor Relations Board, and local police departments; the changing demography of miners; and the increasing proportion of non-union miners. The Palmers also share stories about the tight and supportive community of Local 1570, and consider the political trajectory of their home county, where a majority of citizens voted for Obama in the 2008 presidential election and for Donald Trump in the 2016 election. Also discussed are Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis' visit to Federal No. 2 Mine in August 2009, the Palmers' experience of Democratic and Republican presidential administrations, the operations of a long-wall mine, and the local reception of the actual and perceived actions taken by the Obama administration to reduce coal-related pollution and greenhouse gas emissions