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As the war on poverty expanded, local politicians seized control of federal programs in West Virginia.

Huey Perry: The number of people participating in the community action groups grew and grew and it scared the politicians. The thing that summed it up well was when a community leader with his bullhorn spoke to the county commission. To paraphrase him, he said, over in old England, if they didn’t like you, if the king didn’t like you, they would cut off your head. Over here, if they don’t like you, they’ll cut off your project. This is what was happening.