It was also with the first story.

All right we're nurses and
you will never lose in

the world with his lovely wife oratory

as Mr George was but you children or

grandchildren ask him about
some point three zero.

Well by his own story.

It's a bit more hopeful
to research program with

years from a small project
that just yourself or

your university your Since
you are a couple of years

years that allowed program to become
what it is joining me in providing

just a distinguished guest in
our friend Mr Abbott's currently

the one

who Doug thank you for that generous
now reduction appreciate it very much.

It's always a pleasure.

And I'm not the only Georgia Tech campus
and should say so many friends here today.

Appreciate your comments.

I'm glad to talk about my grandchildren.

We will do that later.

The reason grandparents and
grandchildren get along so

well is I have common interests.

Now and

I'm proud of my relationship with
Georgia Tech and that special honor

that Doug mentioned take great great pride
in that we're proud of our work last.

Voter program your work and
with so many of you.

But is there no I do take something
to be ready for thank you.

Even week so forgive me for that.

And this started.

I think when if you are talking around
the water cooler the coffee pot over it.

The bill over to building and
then it grew into this so.

I'm overwhelmed.

We'll my sort of Mike a round table
discussion if anybody has a question

a calm enough.

Direction.

Please speak up.

But if anybody does it twice
outright places where you then.

But I enjoy talking about Georgia history

is the only time I've really made a
presentation in where some of this is for

Harris Blackwood when he was teaching
the adult education class or burn I.

And I hadn't had to miss one week and
i asked me to fill in for.

So I'm just going to ramble.

A little bit and we'll start with
the Office of lieutenant governor.

With some things that I don't think
you are generally known the first

election for lieutenant governor was in
one thousand nine hundred thirty six.

And if that time the Democratic
primary was tantamount to election.

So delay see Allen from Albany and

Ellis pope from Douglas ran for lieutenant
governor Lacy Allen won the primary.

So he was on one on the ballot in
November for the general election.

But in a strange sighing happened
on the ballot at the same time was

a constitutional amendment creating
the Office of lieutenant governor and

it was defeated.

So he never served so

an interesting trivia question sometime
would be you know who was the first clue.

Then a governor who first was
elected who serve the first term.

It varies a can of a quite a bit.

So then to the next election.

The lieutenant governor.

Was in one nine hundred forty six
when the constitutional amendment.

Had been approved in advance and
that was a the on

usual year that received
considerable the national

press referred to is easier to
go over no other three go of

a dispute as you want to have it again.

Tell me if you'd been
commissioner of agriculture.

Had better end it in front of
Governor was a two year term.

He had served two consecutive times and
then was up for

the requisite four years and
then had served four for

two more years elected in one
thousand nine hundred forty.

At that doing that time the term
was extended from two years to

four years he was running for reelection
in one thousand nine hundred forty two.

But.

Had some some problems related to the
border for Regis in strange enough he had.

With I sort of employee be fired in and
of and

be replaced and whatever and then when the
border regions didn't follow his wishes he

replaced some of the border regions
quickly it lead into quite a controversy.

The screws are enjoyed were
taken off the accredited.

Lists there were some protests and
many in many institutions

over the state and whatever so
he lost that election to.

Aristotle who'd been the attorney
general another nationalist

satellite that election is that.

Gene.

In order to gain time I said.

Going away to us just being it was a day
of the of the big outdoor political

rallies.

He had stopped at an outdoor privy and
unfortunately received.

A bite on his backside from a spider.

We think was in serious in serious
pain as his doctor told him not to

make the speech that he was scheduled to
make but he did it anyway and he suffered.

Suffered through that Aristotle about
the same time had a bite on his arm.

So when he was speaking he was
able to have somebody check in and

run in his own Dean tower which
was not able to do that with.

With it.

I had and it probably was not
material to that election.

But I read not too long ago that.

Gene Talmage and

RAF McGill were political adversaries from
the get was there to land a constitution.

But they were personal friends as it
was a case I'm not sure that happens

as much these days as it
used to in earlier days but

before the one nine hundred
forty six election.

Or Gene time we went to the Constitution.

And.

Somebody said quick to get a word.

If we give that tab was on the way and

he walked in his office
as fate would have it.

Go on a list on a loose fitting and
his office and Gene said to

Mr McGill I just want to come by to tell
you I'm going win the election this time.

And he looked over to say
if it hadn't been for

that spot I would have beat
that fell last time but

in in one thousand and
forty six to Jamestown

which became very ill he won
the primary by the way over

Jimmy Carmichael that was still in the
days of the county unit system and most.

Bob you probably don't know anything
about we'll talk about that just a little

bit but.

Jim Acosta Michael received a plurality
of the votes more votes and seemed much.

But Gene town which won the primary.

By a large margin on
the county unit system.

When people realize he was sick and
Herman's says a man named Gibson he's a L.

who's a screw from within and Jasper
County is the one that called a provision

of the Constitution to his attention
with the Constitution it at time

said if if no candidate in
life has a majority vote.

In a general assembly
Aleck's from the top two.

That was intended.

Obviously prefer ran out of times.

That they would select from the top two
candidates but knowing that provision.

Word was passed around.

To ride in some votes for
Herman Talmage in case his father.

Did did not survive.

So went before the General Assembly
met in January to canvass the vote.

Gene Talmage passed.

I think only somewhat twenty first
of one nine hundred forty six.

So when they met.

There was a tremendous and
continuing controversy.

When the votes were counted because
Gene time it was was not in light.

The top three with vote for Herman town
which was a write in Jimmy Carmichael

who often time the losing candidate
gets right in and if a man named debt

Thomas by was no relations as
damages who had run several times.

So under that provision the General
Assembly talked about electing a governor.

And there was some very close vote.

The test votes as it turned out came.

For the election of the clerk
of the House and the Talmuds.

Of.

Candidate Joe Boone was
elected over on a Thompson

candidate who was Pat McCutcheon
who had been serving his clerk.

So that the head of steam to have
a slight majority in the house for

the tab on the Senate side.

Mrs Henry Nevin who became secretary
of the Senate after her husband

passed away two or three years before
that was elected over Tom camp

who was a Talmage a candidate who had
been a candidate himself Congressman for

have time we might talk
a little bit about that.

But anyway the votes were extremely close.

And Charlie got one from Brunswick and
eighty Durden from Albany who were only.

The Thompson.

Outside and by the way I should
say that Thompson was elected.

Lieutenant governor that year
Nassau he figures in the case and

under the county unit system
it that time other than for

gov No you did not have to have
a majority of the county unit vote.

Plurality elected to any other official.

So Amy Thompson was elected.

Lieutenant Governor.

Marvin Griffin and others were in
that rice but he was elected with

a plurality of the county unit vote with
about a little less than thirty percent

of the popular vote and had happened
many times you know that period for

a commission of agriculture and other.

And other other Rices.

So Aristotle claim that he would can could

continue to go is go on until it was
his successor was duly elected and

and qualified and one time I think
he hoped to hold on is gone.

That was.

Thompson is a lieutenant.

But but soon realized that the that
was not a workable situation.

So he wanted just state
because of not until.

You meet THOMPSON And you could be
sworn in as his lieutenant governor.

So as Arnold Thompson forces
in the General Assembly.

Moved that the votes be canvassed for
all of the other offices.

The strategy being that any
me Thompson would be declared

elected lieutenant governor.

And I could try to quickly move him
into the office of gov that lost

by about to vote and
then the motion was made to proceed

with the election of the governor and
that passed by

by a very few votes a few people
had changed sides by that time.

And then.

The lawyer edit from Columbus who

who later was a federal judge
was was the Talmuds fully.

In the house so
he made a motion that Herman Thomas.

Be elected governor and there was no
other candidate put forward by the way

at one time the word was spread Jimmy
Carr Michael wanted to be considered and

he was on his way to capital but.

He was a gentleman in the process and
said he had lost the election and

he did not want to be considered
the provision also provided to two

who were willing to be elected so that
really took it down to Herman Talmage and

the town which by was he was probably not
known by anyone in the General Assembly.

So anyway Herman Thomas that sometime
about two thirty in the morning after

all this parliamentary wrangling whatever
was elected governor by the General was.

Sampling.

Some of the national media didn't
report a provision of the Constitution

under which he was elected and
it was played up in many places as is the.

Man it was like to go on the diet and
his son is is the taken over the Office

of people from both sides came
well longed to the state capitol.

There were several skirmishes.

Some some some injuries.

No no no deaths and
no real serious injuries but.

Some of the national media believe it or
not sent war correspondents.

To the to the Capitol to come
up to to cover all of it.

And.

Lay it off work phone
George court appeals for

Judge jolly world who
swore in Herman Thomas.

Both times and Dixon Oxford who
later was a revenue commission.

Told me that I drove
together from south Georgia.

But because of this just be in when
I got to the Henry Grady Hotel

which is where most of the little
folks stayed in those days.

When I got out of the taxi cab Dixon
said he picked up Jersey worlds

bag it was a vase saying he'd have picked
up so he quickly put it back down and

said What do you have in your state
case and he said I'll show you.

When we get up stairs.

And he had a brass no action.

Not as an pistols and whatever it was.

Was was ready if if the battle did.

Break out but
there was three lawsuits filed.

The full tonight in
a bank filed one I guess.

Herman tabloids and

Amy Thompson in effect asking them
to prove which one was governor.

And entirely to sign for the state.

He made Thompson sued.

I am of the pardons and parole board
who would release information time

as is required to do for the government.

I ask and that he be ordered to do it.

That's the it was and follow it.

Kenny.

The one buffalo to national
vipers in Fulton County.

And then Ellis Onil filed a suit.

Herman Thomas in Henry County ask and it.

He be ordered to cease and

desist from interfere with
operations in the governor's office.

So tell me he's won
the case in Fulton County.

And Henry County Arlen Thompson
won the case in Florida county and

they all three went to
the Supreme Court and

then in March of one thousand
nine hundred forty seven.

The Supreme Court rubab
vote of five to two.

That the General Assembly did
not have the authority to elect

a governor chief justice gink installs
Dickinson to Senate was a long opinion.

Referred to the provision of
the Constitution in saying

he thought it did have the authority
Tom counted for most Georgia.

So that it was not just just a bullet
case it should be decided politically and

not in the courts.

But the other.

The other five in an opinion written
by Henry Duckworth you later became.

CHIEF JUSTICE.

Ruled in favor of Thompson.

So Herman Thomas left
the capital within an hour but

said he would take his case
to the court of last resort.

His mother was Miss Mitt.

To do the work of Jean Tao
mention was well known

in those days people talk about what
that is on the top of the Capitol.

Sometimes called the Goddess of Liberty or
a mist freedom.

With the word spread by.

Talmage folks in those days was asked
Miss Me Why even sand will be back

and a town which won the election
in one nine hundred forty eight.

And what if it is a special election
to go on the tax office immediately so

he came in in November of one
nine hundred forty eight.

And then one of the raising questions
was whether the governor who had served

a part of a term a little over two
years was eligible to succeed him.

And at that time when I was still
in law school I was working for

Gene Cooke who was attorney general and
I still remember very well

when he came in my office one day
which was unusual and close the door.

And he said I just want to tell you in
a short time I'm going to release by

opinion saying that Herman town is is
eligible to run for reelection and

they would probably get in a lot
of a lot of media calls or

you know have he won in in one thousand
nine hundred fifty then Morgan Griffin

who ran it was elected in one
thousand nine hundred fifty four.

And then he's the one one
to delay the last call.

Sanders in one thousand
nine hundred sixty two.

He had a big crowd at all of his
barbecues over the state so Marvin is

a want to use expression a lot of people
who ate my barbecue didn't vote for me

and then earned event of a who
had somewhat of a cake walk in

one thousand nine hundred fifty eight and
then the county unit system was

attacked in court before the nine
hundred sixty two election.

And y'all might know how
that works go to that time.

The eight largest counties head.

Three representatives and
the house and had six unit vote.

The next thirty had two representatives
and four unit votes and

the other one hundred twenty one.

Had one representative and
and two unit votes and

Senate in those days
rotated among the can is

in the district vote and
had won all the time Chatham had.

Won two out of three times in
anything ham handed to third time

the rest of the county had it
two out of every six years.

But the only situation I know where
County waive their right to elect a call.

Sanders was elected to
the Senate from Richmond County.

And then the next time.

Jefferson County waived in two
years later Glasscock County

waves on a time when others in
Fulton County nobody served I'm

going to continuously in the Senate he
served six years I was president pro tem.

At the time he ran for

governor in one nine hundred sixty two he
planned to run for lieutenant governor.

And Gallen Byrd and and
Marvin Griffin the time he ran again.

Would you would consider the two
favored candidate is a God and

had a heart of heart attack and
withdrew from the rice one of course and

his opponents in the primary
he was Carly sinus.

One of his opponents found a call
to Sanders and got him to qualify.

To confuse the voting in
a lieutenant governor's race.

So the combination of things called
switched and ran for governor in

the in a case that wiped out the cannon
Unisys them was Sanders versus Gray.

And you might think from the time
period it was the call of standards.

But a man from Atlanta named
James Gray filed suit.

I'm a named James Sanders.

In Atlanta fines filed suit against James
Gray the chamber of the Democratic Party

saying that his vote in Fulton County
was outweighed one hundred times by vote

in next Eccles Gannett a small risk and a
state that times anyhow it was a lemonade

and that was the first election in
Georgia under the popular vote system.

And in one thousand
nine hundred sixty six.

Lester Maddox and and it Alice on ran
again it's amazing how many times.

It looks at some of the innovative ran for
governor running again after serving

in most up who did at that last and some
run in two or three times before there.

Before they were elected.

But and that was the first time it
was a viable Republican candidate.

Boake Calloway was elected was nominated
in a rip in the Republican primary.

And.

Lester and
Elizondo had a went to a runoff.

And Lester Maddox.

One in a fairly close race.

But.

Arnold did not encourage it.

I was not involved with it.

But some of his supporters
passed the word to vote for

him and and try to use to get him

enough votes to win of a complicated
force a run off in the general election.

Whatever.

So he got it over thirty four thousand or
so.

Of write in votes bow Callaway got more

popular votes did in Leicester but
did not have a majority.

So under the exact same provision
under which Herman time which was

elected you know he.

Not been a candidate other than right
in that race but under that provision.

The General Assembly which was
overwhelmingly Democratic at that time.

Made an elected.

Lester Maddox governor.

That case went to
the United States Supreme Court and it

appealed to the validity of the provision
in a Georgia cross Dushan under which or.

Last had been elected and in though it
did not refer back to the Taubes case in

effect or vindicated the Talmage.

Side and in that case.

Jimmy Carter one of the Outstanding.

Georgia Tech grad graduates first ran for
the Senate in one nine hundred sixty two.

And it appeared he had lost the right
to man believes neighbors are but

more and
more had been declared there when a.

Jimmy and

his folks received some information
that to appear day had been counted out

in Quitman County little Columbus
where Georgetown is a county sate.

And he called and I settle

on a journal to investigate and a man
named John paintings and went down and.

Was serious review and expose I and
among had another information

produced enough for a court case a child's
turbo lawyer an attorney in Atlanta.

We have to have been in babies and
I was late but Charles Kirpal wrecked

represented Jimmy Carter and
that was overturned and he came to the.

Georgia State Senate so
you can see what changed in history

that my by that having been a challenge
when it a big beard it was a clear.

Alexion.

But then he had been in the race and.

One nine hundred sixty six and
finished third.

Two trailers on Lester Maddox but
then he ran in

in one thousand nine hundred ninety and
in one nine hundred seventy.

And called Sanders Bush
was the main opponent

at that time and
that race went around often.

And of course Jimmy was elected and
we all know the history is the only only

native Georgian to have been
president of the United States by

the way despite of what he does all around
the world he still teaches Sunday school

in the mind of a bad situation planes your
two or three times a month if you have.

An opportunity to beat beat on it.

That's a good experience to.

To hear him and then doubling back
just a little bit and then we'll get

back up as time permits on a more recent
times but your way of most of those what.

Except all say that that term was for

years until Do enjoys Busby's first
arm he proposed and was able to pass

a constitutional amendment allow
the government to succeed him.

So he was the first one who served the two
terms but by the way the calendar falls is

a few days short of a few eight up of
eight years but you know Joe Frank Harris.

Who who served then.

Because inauguration was

was was first going in Georgia history to
actually serve a more than eight years.

Joseph M.-A some brown.

Served in a war between the states.

And was elected four times

when when when you could do that to
before was limited to four year term.

He was elected four times.

But.

Dear And
they are the the reconstruction and

when he fired the possibility of being.

And removed during peace he resigned with
about six months to go in his term and

his son Joseph Joseph
am Brown was elected go

in the light of the Browns and
the town which is only combinations of.

A father and son deserves to have served.

But nineteen thirty eight.

It reveals had been elected in one
thousand nine hundred thirty six and

was running for reelection in
one thousand thirty eight and

one of his opponents was J.J.
mine from higher than can.

And he had with his daughter.

Geraldine known as Jerry was a Steve
in the University of Georgia.

And Mangum son John was a student
at University of Georgia.

And I had heard that they made
in fell in love and married.

While their fault is still running
against each other for governor and

when a few months ago I decided to
just see if I could find them and

John Mica mist is not living but
I found Jerry Rivers in Florida.

And she just passed away
a few months ago but

I had a pleasant conversation
with her about a father and.

And she confirmed that interesting story
and how they how they had a loped.

During the campaign.

But that was a one of the most famous
Senate races in Georgia that year.

Franklin Roosevelt had wanted
to add to that number of members

on the Supreme Court and the number
has been changed several times over

the years some time decrease sometimes
in increased but that probably.

Drew more attention by historians.

But President Roosevelt was not happy
because the Supreme Court was invalidating

some of his new deal.

Legislation.

So he obviously had to clear.

The purpose of trying to get some friends
on the Supreme Court it would change that.

So he tried to defeat several senators who

voted against him on increasing
the size a Supreme Court.

Water George from Georgia was running for
reelection.

That year.

And.

Gene Talmage was planning
to run against him.

In the Roosevelt did more wall to George
but he he didn't want to change our mix.

And he talked to a federal
district attorney in Atlanta.

Lawrence camp.

In the entering that that race and

Roosevelt as you may know because
of being it Warm Springs fine and

there were many of the farms and
homes without any electricity.

Fine and his ability to what
became the little white

house to build his house at Warm Springs
was was higher than it was.

For electricity in Hyde Park New York.

He proposed and

established what was in there already
a rule rectification administration now.

Now E.M.C. and

he came down came to Barksdale in one nine
hundred thirty eight to make his base for

the open of the first E.M.C. and and

to pull the switch to start to power but
I understand

he left without due and I don't know where
he was caught up in the politicking over

the security wanted him to move on or
didn't do it or what happened.

But anyway.

He was warmly received by the crowd
in the first part of his speech and.

He had been popular in Georgia.

But towards the end of his speech.

He turned to the political.

Rice in and asked for
the support from a large camp

and received some boos and
cold shoulder from and from the crowd.

I'm told some of the joy
he was who was there and

on the platform with him stepped up and
said I accept your challenge.

Mr President.

And and
in Senator George did when that rice or

went out another interesting
thing to me is that.

In.

Nineteen twenty six.

When Walter George was running for
his first reelection first full term for

the Senate.

His opponent was Richard B.
Russell seigneur.

And George won that rice is
interesting and many that later.

Richard B. Russell Jr.

Served for
about twenty five years with Walter Joyce

who his father had run against and
I had a very good relationship.

And then.

Again Thomas you as a set
ran against you always but

in one nine hundred thirty six gene
Thomas ran against Richard Russell.

And Russell one by
a substantial majority but

then later when Harman went to the Senate.

He served with Russell.

For twelve or so years and
and they were very close and.

And worked together extremely well.

And in talking about the Georgia Tech.

Nathaniel Harris when he was
in the General Assembly is

the one who introduced the bill.

For the creation of Georgia Tech was on.

State Committee that
there's a screw loose.

And other states and

it was the legislation was approved
there during the term of governor.

Henry McDaniel creating it and.

A classes started under
the ministration of John B. Gordon.

When he was governor and then the same
with Angel Harris latest served

as his governor for two years and
was the last Confederate veteran.

To serve Georgia.

And that followed.

John of an interesting time.

Joseph Terrill from would
arrange was elected

governor in one thousand you know two.

And at that time.

He would have served for four years but
the time of the inauguration was changed.

From October which it had been until June.

So it extended his term.

About eight months whatever.

So you have said it's the only
person who would serve that

that long in that situation.

The shortest time by the way came
later when Dick Russell was was gone.

The youngest person ever to serve it.

So it was gone it thirty three and the and

all going order right now I'm was
changed from June to January was instead

a movement forward like it in
terms of time they moved back so.

He served just a little over of
eighteen months as governor and

by the way I say he was the youngest
he was thirty three he succeeded.

Dr Libertine Hardman from Commerce.

Who was seventy one when he took office
of the oldest person ever to serve was.

Was followed by the youngest person.

Nervous or.

Terror was followed by a hoax Beth.

Whose own that was probably so
that Atlanta Journal his first race was

against Clark how the publishers
Atlanta Constitution.

Hoax B.S. one.

Two years later he was defeated by
Joseph M. Bryant the son and and.

The politics was it was
extremely tough I'm told and

this Mr Brown days then two years later.

Smith ran again and defeated.

BROWN And then after a short time he was

elected to the United States Senate which
was done by the by the General Assembly.

And in those days.

So Joe Brown ran for the special term.

And was elected.

Richard Russell Seigneur by the way
Rahm us you know so to me a thousand and

one against Joe Brown but
you know where Brown was elected.

But before the special time John slighting
who was president pro tem of the Senate.

When hope for
me as lefty became governor but

he immediately called a special election
where he served his God before for

five months and then then Joe Brown and

then John slate was elected for
four year term.

So there was a time there.

From from the last term the last day and
office of one governors of the first term

of another there was an eight year period
when they were eight different people.

Who served as governor of Georgia.

Just three Auburn serving
at two different times but

they and.

When John B. Gordon the general
from the War Between the States and

by the way in prose reconstruction I was
what they called a bourbon triumvirate

not related is on standard for
the drinking bourbon but a verb.

But the bourbon castle of from France and
from the rule is a psalm but I was.

I said to.

Joseph Brown it was still the father
that Joseph Brown had the brains.

John Gordon had the looks and I have I
offered called Quit had the religion.

And it was Henry greatest thrown in.

It was an unbeatable combination so

there was a period of well over a decade
where those folks are great and

have a ramble with others even
held officers of the key factors.

And folks who were elected and you know we

have a minute of inner drive if you're
saying close to five points down there.

Where nobody is New South speeches and.

Was editor of the Constitution and
all that stuff.

The first time I saw on to
his picture is birth and

death dates I thought somebody
had made a mistake but.

He just lived until today age of
one nine hundred forty nine or

had a significant name packed
on the growth in the south and

on and on and on politics.

Augustus bike and
he was speaker of the house and

over the years several speakers have been
elected was a favorite candidate the year.

John B. Gordon was elected.

Mind you would have been as you've been
Harvey here or what you all now see

in the Capitol which at that time was
in downtown Atlanta peacefully and

wispy street converged at the downtown
in his will that it is still

being about where that
Carnegie Mart monument is.

And has a seal of Georgia taking some
of the screws on the bottom of it but

you know they dedicated a monument
to Benjamin Harvey hero.

Henry Grady found out that Jefferson Davis
was going to be speaking in

my gum Alabama.

So he enticed him to come for
the dedication of Benjamin Harvey.

Hero.

Monument.

And they range for
General Longstreet to come up.

I thank you rode up on his horse and
range for General John B.

Gordon to be there and
they all received a wild applause.

By the crowd and some historians
say that was one of the things

that propelled General Gordon
into the office.

Robert Toombs was one of
the far as the session is

he an Alexander Stephens
we're good friends.

Well off and on opposite sides teams
want to succeed and Alexander Stevens.

Who later became Vice-President
Confederacy wanted to remain in the union.

And.

Terms would never never take

the oath of allegiance to the United
States and somebody had asked him if he'd

been pardoned he said No I hadn't
borne the Yankees yet and and

when he saw somebody who'd
been in a war with him and

asking for is going up his
inauguration of General Gordon and

he said yes I am and he said would you
give him a message from me that yes and

he said Tell him if he'd
had a saber scar on his

rear instead of on his face he never
would have been elected office and

when the man returned Taim said did you
give my message to the governor and

he did and said What did he say.

He said tell you if you'd been in
the battles he'd been in that's where you

would have been wounded.

In one debate James said

earlier Xander Stevens was
a big robust fellow and.

Statement was about five feet way
less than one hundred pounds but

was very smart and
said to Stevens your little rascal

lack of swallow you whole and
Stephen said were.

If you do you'll have more brains
in your stomach there in your head.

And.

Mentioned brought out madness A.F.
but you know I like to

visit it when Markham's porn is a definite
It makes us brothers and on goes or

is way alone all that we send in the lives
of others comes back into our own

politics and
away at a dramatic influence on.

My life when I was active in a Georgia
Jaycee's we organized some new clubs.

When I was in.

Calhoun Georgia and a few years later

when K. and shot and
I was a freshman at Agnes Scott.

They called and I asked her to enter their
first Miss Calhoun pageant and she said.

Thank you.
Just the same she was busy schedule and

then I called back and
said hey this is our first page and

we are trying to get more contestants
please come so she agreed.

And then before the pageant
the house in Calhoun burned and

she lost to the gallon enclosure
would have worn so she called and

said I'm withdrawing from the pageant.

And I said no you can't.

You can borrow back clothes So

You Know How She Did you know when
Miss Callahan and Miss Gordon can.

And then one missed your due.

And that's when I was director
of the Commerce Department.

Kept on I cannot make development
president of Columbus Jaycee's called and

asked if I would I asked to go on
the other side of Mr George a week

Proclamation which he was happy to do so

it was that next week they
showed up at my office with.

This beautiful.

Well Magnus got so
anyhow latched on to her and.

When we married when her term was up and
moved to Gainesville and she finished it.

But I was twenty her junior and
senior year.

I mean finished Diana Lewis our son
was born between her junior and

senior year and then Louis.

Was who later was the youngest person ever
to be stark to have stayed in Georgia

in his second in a try to be go number in
enjoyed his time as secretary of state.

He was campaign manager for
Joe Frank Harris the second campaign.

And they had what to call the friendship
celebration at a hotel out on I

seventy five in lieu
of the inaugural ball.

And Jamie.

It was called friend of hers Chris wants
and who said My boss has two tickets for

that you know Frank hair Savan tomorrow
night and he can't go and gave them to me.

And she just said I couldn't get a date.

So I just ask Amy my
girlfriend to go with me.

So they went to
the friendship celebration.

And Lewis was going around looking
after things that was not too busy

to notice is too good looking
women in Moses we denote a little

rehearsal done a bit but Louis said he
guessed his opening line was not too good.

He stopped by.

And said Ya like politics.

And I mean he's won a nice to
sweetest person you have a bait and

Amy said yes we like politics but

we don't like politicians and then

about that time somebody grabbed Louis and
said we need to start a program and all he

learned about Amy was she worked at George
Babbitt hospital for certain security.

He.

Tracked her down in a marriage so
she thought about politics were.

Was good for.

For Lewisohn.

And for me and or gone too long already.

So let me quit and
if anybody has any questions or.

Anything you want to comment on it on.

You that

was OK and says one thousand nine
hundred eighty nine good but

it was it was nine hundred fifty nine.

You know

it was the election of sixty two and

it benefits you it was a practice of
the Democratic Party for years but

was put into law in one thousand nine
hundred seventeen by the New York primary

act system here from Columbus
to put it in and that was.

That was defying him and if you were.

You know knows days in some
counties that they've.

There was one person and

in some counties a handful of people
if you got their support and.

You were you just certain
almost certain to.

To care that county is messed up years and

you're not the most respected people.

So through years you've built for
elected office so

that all that you've been so

successful in your role in
the others you will tell us about.

Well I appreciate you
asking that question.

I did have one opportunity
I was appointed by

Marvin Griffin is kind of Celeste and
a cab kind of the prosecutor.

And then written ran for real.

Action it was elected.

Fortunately with with no opponent
is the best way to run and

then governor event of it had asked me to
come over to head the Commerce Department

and some of the folks in the political
hierarchy in those days were.

Encouraging me to run for the lieutenant
governor with a man in one nine hundred

sixty six in the one
nine hundred sixty two.

RICE And but
I had the opportunity through just

you know you know when you're out there
doing some what is going to lead to.

I was making a speech in Gainesville and.

Saw Debbie all know an attorney for
the Georgia poultry Federation and

he told me they were looking for
a staff person.

And I gave him a names of several
people who were in nonprofit work.

And then we parted ways and parse a joke
and I just holler back said add my name to

the list and I came to the Capitol where
our offices were in those days when

government was much smaller came to the
Capitol and all through the job Kerry and

I were engaged by that time and
John Souttar where to live so.

Her parents in Calhoun and
mine in Athens not them but and

in the booth commerce by the incest.

You know I decided to take that and
have not regretted it still enjoy it.

Enjoy politics and.

Be in close to the arena.

Well it's kind of zero zero zero a growing
thing you know back in the county unit

days goes but
the rural part of Georgia dominated it.

And then it gradually begin to change.

Because to keep the county unit system not
only to change the way go of another faces

were elected but it changed
the makeup of the General Assembly.

So it is his that the shift has
come towards the metro area.

In fact.

Now most of the leadership I guess are
more more more urban all metros and rural.

Nowadays So
it's just kind of been a monastery thing

over the years when I was
at the Commerce Department.

There were fifty six senators and

I think two hundred five represents
is that time the numbers change and

you squillo that now but
there but it was clearly rural

dominated and was all my quite.

Not I'm not not a minority of any can

but it has been bent been
an interesting change.

Of valving over the years.

One of.

Who is saying no to people here
who don't believe it was for

a long time and he has gone and
they've been so many

changes you know are now when you look
at a majority army just been there for.

For a few years Kavin smart.

I guess and in the houses that is
probably the longest serving them.

I know they sing.

Go ahead.

Well they definitely walk in lockstep at
one time because when the governor for

many years in effect said he wanted
just as speaker of the house.

And and that person was was elected.

And inflation by just quickly but
in back in it.

Forty six.

I'm way back there Fred hand was a tab
his choice to speak and he was elected.

Building from Conyers was a Thompson short
for the president pro tem of the Senate.

And and he was elected so
Dean in effect surged Luton ago and

that time but probably the big change
in what you're talking about was

from a one nine hundred
sixty six election because

there was no governor until a Jim December
met in one nine hundred sixty seven.

So George ales Smith who
had been the speaker and

some others in
the leadership of the house.

Quickly seizing the opportunity
to work to organize

themselves and
they became more independent.

That year but most years it's been a you
know I think a pretty good working

relationship as it needs to be going
to go out and speak any time you got.

You see certain disagreements
bring the House and Senate and

that's part of the system and
with the governor but

generally it's been very cooperative but
it a time.

You know in early years.

The governor play doh.

KIRO we had a bill that we wanted
passed when Governor Sanders was given

a little bit of some slight controversy
over what we had a meeting with him.

And he you know like
instead later moved in.

I was on way back up stairs to move
talking about trying to put a small

amendment to it.

But the bill passed for

I got from the second floor of
the third floor he picked up the phone.

And called so that the governors used
to pass the word but very quickly and

I still can make their
mike any influence fail.

One of the little quick.

Store and you'll blow the whistle but
talk about a welcome station.

Good friend Bill Hardman just passed away.

Not long ago when I got to
the Commerce Department.

There was no tours to it and
we established divisions for

new interest in existing industry and
ministration and information and whatever.

Form a Tourist Department and
I knew Bill says Jaycee's so

I skimmed to meet me and believe it or

not he was run the frontier store and
Warner Robins and dabbling in real estate.

He met me and Perry and
I offered him the job and

he said I'll come if you get it started.

He was about a decade after I left and
became debate.

You know one of the most one if not most
respected people into his promotion and

George and United States but
little whiskey.

It's been in the news
sometime of the speed train.

A representative named Betty Jones from

Crawford County was on the Board of
Education and he was in Washington for

an education and me and her AAA was about
to put all of the GA on a blacklist.

Because of Lewis.

So I called him and
I asked to come up meet with him and

did and told him we were
going to try to work out in

the please hold our Phone announcement and
they agreed.

So we talked to Jim Gillis who was head
of the highway department that time and

he agreed he would provide a traffic
light and you light from your home.

I know this but

all three all want which you know those
days was really the artery into Georgia

just where we built first welcome station
itself I knew that there was a new town.

That's right there was very
first NY on historic arrest.

But.

He would come in NY and
on three zero one the light.

Would be green just long enough for
about two cars to go through and

it would change and wanted two more cars
would go through and I would quickly.

Get a ticket very good fund raiser for
a little whiskey so.

The man who ran a can in those days.

A former district attorney was RAF Dawson.

And I called him and
said Mr Dawson could we come down and

talk to you about
the importance of tourism and.

Your Traffic Signal.

And he was very gruff he said I don't hold
any office down here why do you call me.

And I said I know that.

But I know you're the man to
talk to is going to be a baby.

And he laughed and
said OK when we all want to come.

So he set up the meeting and
a gaffe my our

department went with us as we were driving
into little with the building still at

it was a little service station going in
Lewisham a man flagged us down on what he

called a know what call we were driving
whether he used stop in cars or what.

And he said he was with a good
government leading want to

tell us about those rascals
we were about to meet with.

And a little west and.

We thanked him and
went on to the meeting and

we were having a very pleasant
meeting about a big long table.

When suddenly the double doors
burst open to us restamp say

and this guy Chapman and
his folks came in and

it was a durned is fired I have seen in my
life before Santas they were brightest no.

One But one person picked
up the seal of the city and

was about to clobber somebody
somebody grabbed his arm.

And and they fought for
a few minutes we'll hear it

and then that the outcry out of left and
the other people sat down and

nobody ever said you know sorry I don't
know what I would do and what we just sat

back down like we'd taken a quick water
break and we just sat back down and

continued to mate and they agreed
they would change the traffic line.

How to how way to palm and they called
me and sent a lot down to put it up.

And it worked well for wow.

And then.

It Lester Maddox time they
were back to old tricks and

you might be put up billboards and.

You know other things like that.

And you know you can blow
the whistle out how up.

Also I also want to mention
you know the importance of.

Of one vote.

And a lot of the a lot of
national stories about it.

But I was

since I was able to vote at eighteen I
don't think I missed a time voting but

one time when any election a referendum.

And I hitchhiked from Camp Dixie and
Braeburn County.

Was a counsellor to Athens.

Where my parents live that voted
hitchhike back the next day

and that protect that vote didn't
make any difference but one year

in Gainesville when I was terribly
say they and I used to vote together.

I told her to go away and vote idea
her to drive me later in the day and

I kept putting it off and put it out and
finally about fifteen minutes photo.

I said I'm not going feel like going.

John Cromartie who's in the boat and I
would James were running for city council.

And there was a time.

I would have voted for John and
that would have made a difference.

So they had to run off and
John did win the next time around and

come I read yesterday in
commerce of city council vote.

By one vote in any county unit days.

When I worked for Congressman Davis.

Americans when John would when
he was back in Congress and

he said Don't let anybody tell
you one vote does not count.

He was in Congress running
the night district.

They Frank Whelchel from our
cameras run against him.

John Wood from Cherokee County.

Can County universe.

Jackson County had four votes for
you that vote.

Frank Whelchel cared Jackson County by
one vote which gave him four unit vote.

And he beat John Wood twenty
two unit votes to twenty.

Had John Wood got one more vote in Jackson
County there was a bullet unit vote.

And he would have gone back but to vote.

And in final story.

Congressman John Gibson was
in Georgia from the eighth

Congressional District in the 1940's.

And President Roosevelt was trying to
pass the veterans' Readjustment Act.

Call mostly now the G.I. Bill of Rights.

And it's incredible to me it would
have been that close in committee.

They knew they had the votes
to pass it in the house.

But of the people in Washington.

There was a deadlock of three three
on that bill which would have kept

it in the committee John Gibson was
gone home and was out hunting somewhere

and President Roosevelt sent word in
every way possible find John Wood.

The radio stations were announced.

And if you see Frank Gibson if you
see Congressman Gibson have him call

a White House and
State Patrol state patrol was stopping

cars on the highway and say This is John
Gibson in the car I have you say name.

And finally he got home and
answered the telephone call.

They kept a call and no answer.

Machines or e-mail it kept calling and
they got him.

And there was a hairpin
flight leaving Jacksonville

early in the morning and
the White House told the airlines to

tell the pilot not to take
off under any conditions.

Till John Gibson is on that flight.

And he waved a flight
they rushed him over and

had to Camilla's out and a G.I.
bill passed by for

three and a bomber invited in part
because I learned recently I have a good

friend who grew up in very
many a good situation.

And we're not going to screw it and
not been for the Bill of Rights.

He's retired now and
he drives to Douglas Georgia has

driven to Douglas Georgia every year for
fifteen years.

To put flowers on the grave.

Of John Gibson.

So I think for the education I received.

Thank you all for good.