Interview with J. Randy Evans, March 1, 2018Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project |
Dublin Core
Description
Evans begins the interview by talking about his childhood and early involvement with politics. Evans then discusses the plans and factors of growing the Georgia Republican Party. He specifically talks about party organization and how that process has changed compared to today. Evans explains why religious social conservatives began flocking to the Republican Party in the 1980s and how organizations such as GOPAC mobilized conservative voters and popularized conservative political philosophies. Evans discusses how Republicans adapted themselves to becoming the governing party. Evans concludes by discussing the realigning effects Donald Trump has had on the party, both positive and negative, though he notes that it is difficult to make long-term political predictions due to the dynamic nature of politics and the electorate.
Randy Evans grew up in Dublin, Georgia during the 1960s and 1970s. While going to school at West Georgia College, Evans met Newt Gingrich as a professor, who introduced him to politics. Evans volunteered for Gingrich’s victorious 1978 congressional campaign. After briefly working as a staffer for Gingrich, Evans returned to Georgia to obtain his law degree from the University of Georgia. Afterward, he became the chairman of the Douglas County Republican Party, and was promoted to party chairman of the 6th congressional district in 1986. He chaired Newt Gingrich’s 1988 and 1990 congressional reelection campaigns and served as general counsel for Gingrich when he became Speaker of the House in 1995. In 2001, Ralph Reed appointed Evans to become the state Republican Party’s general counsel and also appointed him to the Georgia state board of elections. Evans was nominated by Donald Trump in 2017 to become the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg; Evans’s nomination was confirmed by the Senate in 2018.
Randy Evans grew up in Dublin, Georgia during the 1960s and 1970s. While going to school at West Georgia College, Evans met Newt Gingrich as a professor, who introduced him to politics. Evans volunteered for Gingrich’s victorious 1978 congressional campaign. After briefly working as a staffer for Gingrich, Evans returned to Georgia to obtain his law degree from the University of Georgia. Afterward, he became the chairman of the Douglas County Republican Party, and was promoted to party chairman of the 6th congressional district in 1986. He chaired Newt Gingrich’s 1988 and 1990 congressional reelection campaigns and served as general counsel for Gingrich when he became Speaker of the House in 1995. In 2001, Ralph Reed appointed Evans to become the state Republican Party’s general counsel and also appointed him to the Georgia state board of elections. Evans was nominated by Donald Trump in 2017 to become the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg; Evans’s nomination was confirmed by the Senate in 2018.
Date
2018-03-01
Identifier
RBRL425TPGA-043
Coverage
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Location
Duration
92 minutes
Citation
J. Randy Evans and Ashton Ellett, “Interview with J. Randy Evans, March 1, 2018,” UGA Special Collections Libraries Oral Histories, accessed November 21, 2024, https://georgiaoralhistory.libs.uga.edu/RBRL425TPGA/RBRL425TPGA-043.