Browse Items (162 total)

Collection: Richard B. Russell Library Oral History Documentary Collection

George Justice interviews Carl E. Sanders about his activities as a Georgia state senator, governor, and business leader. Sanders discusses his early life, his involvement with the YMCA, and the state of youth during the Great Depression. He recalls…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

George Washington “Buddy” Darden was born in Sparta, Georgia. He attended North Georgia College, and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in 1965. He was selected to serve in Senator Richard B. Russell’s patronage program in…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Bob Irvin grew up in rural North Fulton County in the 1950s and 1960s. He was elected as a Republican to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1972. He attended Harvard Business School, after which he came back to Georgia politics and was reelected…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Arthur (Skin) Edge IV is a former state senator representing the 28th senatorial district of Coweta, Pike, and Spalding counties. In 1993, Edge was appointed as chairman of the Senate Special Judiciary Committee as a Republican in a Democratic…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Jane Kidd is the daughter of former Georgia Governor Ernest Vandiver and his wife, Betty Vandiver. She is a graduate of Grady College at the University of Georgia and became politically active on the Lavonia City Council as well as managing the…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

John Linder grew up in Minnesota and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967-1969. He moved to Georgia to pursue a dentistry practice, and he settled in North DeKalb County where he became involved in Georgia Republican Party politics in the 1970s.…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Bob Bell grew up in Atlanta in the 1930s-1940s. He served in the U.S. Army from 1950-1952 and received his Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Georgia's Atlanta Division in 1954. Bell ran as a Republican for the Georgia House…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Eric Johnson was born in New Orleans, and moved to Savannah, Georgia with his wife. He studied architecture and has worked as a principal architect at Hussey, Gay, Bell and Deyoung International, as well as at North Point Real Estate. Johnson became…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Roy Barnes grew up in rural Cobb County, Georgia in the 1950s-1960s. Barnes grew up in a Republican family but became affiliated with the Democratic Party. He graduated from the University of Georgia Law School in 1972, after which he moved back to…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Joyce Carter Stevens was raised in south Georgia. She served as Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Del-Cook Lumber Company from 1964-1981. Stevens' first major involvement with the Republican Party was in fundraising for Mack Mattingly's 1980…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Steve Anthony was raised in a political family in Bremen, Georgia and attended the University of West Georgia. He worked as an aide for several state legislators and their committees, and later was the Chief of Staff for Speaker of the House, Tom…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Chuck Clay is from a military family and moved frequently growing up. He attended the University of North Carolina, and obtained his law degree from the University of Georgia Law School. He moved to Marietta, Georgia in the 1970s for work and became…

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Collection: Griffin African American Oral History Project

Born in 1940, Haskell Ward grew up in the segregated Griffin, Georgia. Throughout his childhood, Ward was encouraged by peers and friends to attain an education. Ward has held a multitude of positions throughout his life including working as Peace…

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Collection: Georgia Disability Community Oral History Project

Harriet Van Norte talks about how she came to work in the Department of Public Health as the admissions coordinator of the state mental health hospitals, and remembers the growth in community services in the early 1970s. Van Norte talks about how she…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Griffin Bell was born Americus, Georgia, on October 31, 1918 and received his law degree at the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. In this interview, Bell discusses his early years growing up in Americus, his law career, his role as…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Leroy Reginald Johnson was born in Atlanta, Georgia on July 28, 1928. He attended Morehouse College, worked in the Fulton County Solicitor-General’s office, and served as a Georgia senator from 1963-1975, becoming the first black legislator in the…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Samuel Marvin Griffin, Jr. was the publisher of the Bainbridge Post-Searchlight from 1972 until 2008 and son of Georgia Governor Marvin Griffin, who held office from 1955 to 1959. In this interview he discusses the life and career of his father. Ben…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

John Hardy "Johnny" Isakson was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 28, 1944 and has served in politics since his election to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1976. Since then, he has served in the Georgia senate and both houses of Congress,…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Lera Catherine "Cathy" Cox was born in Bainbridge, Georgia, in 1958 and has served as a state representative, Secretary of State, and as the 21st president of Young Harris College. Cox discusses her early years in Bainbridge, Ga., and her career path…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Nancy Schaefer served as a Republican senator for Georgia's 50th district from 2004 to 2008. She presided over Family Concerns, Inc., a conservative religious group. In this interview, Schaefer discusses her early years in Clayton, Georgia, and her…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Tommy Irvin discusses his long career as Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture, a position he held from 1969 to 2011. Leading up to his service with the Department of Agriculture, Irvin served on the Habersham County School Board, directed the Georgia…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Terry Coleman was born in Dodge County, Georgia, and his legislative career began when he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1972, where he served on the Appropriations Commitee. In this interview Coleman discusses his political…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Lauren "Bubba" McDonald grew up in Commerce, Georgia, and served as a commissioner in Jackson County before being elected to the state House in 1971, where he worked on the Industry Committee and the Appropriations Committee. He was later appointed…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Mike Bowers formerly served as Georgia's Attorney General (1981-1997) and made an unsuccessful run for governor in 1998. In this interview Bowers discusses his relationships with former Attorney General Arthur Bolton and George Busbee. He addresses…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Larry Walker discusses his long career in the Georgia House of Representatives, which began in 1972, including his role as house majority leader and as a member of Speaker Tom Murphy’s inner circle. Walker served in the house for 32 years and was…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Norman Underwood discusses the political careers of Georgia Governors Carl Sanders, Jimmy Carter, and George Busbee, as well as the major campaigns and issues that characterize the political atmosphere of late twentieth century Georgia. Some topics…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Joel Cowan discusses the planning and development of Peachtree City, urban development in Atlanta, and broader infrastructure issues in Georgia, such as transportation, housing, watershed management, and the roles that the public and private sectors…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Doug Barnard discusses his early life and his career in banking and in Georgia and national politics. Barnard worked for the Georgia Railroad Bank and chaired the Democratic Executive Committee before becoming Governor Carl Sanders’ executive…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

James Tysinger discusses his early life and political career. He became interested in politics during Barry Goldwater’s campaign and became active with the Dekalb Republican Party. He was later elected to the Georgia Senate, where he served from 1968…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Buddy Darden served as a U.S Representative from Georgia’s 7th district from 1983 to 1995, and previously served as a Georgia Representative and Cobb County district attorney. In this interview he discusses his early life and his political career,…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

John Blackmon discusses attending law school at Emory University, working in the state law department and in the Georgia Revenue Department. He mentions his experiences working under Governor Lester Maddox as state revenue commissioner and explains…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Having served as a Representative in Georgia State House, the director of DFACS, chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, and Georgia Commissioner, Michael "Mike" Thurmond discusses his early life in Athens, his education, his experience…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

James Lester “Jim L.” Gillis, Jr. is the grandson of Treutlen County founder and state representative Neil Gillis, the son of State Senator and Highway Commissioner Jim L. Gillis, and brother of Hugh Gillis. He discusses his time working as an…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Hugh Gillis was elected twice to the Georgia Senate, the first time in 1957, and the second in 1962. He would hold that seat for the next forty-two years, making him the longest-serving member of the Georgia General Assembly. In the senate, he was…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Elliot Levitas was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1964 and later served as a U.S. Representative from Georgia's 4th congressional district. In this interview he talks about his long career in politics, including the…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

In 1962, Rowan ran a successful campaign for the Georgia Senate. He was the youngest senator at the time. In 1974, he made an unsuccessful bid for governor. In 1989, he ran successfully for public service commissioner, and retired in 1994. Rowan…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

John Charles Foster was elected to the Georgia Senate as a Democrat in 1974. He served as chairman of the Education Committee during his entire tenure in the senate. Under Governor Joe Frank Harris, Foster sponsored the Quality Basic Education Act…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Betty Vandiver helped her husband Ernest Vandiver run a successful campaign for lieutenant governor in 1954 and in 1958, when Ernest Vandiver was elected governor of Georgia. As first lady, Betty Vandiver was instrumental in setting up…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Erwin Mitchell practiced law in Dalton, Georgia, before serving as a solicitor general for the Cherokee Judicial Circuit and subsequently as a Superior Court judge on the same circuit. In 1958 Mitchell was elected as a Democrat to the 85th Congress,…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Louise McBee was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives from Athens-Clarke County in 1991. McBee served on and chaired several committees, including the Appropriations Committee, the Retirement Committee, the World Congress Center Overview…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

In this interview Mary Anne Summers discusses her experiences working with a variety of Georgia politicians and public figures throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Summers became a secretary for Richard Ashford during the Vandiver administration.…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Keith Mason volunteered for Jimmy Carter and worked for Zell Miller in Miller’s 1974 run for lieutenant governor. He continued to work for Miller, establishing himself as an advisor during Miller’s gubernatorial race in 1990, and becoming Governor…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

David Poythress began his career in the U.S. Air Force as a judge advocate general and became assistant attorney general in 1971. Since then, Poythress has served in a variety of elected and appointed positions, including as secretary of state, state…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Thurbert Baker worked in Fulton County in the public defender’s office. He then worked as a lawyer for the Environmental Protection Agency. In 1989, he ran his first campaign for the Georgia House of Representatives, where he subsequently served five…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Harold Lloyd Murphy was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1950 and served until 1961. He also served as an assistant state solicitor general of the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit in 1956. From 1971 to 1977, he served as a superior court…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Shirley Carver Miller is the wife of former Georgia Governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller. Her platform as first lady was adult literacy, and she campaigned to increase the number of people passing General Education Development tests. Miller…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Carlton Colwell he ran a successful campaign for the Georgia House of Representatives in 1964. He represented several North Georgia mountain counties for thirty years. Colwell served on various committees, including Appropriations, Ways and Means,…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

George Hooks was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1980. Under Governor Joe Frank Harris, he served as the assistant administration floor leader. He served five terms in the house, and was elected to the Georgia State…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Harold G. Clarke was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1960. In the legislature, he authored several bills and plans, including Abolish Atlanta and the Clarke Plan. In 1966, he participated in the legislative initiative…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Edward H. Johnson went to work for Zell Miller’s campaign for lieutenant governor in 1974. Upon Miller’s election, Johnson was appointed as counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee. In 1977, Johnson was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia State…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

DuBose Porter ran a successful campaign as a Democrat for the Georgia House of Representatives, in 1982. In 1987, Porter and Griffin Lovett bought Dublin’s daily newspaper, The Courier Herald. Porter oversees the business and publishing aspect of the…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

George T. Smith joined the U.S. Navy in 1940 and after two years was placed on the Naval Land Force Equipment Depot. He left the military in 1945 and returned home. In 1948, he graduated from the University of Georgia Law School and went into private…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Fletcher Thompson was elected as a Republican to the Georgia General Assembly as a state senator in 1964. In 1966, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He served in the two succeeding congresses, but was unsuccessful in a bid for…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Lewis Massey helped Joe Frank Harris campaign for governor. In 1990, he went to work with Pierre Howard’s campaign for lieutenant governor. Howard was elected, and Massey was appointed Chief of Staff. In 1994, he successfully managed Howard's…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Joseph Maxwell Cleland first became interested in politics during his Washington Semester Program. In 1965, he was asked by Senator Richard B. Russell to become a congressional intern. Cleland then joined the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. He was…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Robert A. “Bob” Holmes was invited to teach as a professor in the political science department of Clark Atlanta University in 1971. Holmes became active in a variety of political issues and campaigns. In 1974, he was elected to the Georgia House of…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Steve W. Wrigley worked as a senior policy analyst for the Georgia State Senate in 1987 and advised Senator Zell Miller on the Mountain Protection Act. When Miller was elected lieutenant governor, Wrigley served as his executive assistant. From 1993…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

William J. “Bill” Lee was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1956. He continued to serve for forty-two years, making his the longest uninterrupted tenure in the house by any representative until tying with Tom Murphy in…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

James Roy Rowland attended South Georgia College and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia. In 1952, he received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He practiced medicine in Dublin, Georgia, from 1952 to…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Bobby Kahn, a Democratic political activist from Savannah, Georgia, is the former chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia. Kahn was elected chairman in 2004; his term expired in 2007. He previously served as chief of staff under former Governor…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Tyrone L. Brooks was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1980. He has sat on numerous committees, including Economic Development and Tourism, Governmental Affairs and Retirement, and Appropriations. Brooks has served as…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Matthew Towery was an unofficial page for Governor Lester Maddox, and continued in an official capacity during Maddox’s term as lieutenant governor. He became a speech writer in Mattingly’s successful run for senate in 1980. In 1989 with the…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Pierre Howard was elected to the Georgia Senate as a Democrat in 1972. He continued to be reelected until 1988. In 1974, Governor George Busbee appointed him assistant floor leader of the senate, a position he held for eight years. Howard proposed…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Charles C. “Chuck” Clay worked as assistant solicitor in Marietta. He went on to become district attorney, and then, in 1986, commissioner, for Cobb County. In 1988, Clay was elected to the Georgia State Senate as a Republican. After his election,…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

McCracken Poston gained his first political experience as a law student campaigning for Buddy Darden’s run for Congress. In 1988 he ran a successful campaign for the Georgia House of Representatives, where he stayed until 1996. He then made a bid for…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Harry Donival Dixon entered U.S. Maritime Service and served in World War II in 1943. In 1963, he was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia House of Representatives. He served as chairman of the Regulated Beverages committee for 27 years, and rewrote…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Ford B. Spinks was born in Tifton, Georgia on April 5, 1927. In 1962, he ran a successful campaign twice – due to reapportionment – for Georgia State Senate. He continued in the Georgia Senate, and served in many committees until leaving the senate…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Powell A. Moore began his career in politics in 1966, when Senator Richard B. Russell appointed him as his press secretary. After Russell’s death, Moore went to work in the Justice Department as deputy director of Public Information under President…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Henry M. “Hank” Huckaby worked as an assistant dean of admissions at Georgia State for four years. In 1973, he went to work under Governor Jimmy Carter’s administration in the Office of Planning and Budget, serving in subsequent years as director of…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Charles C. “Chuck” Clay worked as assistant solicitor in Marietta. He went on to become district attorney, and then, in 1986, commissioner, for Cobb County. In 1988, Clay was elected to the Georgia State Senate as a Republican. After his election,…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Stephanie Stuckey Benfield was born in Eastman, Georgia, on December 25, 1965. The daughter of Congressman Bill Stuckey, Benfield grew up in Washington, D.C. While building her own practice, Stuckey and Manheimer, she worked as legislative aide and…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Mary Margaret Oliver served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1987-1992, and the Georgia Senate from 1993-1998. When Oliver was elected to the senate, she was appointed to chair the Judiciary Committee during her freshman term, and was the…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Peter Louis Banks worked as a congressional intern for U.S. Representative John James Flynt, Jr., from Georgia during law school. After graduating from law school, he worked as an attorney for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He was elected to the…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

W. Daniel Ebersole moved to Atlanta in 1974 to work as a volunteer aide to Atlanta city council member Charles Helms. He worked on Zell Miller’s campaigns for lieutenant governor and U.S. Senate against Senator Herman Talmadge in 1980. From 1980-1990…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Reid Walker Harris was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1964 and served for six years. During this time he worked on achieving the independence of the legislature, and was the principal author of several laws concerning conservation…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Cathey Weiss Steinberg served in the Georgia General Assembly for sixteen years in both the Georgia House of Representatives (1977-1989) and in the Georgia Senate (1991-1993). She is recognized as a strong advocate for women’s rights. She was the…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Betty Vandiver helped her husband Ernest Vandiver run a successful campaign for lieutenant governor in 1954 and in 1958, when Ernest Vandiver was elected governor of Georgia. As first lady, Betty Vandiver was instrumental in setting up…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Jane Brevard Vandiver Kidd was involved in politics early, serving as chair of Youth for Herman Talmadge in Talmadge’s 1968 Senate campaign, and campaigning for her father during his 1972 U.S. Senate campaign. She graduated from the University of…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Milton Jones served in the United States Army Reserves from 1954-1962, retiring as a Sergeant 1st class. A Democrat, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1963 and served until 1970. In 1974, Governor Jimmy Carter appointed him to…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Thomas Bryant Buck, III, was first elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1966. He served for thirty-eight years in the Georgia House of Representatives, one of the longest tenures of any lawmaker in the state's history. He became a committee…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Senator Carol Jackson, a Democrat from Cleveland, was elected to the state Senate from Georgia's 50th District in 1998. Lieutenant Governor Taylor has appointed Senator Jackson to serve as vice chair of the Corrections, Correctional Institutions, and…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Bill Burson served as an aide to Senator Herman Talmadge and later to Governor Carl Sanders. In 1967, the newly elected governor, Lester Maddox, appointed Burson Director of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. Over the next three…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Wayne Garner served in the Georgia State Senate from 1980 until 1993. Garner chaired the Senate Committee on Corrections for approximately ten years. He was later named majority leader of the Senate and, ultimately, President Pro Tempore. In April of…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Jack Etheridge served as a law clerk for a State Superior Court Judge and Federal District Court Judge. He became an associate with Smith, Kilpatrick, Cody, Rogers & McClatchy (now Kilpatrick & Stockton) and later spent ten years as partner with…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Kathy Blee Ashe was first elected to the Georgia General Assembly House of Representatives in June of 1991. As a member of the Georgia House of Representatives for House District 56, Ashe served on the Education, Children and Youth, Higher Education,…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Geisinger's political involvement has included membership on the National Legislative Conference on Campaigning Financing and Ethics. He was the first advisor to the National Legislative Leaders Conference and was honored as an outstanding leader…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Mary W. Beazley was bonh on November 8, 1929 in Athens, Georgia. She attended the Georgia State College for Women and the University of Georgia. Beazley worked as a staffer for Gov. Vandiver, Lt. Gov. Geer, Gov. Maddox, Gov. Carter, Lt. Gov Miller,…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

James L. Paulk, known as Jimmy, was born March 26, 1949, in Fitzgerald, Georgia. He received a Bachelor's of Business Administration in Management from the University of Georgia in 1972. At the age of 26, Paulk defeated Senator Martin Young, then the…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Rusty Paul grew up in the Birmingham, Alabama area during the 1950s and 60s. He has worked in journalism as a newspaper and radio reporter, chaired the Republican Party in Georgia, and served as a state senator in the Georgia General Assembly. In…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Ron Fennel has served in various political positions over his 33-year career, including two terms as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing his hometown of Brunswick (1988-1992). While a member of the Legislature, he…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Don Johnson was elected to the State Senate from the 47th District in 1987 to fill the unexpired term of the late Senator Parks Brown. Johnson, a Democrat, served on the Judiciary, Reapportionment, Agriculture, Transportation, Finance, Public…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Senator Nan Orrock was elected by Atlanta voters to the Georgia Senate in 2006, after serving ten terms in the House of Representatives, where she was the first woman elected as House majority whip. She also served as the Governor’s Floor Leader, a…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Karen Handel served as Secretary of State of Georgia from 2007 to 2010, when she resigned to run for governor of Georgia, a bid which was ultimately unsuccessful. In this interview she discusses her upbringing, public service career, and political…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Julian Bond was a civil rights activist who held leadership roles in several organizations, including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Senator Bill Stephens, a Republican from Canton, was elected to the State Senate in 1998 to represent the 51st Senate District. He discusses his work with Gov. Zell Miller, his time in the State Senate, and the state of party politics in Georgia.

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Roy D. Moultrie was born in Hamilton, Georgia, on April 2, 1932. He attended West Georgia College and obtained his J.D. from Mercer University. Moultrie served as a probate judge in Harris County, Georgia, before running for state representative for…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Robert Lindsay Thomas is a U.S. Representative from Georgia. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-eighth and to the four succeeding Congresses (1983-1993). Thomas discusses his involvement with agriculture, his experience in Washington, D.C.…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Douglas Clark Teper attended Georgia State University both for his bachelor's degree and law school. He was elected to the Georgia State House of Representatives in 1988 and served through 2005. He served on the Industry, Judiciary, and Rules…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Martha (Marti) Plemmons Fullerton was born on January 13, 1942, in Murphy, N.C. She attending Young Harris College and Florida State University. Fullerton held various positions in the Bowdoin Commission from 1963 to 1999. She also served on the…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Bill Hardman discusses his career as the director of tourism for the state of Georgia from 1959 to the early 1970s, including his office's attempts to improve Georgia's reputation among out-of-state travelers and to lure vacationers headed to Florida…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

George Berry discusses the political career of James Carmichael, including his early life, his involvement with Rickenbacker Field and the Bell Aircraft Corporation in Marietta, his work with Governor Ellis Arnall, and the 1946 governor's race…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Casey Cagle was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 1994 at the age of twenty-eight. He served in the Senate for 12 years before being elected Lieutenant Governor of Georgia in 2006. In this election, Cagle defeated Ralph Reed, a prominent…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Frank Albert was elected to the Georgia Senate in 1964. He served as a Republican Senator for eight years, working closely with such politicians as Governor Zell B. Miller, Senator Culver Kidd, and Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives Tom…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Garland Pinholster grew up in Clyatville, Georgia in a farming family. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, served at Fort Benning during the Korean War, coached college sports at Oglethorpe University, and was elected to…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Ray Holland is an attorney who served in the Georgia House from 1989-2003. In this interview Holland discusses his education at the University of Georgia and his introduction to politics through the YMCA Youth Assembly. He discusses his early…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Sam Doss was elected to the Georgia State Senate as a Democrat in 1968. In the legislature, he served on the Higher Education and Appropriations Committees. He was responsible for advocating for the legislation that led to the establishment of the…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Charles Graves worked in the news industry, as a local reporter and then as the press secretary for U.S. Congressman George Davis. He also served as a Georgia State Representative and then Executive Director of the Georgia Democratic Party. In this…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Frank Moore worked in Jimmy Carter’s gubernatorial and presidential administrations. In this interview he discusses his specific roles as Deputy Chief of Staff to Hamilton Jordan, national finance chairman of Carter’s campaign, and congressional…

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

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Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

In this interview Bob Short discusses Lester Maddox. Short coordinated the campaign of Jimmy Carter when Carter ran for governor of Georgia in 1966, and then worked as press secretary for Carter's opponent in that race, Governor Lester Maddox, in…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

George Berry discusses the political career of James Carmichael, including the 1946 governor's race against Eugene Talmadge and three governors controversy. Berry served as deputy chief administrative officer in Mayor Ivan Allen's administration and…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

In this interview Zell Miller discusses his early life and political career. Miller served as lieutenant governor of Georgia from 1975 to 1991, was elected governor of Georgia in 1990, and served as a United States senator. As governor he founded the…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Bob Short worked in various capacities in the administrations of Georgia governors Marvin Griffin, Ernest Vandiver, and Carl Sanders, served as the coordinator for President Jimmy Carter’s 1966 campaign for governor of Georgia, and was press…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Bob Short worked in various capacities in the administrations of Georgia governors Marvin Griffin, Ernest Vandiver, and Carl Sanders, served as the coordinator for President Jimmy Carter’s 1966 campaign for governor of Georgia, and was press…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

In this interview Pete Wheeler discusses his career as Commissioner of Veterans Services. Wheeler began this career during the Herman Talmadge administration in 1949.

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Carl Sanders served in the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate and served as governor of Georgia from 1963-1967. Norman Underwood was a partner in Sanders’ law firm Troutman Sanders, LLP, in 1973, managed George Busbee’s campaign for…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

In this interview Bruce Russell and Earl Leonard discuss Richard B. Russell, Jr. Bruce Russell is the nephew of Richard B. Russell, Jr., and has worked as a school teacher, lawyer, and judge in various parts of north Georgia. Earl Leonard served as…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

T. Rogers Wade served as chief of staff to Senator Herman Talmadge from 1973 to 1980. He returned to Georgia to practice law and was active on many boards and foundations. In this interview, T. Rogers Wade discusses the career of Herman Talmadge.

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Carl Sanders served as governor from 1963 to 1967 and had a successful law career with his firm Troutman Sanders, LLC. In this interview, Sanders discusses his rise to governor of Georgia, the 1970 gubernatorial race, and his career after politics.

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Joe Frank Harris served as governor of Georgia from 1983 to 1991, and is remembered for creating and implementing the Quality Basic Education Act (QBE), overseeing the building of the Georgia Dome, creating the Technical College System of Georgia,…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Roy Barnes was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 1974, serving for eight years. In 1990 he made his first run for governor, but lost to Zell Miller. From 1992 to 1998 he served in the Georgia House of Representatives, followed by a successful…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Lauren “Bubba” McDonald was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1971. He served on various committees throughout his political career, including his five-year chairmanship of the Industry Committee and, later, the Appropriations…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Bert Lance was Georgia’s highway director during Jimmy Carter’s term as governor. He ran an unsuccessful campaign to succeed Carter as governor in 1974. In 1976, Lance began his term as president of the National Bank of Georgia and became director of…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Nathan Deal worked as a lawyer, assistant district attorney and judge, before being elected to the Georgia State Senate in 1981. He served until 1993, and was president pro tempore in his last term. Deal was elected in 1992 as a Democrat to the U.S.…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Elizabeth “Betty” Vandiver and Jane Kidd are the wife and daughter, respectively, of the late Ernest Vandiver, governor of Georgia from 1959 to 1963. In this interview they recall memories of the former governor, focusing on topics such as the…

Collection: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

James Francis “Jim” Martin drafted legislation as part of the legislative council before joining Legal Aid, an organization representing low income families. In 1983, he ran for office, and was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives as a…

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Collection: Georgia Environmental Oral History Project

Jean Poleszak interviewed by Betsy Bean. Jean Poleszak discusses how she and her husband first became acquainted with Jekyll Island after stopping over on their drive down to vacation in Florida from their home in Kenmore, N.Y. After moving full time…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

In this interview, Levison discusses his early life in Georgia and his decision to enlist in the military. He talks about going to college and law school at Emory University and his legal career in tax law. Levison then describes his early…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Lindsey discusses his early life in Atlanta, witnessing the Civil Rights movement firsthand, and details his legal career. Lindsey outlines his involvement with political campaigns in the early 2000s prior to his successful run for the Georgia House…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Walker discusses his background and childhood, and talks about running for the Georgia House at Sam Nunn’s behest in 1972, winning as a Democrat. He tells of his first few terms in the legislature and his leadership role in the House. Walker…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Burkhalter talks about his early life and how he became politically active. Burkhalter then discusses returning to north Fulton County to work in the real estate business and explains why he ran for the Georgia House of Representatives in 1992 and…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Barnes and Irvin begin by talking about their early involvement in politics and why they chose to seek elected office. They then discuss their time in the legislature, the focus on national politics during that time, and the history of the Republican…

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Collection: Richard B. Russell Library Oral History Documentary Collection

Russell Library Director Sheryl Vogt interviews Bobby Rowan about his tenure in the Georgia Senate (1963-1974) and as a Public Service Commissioner (1989-1994). Rowan discusses his early life, including schooling, family, church attendance, and…

Collection: Richard B. Russell Library Oral History Documentary Collection

Richard B. Russell Library Director Sheryl Vogt interviews Kil Townsend about his life as a lawyer, businessman, author, and maverick Republican legislator in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1965 to 1992. Townsend discusses his early work…

Collection: First Person Project

Georgia Hooks was born in Americus, Georgia in 1945. He grew up in Americus and served five terms in the Georgia House of Representatives. Hooks later served in the Senate, where he worked in the Appropriations Committee along with other senate…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Matthew Allen (Matt) Towery was born in Atlanta on December 6, 1959. He attended the University of Georgia and graduated from Cambridge University and Stetson University College of Law. Towery ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for Lieutenant…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

George Hooks was born May 9, 1945 in Sumter County, Georgia. He graduated from Auburn University and holds an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Mercer University. Hooks won election to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1980 and served as…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Albert J. (Al) Scott was born and raised in rural Effingham County before moving to Savannah when he was five years old. He graduated from Savannah’s historic Alfred E. Beach High School and Armstrong State University (now part of Georgia Southern…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Born on October 8, 1954 in Lansing, Michigan, Tom Price grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, and graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. An orthopedic surgeon, Price moved to Atlanta in 1979 when he began a surgical internship and residency…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

DuBose Porter was born October 2, 1953, in Dublin, Georgia. He attended Davidson College and received a bachelor’s degree in English. He interned in Washington, D.C., with Senator Sam Nunn before attending the Cumberland Law School at Samford…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Jerry Keen was born and raised in metro Atlanta. Keen attended Mercer University in Macon and Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. He has worked as a financial management professional. A past Chair of the Georgia Christian Coalition and Director of…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

John Oxendine was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and grew up in Tucker, Georgia. Oxendine graduated from Mercer University in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in Christianity, Greek, and political science. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Mercer…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Keith W. Mason was born in Snellville, Georgia, on September 20, 1960. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and University of Georgia School of Law. Mason, a Democrat, began his career in politics working for Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller…

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Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Molly Dye Franklin was raised between Waynesboro and Augusta. She earned her bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandizing from the University of Georgia in 1980 before earning a certification in executive secretarial protocol from Katherine Gibbs…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

John H. (Jack) Kingston was born on April 24, 1955 in Bryan, Texas. His family relocated to Athens, Georgia, after his father, Dr. Albert Kingston, joined the University of Georgia faculty. Kingston attended the University of Georgia where he earned…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Dorothy (Dot) Padgett was born in Sandersville, Georgia, and grew up in Douglas County. She attended the University of Georgia’s Atlanta extension (now Georgia State University) but did not graduate. Padgett and other supporters of former Georgia…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

J.A. (Sonny) Dixon was born in Savannah on August 5, 1952. He grew up in Savannah and attended the University of Florida. He served two terms as mayor of the Garden City, Georgia and five terms in the Georgia House of Representatives. Dixon retired…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Sam Olens was born on July 8, 1957 in Miami, Florida, and grew up in South New Jersey. He graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in international politics from American University in Washington D.C. and earned a J.D. from Emory University…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Christopher M. (Chris) Carr was born on February 8, 1972 in Lansing, Michigan. He relocated to Georgia with his family in 1978. Carr is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Terry School of Business and School of Law. Carr worked for Georgia…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Robert A. (Bob) Irvin was born on September 9, 1948 and grew up in North Fulton County. He attended Roswell High School and graduated from the Lovett School in Atlanta. Irvin earned a bachelor’s degree in government from the College of William &…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Leroy H. (Roy) Simkins, Jr. was born in Augusta, Georgia, and grew up in Beech Island, South Carolina. He is a graduate of Richmond Academy in Augusta and Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. After serving two years in the U.S. Army,…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Joseph B. (Joe) Wilkinson was born September 3, 1946 in Atlanta. Wilkinson is a graduate of North Fulton County High School and the University of Georgia. Wilkinson has held various roles with the Coca-Cola Company. He also worked as a White House…

Collection: Two-Party Georgia Oral History Project

Lea Agnew was born in Atlanta and grew up in southwest Atlanta. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia’s Grady School of Journalism. Agnew became active in politics during the 1968 presidential elections, and she eventually…

Collection: Richard B. Russell, Jr. Oral History Project

James Philander Campbell, Jr. was the Under Secretary for the Department of Agriculture, 1969-1975. Topics include anecdotes of Senator Russell; Georgia governors; Senator Russell's legislative style.

Collection: Series II. S. Ernest Vandiver Interviews

Peter Zack Geer interviewed by Hal Henderson. Geer was Gov. Vandiver's executive secretary (1959-1962) and served as lieutenant governor of Georgia from 1962 to 1966. Topics in this interview include Vandiver as politician and his place in Georgia’s…

Collection: Series I. Ellis G. Arnall

Ellis Arnall interviewed by Hal Henderson. Topics include Arnall’s opinions on the case against John E. Whitley (1939), his experiences when attorney general under Governor Ed Rivers (1939-1941), and Henderson’s drafts of his biography about Arnall.

Collection: Latinx Georgia Oral History

Brenda Lopez Romero was born in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and immigrated to Georgia with her parents while she was a young child. As a first generation scholar, Romero recounts her experiences dealing with racism within public schools, university, and the…

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Collection: Latinx Georgia Oral History

Sam Zamarripa was born in Fort Benning to a Mexican immigrant and an American national. As his father was in the military, Zamarripa’s family moved often, but he considers himself a Southerner. In this interview, Zamarripa discusses his…

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