George W. (Buddy) Darden Papers, Series II: Legislative, 1964-1996

Summary

Creator:
Darden, George, 1943-
Date:
1964-1996
Extent:
112 box(es) (112 linear feet, 875 KB)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

George W. (Buddy) Darden Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Background

Scope and content:

Series II: Legislative documents Darden's committee service, legislation considered during his terms, and his voting record. The committee files include correspondence, hearings transcripts, meeting minutes, draft legislation, and publications of the Appropriations Committee (FY94 and FY95), the Armed Services Committee, and the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, as well as a draft manual by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Significant issues considered by the Armed Services Committee during this time include the Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm), Dobbins Air Force Base, military spending, and research and development of new weapons. The main concerns addressed by the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs includes national parks, water resources and wetlands, and to a lesser extent handling nuclear waste and Native Americans.

Both Darden's files on bills and his subject files concern legislation and include correspondence with colleagues, advocacy groups and constituents, Democratic Party memos, clippings and publications, and copies of bills. Main subjects include the government budget, the environment, health care, taxes, and to a lesser extent agriculture and animal grazing, business and labor, combating crime, education, foreign affairs, gun control, and the military. The series also contains Darden's voting record and analysis of Congress's voting record by various groups.

Biographical / historical:

George Washington "Buddy" Darden was born in Sparta, Georgia, on November 22, 1943. 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 Washington, D.C. He received his law degree from the University of Georgia Law School in 1967, and served as assistant district attorney in Cobb County from 1968 to 1972, when he was elected district attorney.

In 1980, he was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia House of Representatives, and served on the Judiciary Committee. After the death of U.S. Representative Larry McDonald, Darden won the special election to take his seat in 1983. In congress, he served on several committees, including the House Armed Services, Ethics, and Appropriations. In 1994, he lost his reelection bid, and unsuccessfully campaigned for congress in 2002. He served under Governor Roy Barnes as chairman of the Judicial Nominating Commission.

Since 1995, he has been with the law firm McKenna, Long & Aldridge. President Clinton appointed him to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. After Clinton left office, Darden began doing work for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, traveling to various countries including Indonesia and Senegal. Darden has also represented Georgia's interests in the water disputes with Alabama and Florida.

Arrangement:

Divided into four subseries: A. Committees, B. Bills, C. Subject Files, and D. Voting Records.

The rest of Darden's papers are described in separate finding aids: Series I: Constituent Services, Series III: Speeches and Press, Series IV: Political, Series V: Personal, Series VI: Office, Series VII: Photographs, Series VIII: Artifacts, and Audiovisual Materials.

Access and use restrictions

Restrictions:

This series is open for research use.

Subseries C: Subject Files contains electronic files. To access these files, please request the folders you would like through the finding aid using your research account. An archivist will be in contact with you to explain how to access the files. Please note that not all file formats are currently supported by the library for research use.

Terms of access:

Library acts as "fair use" reproduction agent.

Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permissions. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Preferred citation:

George W. (Buddy) Darden Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.