Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection

Descriptive Summary
Title: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection
Creator: Short, Charles Robert, 1932-
Inclusive Dates: 2006-2016
Language(s): English
Extent: 169 interview(s)
Collection Number: RBRL220ROGP
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: The Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection consists of interviews with politically prominent Georgians conducted by Bob Short since 2007. Interviewees include former governors, members of both the U.S. and Georgia Congresses, secretaries of state, lobbyists, journalists, lawyers, activists, and relatives of prominent politicians. Included with these oral histories are a few public programs recorded at Young Harris College in 2006-2007. Most interviews were recorded in the homes and offices of interviewees or in the Bob Short Oral History Studio at the University of Georgia. The conversations cover many topics at the intersection of politics and public life in modern Georgia, with a particular strength in gubernatorial contests, the Civil Rights movement, reapportionment, the development of Atlanta, the rise of the Republican party in Georgia, political journalism, and the interaction between religion and politics.

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Charles Robert "Bob" Short was born in Clayton, Georgia on April 17, 1932 and educated at Young Harris College, Georgia Southern University and the Woodrow Wilson College of Law. Upon discharge from the Air Force in 1956 he began his career as a sports writer for the Atlanta Journal, and then served in various capacities in the administrations of Georgia Governors Marvin Griffin, Ernest Vandiver, and Carl Sanders. 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 1967 and 1968. In 1968 he was appointed regional director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness -- the forerunner of FEMA-- by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Entering the private sector in the early 1970s, Short worked for Hoffman LaRoche and Hospital Corporation of America, and for his own firm, Investmart, Inc., a marketing consulting business. Short remained active politically, consulting on a limited scale and serving as special assistant to Governor and Senator Zell Miller and Senator Johnny Isakson. Retired to Blairsville, Georgia, Short wrote the only biography of Lester Maddox, Everything is Pickrick (Mercer University Press, 1999), which won him the title "Author of the Year" from the Georgia Writers Association. In 2006 he began a lecture and discussion program at neighboring Young Harris College entitled Reflections on Georgia Politics, and then partnered with the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies to make Reflections an oral history series.

More detailed biographical information for each interviewee can be found in the corresponding individual interview finding aid, which can be linked to through the Reflections on Georgia Politics website.

Scope and Content

The Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection consists of interviews with politically prominent Georgians conducted by Bob Short since 2007. Interviewees include former governors, members of both the U.S. and Georgia Congresses, secretaries of state, lobbyists, journalists, lawyers, activists, and relatives of prominent politicians. Included with these oral histories are a few public programs recorded at Young Harris College in 2006-2007. Most interviews were recorded in the homes and offices of interviewees or in the Bob Short Oral History Studio at the University of Georgia. The conversations cover many topics at the intersection of politics and public life in modern Georgia, with a particular strength in gubernatorial contests, the Civil Rights movement, reapportionment, the development of Atlanta, the rise of the Republican party in Georgia, political journalism, and the interaction between religion and politics.

More detailed scope and content information for each interview can be found in the corresponding individual interview finding aid, which can be linked to through the Reflections on Georgia Politics website.

Organization and Arrangement

Interviews are arranged chronologically by the date the interview was recorded.

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Administrative Information

Custodial History

Reflections on Georgia Politics began in the fall of 2006 at Young Harris College, as a lecture and discussion program hosted by Georgia political veteran Bob Short. In late 2007, the Richard B. Russell Library began producing the program as an oral history video series to further illuminate and personalize the tectonic shifts that occurred in Georgia politics in the late twentieth century

Preferred Citation

Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Processing Notes

Most early interviews were recorded to MiniDV videotape. Beginning with ROGP 111, interviews were recorded as digital AVCHD files. Not all interviews have been transcribed, but for those with transcripts, the bulk of transcription was performed by WordzXpressed in Atlanta, Georgia, a service sponsored by Young Harris College. Transcriptions were formatted and audited by students at the Russell Library.

Copyright Information

Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2010.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in Other Repositories

Georgia Government Documentation Project (GGDP), Special Collections, Georgia State University Georgia's Political Heritage Program, State University of West Georgia

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

ROGP 000-01 Bob Short on Lester Maddox

1 interview(s) 93 minutes

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 1967 and 1968.

ROGP 000-01 Bob Short video, 2006 Access Online

 

ROGP 000-02 George Berry on James Carmichael

1 interview(s) 34 minutes

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 under Mayor Sam Massell as chief administrative officer during Atlanta's critical transition from primarily white to mixed race leadership. In 1983, Berry became the commissioner of Industry, Trade and Tourism for the state of Georgia. He remained in that position until 1990, when he ran an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor.

ROGP 000-02 George Berry video, 2006 Access Online

 

ROGP 000-03 Zell Miller

1 interview(s) 104 minutes

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 HOPE scholarship, which used lottery funds to pay for student tuition to Georgia universities.

ROGP 000-03 Zell Miller video, 2006 October 24 Access Online

ROGP 000-03 Zell Miller transcript, 2006 October 24 Access Online

 

ROGP 000-04 Bob Short

1 interview(s) 82 minutes

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 secretary for Governor Lester Maddox in 1967 and 1968. Short discusses his early life, his political career, and the changes in Georgia politics that developed in the 1950s and 1960s.

ROGP 000-04 Bob Short video, 2007 December 10 Access Online

 

ROGP 000-05 Bob Short

1 interview(s) 110 minutes

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 secretary for Governor Lester Maddox in 1967 and 1968. Short discusses his experience working for Carter and Maddox, and his federal role as the Regional Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness.

ROGP 000-05 Bob Short video, 2008 February 11 Access Online

 

ROGP 000-06 Pete Wheeler

1 interview(s) 47 minutes

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

ROGP 000-06 Pete Wheeler video, 2007 April 1 Access Online

 

ROGP 000-07 Bob Short on the three governors controversy

1 interview(s) 29 minutes

In this interview Bob Short discusses the Three Governors Controversy. 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 secretary for Governor Lester Maddox in 1967 and 1968.

ROGP 000-07 Bob Short video, 2007 Access Online

 

ROGP 000-08 Bob Short on the 1962 gubernatorial race

1 interview(s) 18 minutes

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 secretary for Governor Lester Maddox in 1967 and 1968. In this interview, Short discusses the 1962 Georgia gubernatorial election and the effect of the end of the county unit system on its outcome.

ROGP 000-08 Bob Short video, 2007 Access Online

 

ROGP 000-09 Bob Short on the Herman Talmadge-Zell Miller debates

1 interview(s)

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 secretary for Governor Lester Maddox in 1967 and 1968. In this video Short discusses the legacy and importance of political debates in the U.S. and in Georgia, including the Lincoln-Douglas debates, the Nixon-Kennedy debates, and Georgia's Talmadge-Miller debates.

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UC 0220

Bob Short introduces the 1980 U.S. Senate Democratic Primary debate [DVD User Copy 0220], 1980

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UC 0218

Zell Miller and Herman Talmadge runoff debate, no. 3 [DVD User Copy 0218], 1980

 

ROGP 000-10 Carl Sanders and Norman Underwood on George Busbee

1 interview(s) 18 minutes

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 governor, and became Busbee's executive secretary in 1975. In this video Sanders and Underwood discuss George Busbee's career as governor of Georgia from 1975 to 1983, commenting on his hard work, popularity, and the amendment to the Georgia Constitution that allowed him to serve two consecutive terms.

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CD/DVD 0040

ROGP DVD 016

[Excerpts from an oral history interview with George Busbee] [DVD] ( 8 minutes )

ROGP 000-10 Carl Sanders and Norman Underwood video, 2007 Access Online

 

ROGP 001 Bruce Russell and Earl Leonard on Richard B. Russell, Jr.

1 interview(s) 86 minutes

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 Senator Russell's press secretary in Washington, D.C., retired from the Coca-Cola Company as senior vice president for corporate affairs, and served on various boards and foundations at the University of Georgia, including the University of Georgia Foundation and the Richard B. Russell Foundation.

ROGP 001 Bruce Russell and Earl Leonard on Richard B. Russell, Jr. video, 2006 August 31 Access Online

 

ROGP 002 T. Rogers Wade on Herman Talmadge

1 interview(s) 91 minutes

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.

ROGP 002 T. Rogers Wade on Herman Talmadge video, 2006 September 7 Access Online

 

ROGP 003 Religion and Politics forum

1 interview(s) 101 minutes

Bob Short moderates a panel discussion on the relationship between religion and politics in the United States. Panel members are Dr. Fred Craddock, Dr. Charles Gillespie, Dr. Jim Hale, and Dr. David Franklin. Topics covered include the role of religion in the U.S. Constitution, public opinion about religion, the concept of a Christian nation, and school prayer.

ROGP 003 Religion and Politics forum video, 2006 September 14 Access Online

 

ROGP 004 Bill Shipp

1 interview(s) 94 minutes

William "Bill" Shipp worked as a journalist in Georgia for fifty years. Shipp began his career as managing editor of the University of Georgia's Red and Black newspaper. In 1956 Shipp began to write for the Atlanta Constitution, covering topics such as the civil rights movement, the space program, and numerous political campaigns and leaders in Georgia. In this interview, Shipp discusses the role of the media in politics, including its effect on public opinion and its influence on elections.

ROGP 004 Bill Shipp video, 2006 September 28 Access Online

ROGP 004 Bill Shipp transcript, 2006 September 28 Access Online

 

ROGP 005 Carl Sanders

1 interview(s) 50 minutes

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.

ROGP 005 Carl Sanders video, 2006 October 1 Access Online

 

ROGP 006 Ed Jenkins

1 interview(s) 110 minutes

Ed Jenkins was elected to the U.S. Congress as a Democrat in 1976. While in Congress, he was active in the Ways and Means Committee, passing and supporting bills involving taxes, trade, and land and mountain preservation. In this interview he discusses his early life and political career, sharing his opinions on foreign policy and party politics.

ROGP 006 Ed Jenkins video, 2006 October 5 Access Online

 

ROGP 007 Joe Frank Harris

1 interview(s) 106 minutes

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, and working to bring the 1996 Summer Olympics to Atlanta. In this interview, Harris discusses the QBE, attratcting businesses to Georgia, water resource management, and his working relationships in public service.

ROGP 007 Joe Frank Harris video, 2006 November 2 Access Online

 

ROGP 008 Roy Barnes

1 interview(s) 117 minutes

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 run for governor against Guy Millner. In this interview, Barnes talks about growing up in Cobb County, Georgia, his political career, and his term as governor from 1999 to 2003.

ROGP 008 Roy Barnes video, 2006 November 16 Access Online

 

ROGP 009 Carlton Colwell and Eric Holmes on Politics and Lobbying

1 interview(s) 38 minutes

Carlton Colwell was elected to 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, and Fiscal Affairs. He served as chairman of the State Institution and Property Committee, and oversaw the prison system in Georgia. In the early 1980s Colwell helped rewrite the Georgia Constitution as a member of the Constitutional Revision commission. In this interview, Colwell and Eric Holmes discuss lobbying's role in politics from the perspectives of both the lobbyist and the legislator.

ROGP 009 Carlton Colwell and Eric Holmes video, 2007 January 12 Access Online

 

ROGP 010 Bubba McDonald on Tom Murphy

1 interview(s) 97 minutes

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 Committee. Governor Zell Miller appointed McDonald to the Public Service Commission (PSC) in 1998, and McDonald was elected to the PSC again in 2008. In this interview, McDonald discusses Tom Murphy, Speaker of the House for Georgia from 1973 to 2002. He addresses Murphy's strong independence from the power of the governor, his emphasis on fiscal responsibility, and his fiery temperament. McDonald also covers Murphy's similarities to and conflicts with Zell Miller, his support for the city of Atlanta, and the reasons for his lack of success running in his own district.

ROGP 010 Bubba McDonald on Tom Murphy video, 2007 January 16 Access Online

 

ROGP 011 Bert Lance

1 interview(s) 59 minutes

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 the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during Carter's presidency. In this interview, Lance discusses his early memories of Georgia politics, the development of the interstate highway system in the state, and government reorganization. He also talks about his loss to George Busbee in the 1974 gubernatorial election and his working relationship with Jimmy Carter throughout Carter's governorship and presidency.

ROGP 011 Bert Lance video, 2007 January 25 Access Online

 

ROGP 012 Nathan Deal

1 interview(s) 45 minutes

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. Congress, but four months into his second term he switched to the Republican Party. He went on to win his first term as a Republican in 1996, and ran a successful campaign to become Governor of Georgia in 2010. In this interview Deal discusses his path into politics and describes how he came to change his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 1995, shortly after his reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives. Deal also elaborates on his positions regarding a number of issues, including immigration reform, U.S. foreign policy with Iraq and Afghanistan, social programs, tax policy, environmental issues, and global trade policies.

ROGP 012 Nathan Deal video, 2007 February 1 Access Online

ROGP 012 Nathan Deal transcript, 2007 February 1 Access Online

 

ROGP 013 Betty Vandiver and Jane Kidd

1 interview(s) 109 minutes

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 efforts to improve conditions at Central State Hospital, integration at the University of Georgia, Governor Vandiver's military career, and the state of political parties in Georgia in the mid-twentieth century and in 2007.

ROGP 013 Elizabeth Vandiver and Jane Kidd video, 2007 February 9 Access Online

 

ROGP 014 Mack Mattingly

1 interview(s) 76 minutes

Mack Mattingly was born in Anderson, Indiana on January 7, 1931 and had a career in both business and politics in Georgia for many decades. In 1980 he became the first Republican from Georgia to serve in the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction. In this interview Mattingly discusses his entrance into politics with his role in the Georgia Republican Party as chairman of the 8th district for Barry Goldwater's campaign, as well as his service in the U.S. Senate, working primarily on tax and trade policy. He also addresses his work with NATO and national defense issues surrounding the Cold War and the War on Terror. Other topics include his early years in Indiana, his Air Force service in the Korean War, and his long career with IBM.

ROGP 014 Mack Mattingly video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

ROGP 014 Mack Mattingly video, 2007 February 15 Access Online

ROGP 014 Mack Mattingly transcript, 2007 February 15 Access Online

 

ROGP 015 Griffin Bell

1 interview(s) 46 minutes

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 chief of staff under Governor Ernest Vandiver, and his service as Attorney General under President Jimmy Carter. He addresses the legal and judicial aspects of civil rights--particularly school integration--and talks about his work challenging white collar crime and corruption. Bell also discusses his relationship with President Jimmy Carter during his tenure as Attorney General.

ROGP 015 Griffin Bell video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

ROGP 015 Griffin Bell video, 2007 February 22 Access Online

ROGP 015 Griffin Bell transcript, 2007 February 22 Access Online

 

ROGP 016 Leroy Johnson

1 interview(s) 79 minutes

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 General Assembly since 1907. In this interview Johnson discusses his career in the Georgia senate. He addresses his rise to chair of the Judiciary Committee, his efforts to desegregate the capitol and appoint black officials, and his relationships with his fellow senators. Johnson also covers his formative years at Morehouse College taking guidance from its president, Benjamin Mays. Other topics include his unsuccessful run for mayor of Atlanta and his efforts to stage a Muhammad Ali-Jerry Quarry boxing match in the city.

ROGP 016 Leroy Johnson video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 017 Sam Griffin on Marvin Griffin

1 interview(s) 44 minutes

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 Wiggins, Governor Griffin's executive secretary, also contributes.

ROGP 017 Sam Griffin on Marvin Griffin video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 018 Johnny Isakson

1 interview(s) 50 minutes

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, and has run a successful real estate business. In this interview Isakson discusses his career as a Georgia legislator and U.S. Congressman. In addition to his personal stories, he addresses contemporary issues such as defense, social security, health care, and tax reform.

ROGP 018 Johnny Isakson video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 019 Saxby Chambliss

1 interview(s) 43 minutes

Clarence Saxby Chambliss was born in Warrenton, North Carolina on November 10, 1943. He attended Louisiana Tech University and the University of Georgia, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1966. He received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1968. In this interview, Chambliss discusses his early years practicing law in south Georgia, as well as his experience serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. In the House, Chambliss served on the Armed Services Committee, the Agriculture Committee, and served on the House Intelligence Committee leading up to 9/11. He addresses a wide range of policy issues, including the War on Terror, immigration, agriculture, environmental issues, the military, tax policy, and social security. He also comments on former Georgia Governor George Busbee.

ROGP 019 Saxby Chambliss video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 020 Cathy Cox

1 interview(s) 81 minutes

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 in journalism and law before serving in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996. She also talks about becoming Secretary of State in 1999, and her efforts to update voting equipment and voter ID laws. She also addresses her unsuccessful run in the 2006 campaign for governor, and shares her thoughts on issues facing Georgia such as early childhood education, rail transportation, and water resource management. Furthermore, she discusses her experience as president of Young Harris College, a role she took in 2007, and her plans for the college in the near future.

ROGP 020 Cathy Cox video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 021 David Gambrell

1 interview(s) 89 minutes

David Gambrell worked as campaign treasurer during Jimmy Carter's campaign for governor, and was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Governor Carter after the death of Richard Russell. In this interview Gambrell discusses the highlights of his service in the Senate, such as his vote against a resolution to withdraw troops from Vietnam and his support for the Lockheed bailout when he served on the Banking Committee. Other topics include family life, campaign finance, shifts in party politics, the career of Griffin Bell, and the Watergate scandal.

ROGP 021 David Gambrell video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 022 Nancy Schaefer

1 interview(s) 39 minutes

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 service as a state senator representing parts of northeast Georgia. She focuses on her efforts to reform Child Protective Services and her work representing the organizations Family Concerns and the Southern Baptist Convention to the United Nations. She also addresses her run for mayor of Atlanta, her campaigns for lieutenant governor, and her run for Congress. Other topics include the rise of Republicanism in Georgia and a variety of social issues.

ROGP 022 Nancy Schaefer video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 023 Herb Mabry

1 interview(s) 87 minutes

Herb Mabry studied labor law at Woodrow Wilson College of Law in Atlanta and entered union politics in 1950 through his carpentry work with Sears Roebuck and his membership with the Union Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. In 1969 he became president of this union. In this interview, Mabry discusses these early years as well as his work as secretary, and later, president of the Georgia AFL-CIO, his labor advocacy with the Democratic National Committee, and his friendship and support of Jimmy Carter and Zell Miller. He also shares his thoughts on other past governors like Carl Sanders and Lester Maddox, and fellow Georgia union leaders Al Kara and Herb Butler. Mabry gives an overview of the ways organized labor fits into to both the state and national political climate, including the effect of illegal immigration and NAFTA.

ROGP 023 Herb Mabry video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 024 Tommy Irvin

1 interview(s) 69 minutes

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 School Boards Association, served as a Representative in the Georgia House, and managed Lester Maddox's 1966 campaign for governor.

ROGP 024 Tommy Irvin video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 025 Terry Coleman

1 interview(s) 105 minutes

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 career in the Georgia General Assembly working on various committees, his role succeeding Tom Murphy as Speaker of the House in 2003, and his work as Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture. He also discusses his working relationships with Murphy and the governors under whom he served, beginning with Jimmy Carter.

ROGP 025 Terry Coleman video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 026 Bubba McDonald

1 interview(s) 77 minutes

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 to the Public Service Commission by Governor Zell Miller in 1998. In this interview, McDonald discusses his early years and his public service as a state Representative and Public Service Commissioner. He focuses primarily on his working relationships with governors and speakers, his ideas about energy policy and regulation, and the process of shaping Georgia's budget.

ROGP 026 Bubba McDonald video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 027 Mike Bowers

1 interview(s) 45 minutes

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 his work in support of open government and recalls important cases on which he has worked.

ROGP 027 Mike Bowers video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 028 Larry Walker

1 interview(s) 72 minutes

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 influential in changing the state flag and in developing the Georgia National Fair and Ag Center in Perry, Georgia.

ROGP 028 Larry Walker video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 029 Norman Underwood

1 interview(s) 83 minutes

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 include the end of the county unit system, race relations, education policy, and shifts in party politics. As a student at George Washington University, Underwood worked as an intern for Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr. After earning his law degree in 1966, Underwood was hired by Carl Sanders' law firm, Troutman Sander, LLP, becoming a partner in 1973. He served as George Busbee's campaign manager in the 1974 gubernatorial election, and served as Busbee's executive secretaary when he was governor. He was appointed as a judge to the Georgia Court of Appeals in 1979, and Zell Miller later appointed him to the Judicial Selection Committee. After his years in public office, Underwood returned to Troutman Sanders, LLP as a senior counsel.

ROGP 029 Norman Underwood video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 030 Joel Cowan

1 interview(s) 99 minutes

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 play in development. Cowan graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in industrial management. Before graduation, he planned the community of Peachtree City, and served as its first mayor in 1959. He served as campaign manager, honorary chief of staff, and chair of the Growth Strategies Commission for Governor Joe Frank Harris. Cowan was the founding chairman of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District. From 1990-1995 he served on the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

ROGP 030 Joel Cowan video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 031 Richard Guthman

1 interview(s) 105 minutes

Richard Guthman discusses his work on the Atlanta City Council and the major developments in the city since the 1970s. Guthman was elected to the council in 1973, representing District 8. Prior to this he chaired the Police Commission and the Fulton County Republican Party.

ROGP 031 Richard Guthman video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 032 Doug Barnard

1 interview(s) 104 minutes

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 secretary during his term of office. He then worked on the State Highway Board from 1966 to 1976. In 1977, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served on the Banking Committee where he pushed for improvements to the Internal Revenue Service and promoted the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act.

ROGP 032 Doug Barnard video, transcript, and interview in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 033 Ned Young

1 interview(s) 78 minutes

Ned Young discusses his activity with the Jaycees, a civic organization, in Georgia and nationally, as well as his career of campaign management. Young worked for Ellis Arnall's 1966 gubernatorial campaign, Lester Maddox's campaign for governor, Maddox's 1970 bid for lieutenant governor, and advised the campaigns of Bill Stuckey and Sam Nunn.

ROGP 033 Ned Young video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 034 James Tysinger

1 interview(s) 62 minutes

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 to 1998 and served on overview committees for the Georgia World Congress Center and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

ROGP 034 James Tysinger video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 035 Buddy Darden

1 interview(s) 138 minutes

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, reflecting on his college years working for Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr., his campaigns for office, and his legislative career on the state and national level. He also shares his thoughts on several policy topics and recalls his relationships with political figures like Senator Russell, Carl Vinson, Tom Murphy, and Roy Barnes, while also giving insight to his personal and family life.

ROGP 035 Buddy Darden video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 036 Chip Carter, III

1 interview(s) 109 minutes

Carter discusses his life as the son of President Jimmy Carter, from campaigning for his father to establishing free elections in Liberia. Throughout his life, he was active in many of his father's affairs, from the peanut business to political campaigns and the Carter Center. He was also a member of the Plains City Council and the Democratic National Committee.

ROGP 036 Chip Carter video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 037 Ed Jenkins

1 interview(s) 110 minutes

Democratic Congressman Ed Jenkins discusses his 16 years of service, from attempts at preserving the textile industry in his district to serving on the Ethics committee during the Page scandal and Iran Contra affair. Jenkins discusses his fiscal, social, economic, and military policy beliefs and explains his disapproval of several major political moves during his term of service including entering the first Gulf War.

ROGP 037 Ed Jenkins video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 038 John Blackmon

1 interview(s) 103 minutes

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 how he improved the state tax structure by modeling it more closely after the federal one.

ROGP 038 John Blackmon video, transcript, and index in OHMS, 2008 July 8 Access Online

 

ROGP 039 Michael Thurmond

1 interview(s) 59 minutes

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 with legislative policies and politics, his philosophy on labor in Georgia, and the outlook for the Democratic Party of Georgia.

ROGP 039 Michael Thurmond video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 040 James L. Gillis, Jr.

1 interview(s) 72 minutes

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 assistant district forester, running a successful campaign for the Georgia Senate, and serving as first mayor and then county commissioner of Treutlen County. Gillis recalls the history of the naval stores industry in Georgia and the influence of environmentalism and industrialization on Treutlen county and the forestry industry.

ROGP 040 James L. Gillis, Jr. video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 041 Hugh Gillis

1 interview(s) 89 minutes

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 elected president pro tempore, and served on the Appropriations Committee. Hugh discusses the three governors controversy and his long career in Georgia politics, including his experiences with corruption in the highway department and the integration of the University of Georgia.

ROGP 041 Hugh Gillis video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 042 Elliott Levitas

1 interview(s) 114 minutes

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 seating of Julian Bond, the gubernatorial appointment of Lester Maddox, and the independent election of the speaker of the house. He also recalls chairing the State Planning and Community Affairs Committee, serving as a member of the Judiciary Committee, and sponsoring the Chattahoochee Bill, which sought to protect the river from pollution and development.

ROGP 042 Elliot Levitas video, transcript, and index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 043 Bill Stuckey

1 interview(s) 81 minutes

Elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from the Eighth and later the Ninth District, Bill Stuckey served in Congress from 1967 until 1977. While in Congress, Stuckey served on the Agriculture committee, the District of Columbia committee, the Interstate and Foreign Commerce committee and its subcommittee on Commerce and Finance and was chairman of the Commerce, Housing and Transportation subcommittee. In this interview, Stuckey discusses the Stuckey's chain of stores, his political campaigns, his service on committees, his experience in Congress during the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, and his opinion on America's oil dependency. He also discusses how the Democratic Party of Georgia and Congress have changed over the years.

ROGP 043 Bill Stuckey video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 044 Bobby Rowan

1 interview(s) 159 minutes

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 discusses his campaigns, his service in the state legislature, his experiences with other legislators and politicians, the mental health system in Georgia, and how his personal life has affected his politics.

ROGP 044 Bobby Rowan video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 045 Dawson Mathis

1 interview(s) 112 minutes

Marvin Dawson Mathis served as the news director of WALB-TV in Albany, Georgia, before running a successful campaign for Congress in 1971. He served on several committees, including Agriculture, House Administration, and Steering and Policy. Mathis discusses how being a news anchor became an asset when running for Congress, his experience campaignin, his service on committes in Wahsington, and issues that polarized the American people while he was in Congress such as Watergate and the Vietnam War.

ROGP 045 Dawson Mathis video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 046 Sam Massell

1 interview(s) 88 minutes

In 1969, Sam Massell was elected as a Democrat to be the Atlanta's first Jewish mayor. He discusses his early political career and his time as mayor, including the development of MARTA, his support for the advancement of minorities, and the role of Buckhead in Atlanta and Fulton County.

ROGP 046 Sam Massell video, transcript, and index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 047 John C. Foster

1 interview(s) 76 minutes

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 for the equal funding of both urban and rural schools. Foster comments on his experience as a state Senator, extensively discussing education policy and politics from the local to the national level (including No Child Left Behind, testing as an evaluative tool, vouchers, and pre-k programs). Foster discusses his interactions with other legislators, Democratic party politics, and politicians' relationships with minorities and labor unions.

ROGP 047 John C. Foster video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 048 Betty Sanders

1 interview(s) 94 minutes

Betty Bird Foy Sanders met Carl Sanders at the University of Georgia, and they married in 1947. When he entered politics, Betty campaigned with him, and they moved to Atlanta when Carl was elected governor in 1962. Sanders discusses raising two children, helping to develop the new governor's mansion, and entertaining many renowned politicians and business leaders. She also discusses helping to create the Georgia Council of Arts and her love of hats.

ROGP 048 Betty Sanders video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 049 Helen Lewis

1 interview(s) 68 minutes

Helen Lewis was born in Cumming, Georgia, in 1924 and spent most of her career as an educator and activist for civil rights and social justice. Lewis discusses her student activism at Georgia State College for Women in the 1940s. In particular, she focuses on her work with the Student League for Good Government supporting progressive Democrat Jimmy Carmichael in Georgia's 1946 gubernatorial race and her civil rights advocacy with the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). She also discusses her career teaching and addressing issues of labor, poverty, and education across the Appalachian region.

ROGP 049 Helen Lewis video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 050 Eunice Mixon

1 interview(s) 128 minutes

Eunice Lastinger Mixon taught eighth grade science and high school biology, chemistry and physics for thirty years in the Tift County School System, and was an instructor at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. In 1974, gubernatorial candidate George Busbee, acquainted with Mixon through his advocacy for teachers in the legislature, appointed her as his Tift County campaign chairman, and Mixon's success at grassroots organizing earned her a reputation as a valuable political ally in south Georgia. Mixon discusses applying her teaching skills to the campaign trail, her conflicts with Busbee's campaing headquarters, campain radio ads, and her attempts at balancing life as a grandmother and as a campaign chair. Mixon talks about her experiences with the Democratic Party and discusses the Georgia flag controversy, the economy, and Democratic Party's dependence on minorities and labor unions.

ROGP 050 Eunice Mixon video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 051 Betty Vandiver

1 interview(s) 97 minutes

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 Milledgeville's Central State Hospital, Georgia's first mental institution. She elaborates on her childhood as part of the Russell family, discusses various political campaigns, and recalls the many political personalities she and her husband encountered.

ROGP 051 Betty Vandiver video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 052 Jim Minter

1 interview(s) 82 minutes

James G. "Jim" Minter worked as a sportswriter for UGA's The Red and Black newspaper, and then went on to the Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution, where he worked with Lewis Grizzard, Bill Shipp, and Reg Murphy. He was appointed executive editor of the newly created Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He retired from the vice presidency of Cox Enterprises in 1988. Minter discusses his early life, his time managing the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Reg Murphy kidnapping, and the relationship between politics and the press.

ROGP 052 Jim Minter video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 053 Erwin Mitchell

1 interview(s) 87 minutes

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, serving until 1961. Mitchell served on the House Subcommittee on Patents and Scientific Inventions, the Committee on Science and Astronautics, and the Veterans' Affairs Committee. He was elected state senator to the Georgia General Assembly in 1960. Mitchell recalls the turmoil of the integration issue, the Sibley Commission, the Three Governors Controversy, the University System's loss of accreditation during the Talmadge administration, and the River-Arnall and Talmadge factions of the Georgia Democratic Party.

ROGP 053 Erwin Mitchell video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 054 Ben Blackburn

1 interview(s) 60 minutes

Ben Blackburn was elected as a Republican to the US Congress from Georgia's fourth district and served from 1967 to 1975. While in Congress, Blackburn served on several committees, including Banking and Currency, the Housing Subcommittee, the Joint Economic Committee, the Subcommittee on International Trade of the Bank and Currency Committee, and the Housing and Domestic Finance Committee. Blackburn recalls his time in Congress, his committee assignments, the environment among the Georgia delegation, and his participation in the Republican Study Committee. He discusses his reelections, including being the only Republican congressman from Georgia in 1972. Blackburn mentions Watergate, the Republican Convention in 1972, and Gerald Ford's political outlook after pardoning Nixon.

ROGP 054 Ben Blackburn video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 055 Louise McBee

1 interview(s) 69 minutes

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 Committee, and the Women's Legislative Caucus. She discusses her election to the Georgia General Assembly and the various committees she worked on. She specifically mentions topics such as the HOPE scholarship, vouchers, the Equal Rights Amendment, and No Child Left Behind. McBee discusses the education legislation she introduced in the General Assembly as well as her work on retirement legislation. She also discusses the importance of education in the home.

ROGP 055 Louise McBee video, 2008 November 3 Access Online

ROGP 055 Louise McBee transcript, 2008 November 3 Access Online

 

ROGP 056 Mary Anne Summers

1 interview(s) 96 minutes

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. During the Sanders administration, she was secretary to Doug Barnard, and assistant to the governor. She then went to work as an assistant to the Georgia Senate, and helped numerous Georgia senators with speeches and bills. After that, she worked with the Tourism Committee and traveled around Georgia. She worked on Charles Weltner's 1964 campaign for Congress and assisted Zell Miller in his 1974 campaign for lieutenant governor. She became involved with Elliot Levitas' campaign for the house of representatives, and remained on his staff throughout his time as a Georgia congressman.

 

ROGP 057 Keith Mason

1 interview(s) 88 minutes

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 Miller's executive secretary during Miller's first term. In 1993, he joined President Bill Clinton's administration, and served as deputy assistant and deputy director for Intergovernmental Affairs, making him the liaison between the White House and state governors. He also served as a transition advisor to Governor Roy Barnes and as an advisor during Miller's time in the senate. In this interview, Mason discusses his work on political campaigns, his work with Zell Miller, and his time with Clinton's administration.

ROGP 057 Keith Mason video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 058 David Poythress

1 interview(s) 60 minutes

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 labor commissioner, and adjutant general of the Georgia National Guard. In this interview, Poythress discusses his early life and education, his investigation into nursing home revenue and Medicaid, his time as secretary of state for Georgia, his campaign for governor in 1998, and his experiences with the Georgia Department of Defense and the Georgia National Guard.

ROGP 058 David Poythress video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 059 Thurbert Baker

1 interview(s) 67 minutes

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 terms. He served in the House Judiciary Committee and was Governor Zell Miller's House floor leader. As floor leader, he helped to pass the state-wide lottery for the HOPE Scholarship. In 1997, Governor Miller appointed him attorney general. He was reelected three times. Baker recalls his early interest in law, his education at UNC-Chapel Hill and Emory, and his time as Attorney General. He also discusses difficult cases he has seen, legislation he has been involved with, and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 059 Thurbert Baker video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 060 Harold Murphy

1 interview(s) 65 minutes

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 judge for the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter nominated him as a federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. In this interview Murphy discusses his early life and education, his career before being appointed to a federal judgeship, the federal court system, and his cousin Tom Murphy who was an influential Speaker of the House in Georgia. Murphy also discusses several famous cases he was involved with, including Knight v. Alabama (regarding discrimination in all the public universities in Alabama), the Georgia Voter ID case, U.S. v. Thevis (regarding racketeering), and the Tri-State Crematory case.

ROGP 060 Harold Murphy video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 061 Shirley Miller

1 interview(s) 78 minutes

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 discusses her husband's political campaigns, her work as first lady, and her time in Washington D.C. while Zell was a senator.

ROGP 061 Shirley Miller video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 062 Wyche Fowler

1 interview(s) 82 minutes

William Wyche Fowler was elected to the Atlanta city council in 1975, and eventually became president of the council. Upon Andrew Young's resignation, Fowler won a special election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1977. He served on the Ways and Means Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee. Fowler was also appointed as a charter member of the Intelligence Committee, and was involved with the Boland Amendment. In 1986, he was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat, defeating incumbent Republican Mack Mattingly. From 1996 to 2001, he served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia under President Bill Clinton. Fowler discusses his early work with Charles Weltner, his time as an Atlanta city councilman, his experience as a legislator in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, and his appointment as ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

ROGP 062 Wyche Fowler video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 063 Millard Grimes

1 interview(s) 89 minutes

Millard Grimes worked as an editor for The Red and Black, and graduated from UGA with a degree in journalism in 1951. He returned to the Columbus Ledger as associate news editor, and in 1955 the newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize for documenting corruption in Phenix City, Alabama. He then served as publishing chief executive officer at numerous newspapers, including the Opelika-Auburn News and the Rockdale Citizen. In 1991, he entered magazine publishing when he purchased the Georgia Journal and Georgia Trend. Grimes discusses his life as a journalist and editor, recalling his experiences working with various newspapers, the Columbus Ledger's investigation which led to a Pulitzer Prize, and the state of newspapers and reporting in a modern world.

ROGP 063 Millard Grimes video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 064 Carlton Colwell

1 interview(s) 66 minutes

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, and Fiscal Affairs. He served as chairman of the State Institution and Property Committee, and oversaw the prison system in Georgia. Speaker Murphy appointed him to the constitutional revision commission, and he helped rewrite the Georgia Constitution. Colwell discusses his appointment to the Appropriations, Ways and Means, and State Institution and Property Committees in the State House. He recalls his time on the constitutional revision commission and his experience in the house when the first African Americans were elected to the legislature. Colwell discusses state-owned property and the involvement of the state in determining prison locations. He explains the origin of the nickname "the sawmill gang". Colwell also discusses party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 064 Carlton Colwell video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 065 Jim Martin

1 interview(s) 80 minutes

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 progressive Democrat. He served as a chairman of numerous committees, including Human Services Subcommittee for Appropriations, MARTOC, Ethics, and Judiciary. In 2001, he left the legislature and was appointed commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Resources by Governor Roy Barnes. From 2004 to 2005, he served as chief legal officer of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council. In 2006, he ran an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor. He then helped develop the Master's Program in Public Policy at the Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. In 2008, he ran for U.S. Senate against incumbent Saxby Chambliss, and was defeated in a runoff. Martin discusses his political campaigns, his committee work, and his passion for working with the underrepresented.

ROGP 065 Jim Martin video and interview index in OHMS, 2009 January 21 Access Online

 

ROGP 066 Eric Tanenblatt

1 interview(s) 55 minutes

Eric J. Tanenblatt graduated from Emory University with a degree in economics. He immediately started as a campaign worker for George H.W. Bush, organizing college campuses. There, he met and worked with Senator Paul Coverdell. When Bush was elected President, Tanenblatt moved to Washington, D.C. to work in the administration. He served as a special assistant to Secretary Louis Sullivan in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He was then appointed director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Peace Corps, serving as its liaison to the White House. In 1992, he directed Paul Coverdell's senate campaign, and served as his state director in Georgia. In 2000, he served as chairman of George W. Bush's presidential campaign in Georgia. In 2001, he left to serve as Governor Sonny Perdue's chief of staff. In 2004, he served as finance chairman for Perdue's reelection campaign. Tanenblatt discusses his experience with political campaigns, Republican party politics in Georgia, and his passion for volunteerism.

ROGP 066 Eric Tanenblatt video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 067 George Hooks

1 interview(s) 58 minutes

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 Senate in 1991. Hooks was appointed chairman of the Rules Committee, and then chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Hooks has also worked on many standing committees, including the Senate-House Budgetary Responsibility Committee, the Senate-House Legislative Services Committee, and the Reapportionment Committee. Hooks discusses his time in the Georgia House and Senate, flag and reapportionment issues, and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 067 George Hooks video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 068 Glenn Anthony

1 interview(s) 44 minutes

Glenn Anthony reported for the United Press International, covering various civil rights groups in Alabama and Tennessee. He entered politics when he went to work for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, lobbying for business interests. He was involved in establishing numerous programs, including Stay and See Georgia, a travel program. He lobbied for over twenty years with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Forest Association. Anthony discusses his early life, lobbying for business interests, and his experience with different Georgia governors.

ROGP 068 Glenn Anthony video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 069 Marie Barnes

1 interview(s) 78 minutes

Marie Dobbs Barnes married Roy Barnes in 1970. In 1974, Roy ran a successful campaign for the Georgia State Senate; Marie was active in this and subsequent campaigns, while also raising their three children. Marie became an active advocate for early childhood education upon her husband's election to governor in 1998. She began the Georgia Early Learning Initiative, which created early childcare learning facilities, and Safe Kids Georgia, which checked the safety of car seats. Barnes discusses how she met her husband, her work on his campaigns, and programs she championed during her tenure as First Lady, including the Georgia Early Learning Initiative and Safe Kids Georgia. She also discusses Gov. Roy Barnes' work with the state flag, transportation, and water conservation.

ROGP 069 Marie Barnes video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 070 Harold G. Clarke

1 interview(s) 75 minutes

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 to elect Governor Lester Maddox over Bo Callaway. He left the legislature to practice law in Forsyth. In 1979, he was appointed to the Georgia Supreme Court, where he handled several important cases and issues. Clarke discusses his childhood, his time in the Georgia House of Representatives, and his experience as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia.

ROGP 070 Harold G. Clarke video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 071 George Berry

1 interview(s) 61 minutes

George J. Berry went to work in the finance department of the city of Atlanta in 1962. Berry was chosen to be the deputy chief administrative officer in Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen's administration. Mayor Sam Massell promoted him to chief administrative officer during Atlanta's critical transition from primarily white to mixed race leadership. Under Mayor Maynard Jackson, Berry was appointed Commissioner of Aviation in 1978. There, he oversaw the development of terminals and runways in the Atlanta Airport. In 1983, Berry became the commissioner of Industry, Trade and Tourism for the state of Georgia. He remained in that position until 1990, when he ran an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor. Berry discusses his support for Henry Grady's vision of the New South, his work as Commissioner of Aviation, and the relationship between businesses, Georgians, and the city of Atlanta.

ROGP 071 George Berry video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 072 Ed Johnson

1 interview(s) 95 minutes

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 Senate, where he served until 1980. After his departure, he held numerous legal and judicial posts, and in 1998, he was appointed to the Court of Appeals. Johnson discusses his earily life, his time in legislature, and the judicial system of Georgia. He comments on the state of the judicial system, the importance of DNA evidence, and the death penalty.

ROGP 072 Ed Johnson video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 073 DuBose Porter

1 interview(s) 59 minutes

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 paper. In 1991 and 1992, he served as Governor Miller's administration floor leader in the legislature. In 2003, he was elected speaker pro tempore in the Georgia House of Representatives. In 2005, he was elected leader of the Democratic Caucus of the House of Representatives. He served on numerous committees, including Appropriations, Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Ethics, and Rules. He served as a member of Governor Miller's Preservation 2000 Committee, and as Chairman of Education and Higher Education. Porter disusses the newspaper business, his time in the legislature, and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 073 DuBose Porter video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 074 George T. Smith

1 interview(s) 104 minutes

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 practice in Cairo, Ga. In 1958, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. In 1963, he was appointed Speaker of the House. He successfully campaigned for lieutenant governor in 1966, but was defeated for reelection by Lester Maddox in 1970. Smith went into private practice in Marietta and made an unsuccessful run for governor in 1974. In 1976, he was elected to the Georgia Court of Appeals, and in 1980, he was elected Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. Smith discusses his time serving in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the Georgia government, his race for lieutenant governor, and the Julian Bond case.

ROGP 074 George T. Smith video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 075 Fletcher Thompson

1 interview(s) 108 minutes

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 reelection in 1972 and returned to his law practice in Atlanta. Thompson discusses his military service, campaigns for public office, and the Republican Party of Georgia.

ROGP 075 Fletcher Thompson video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 076 Aubrey Morris

1 interview(s) 104 minutes

Aubrey R. Morris was born in 1922 in Roswell, Georgia, and grew up writing for the local newspaper. In this interview, Morris discusses his long journalism career, including his days as a journalism student at the University of Georgia, his work at the Atlanta Journal, and his reporting at WSB Radio. He describes his experience working closely with Atlanta's mayors and reporting on major events like the 1962 Orly plane crash and the Winecoff Hotel fire. Morris also talks about reporting on events of the civil rights movement, such as an early speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. near the state capitol and the integration of the University of Georgia.

ROGp 076 Aubrey Morris video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 077 Lewis Massey

1 interview(s) 53 minutes

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 campaign for reelection. Governor Zell Miller appointed Massey to the position of Georgia Secretary of State upon Max Cleland's resignation. In 1996, Massey won a successful reelection campaign. As Secretary of State, he devised bills to stop telemarketing fraud, and to pass the first Voter ID law. In 1998, he campaigned for governor, but came second to Roy Barnes. Massey discusses his work on several political campaigns, his time as Secretary of State, and comments on party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 077 Lewis Massey video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 078 Charles Campbell

1 interview(s) 96 minutes

Charles Campbell met Senator Richard B. Russell when he introduced him for a Blue Key speech at UGA. He went to work as Russell's legislative assistant in Washington, D.C., and eventually became his executive secretary. Upon Senator Russell's death in 1971, Campbell returned to Georgia and practiced law in Atlanta while remaining involved in politics and managing campaigns for Herman Talmadge. Campbell discusses Senator Russell's personality and ideals, and recalls several personal stories about Senator Russell. He also discusses his work on other campaigns after Senator Russell's death and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 078 Charles Campbell video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 079 Max Cleland

1 interview(s) 115 minutes

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 awarded the Bronze Star and the Silver Star for valorous conduct in battle. At the Battle of Khe Sanh in 1968, he was severely wounded by a grenade, resulting in the amputation of both legs and his right forearm. In 1971, he was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia Senate. In 1974, he ran an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor. From 1977 to 1981, he served as administrator of the U.S. Veterans Administration under President Jimmy Carter. In 1982, he ran a successful campaign for Georgia Secretary of State, and served in that office for fourteen years. In 1996, Senator Sam Nunn retired, and Cleland won Nunn's seat. He lost his bid for reelection in 2002 to Saxby Chambliss. In 2009, he was appointed by President Obama to serve as secretary of the American Battle Monuments. Cleland discusses the Vietnam War, the role of Georgia's secretary of state, and the current state of the military, both at home and abroad.

ROGP 079 Max Cleland video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 080 Bob Holmes

1 interview(s) 78 minutes

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 Representatives as a Democrat. He was the first African American to serve on the budget subcommittee. In 1989, he became director of the Southern Center for Studies in Public Policy, researching international political issues. He promoted election law reform and co-sponsored Motor Voter legislation. In 1990, he was appointed chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. Holmes discusses being an African American in the Georgia legislature, his recollection of politicians he served with and worked for, and the electoral system of Georgia and the United States.

ROGP 080 Bob Holmes video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 081 Steve Wrigley

1 interview(s) 99 minutes

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 to 1998, he served as chief of staff for Governor Miller. In 1998, he joined the University of Georgia system, becoming the first director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government's International Center for Democratic Governance. In 2000, he was named UGA's vice president for government relations, overseeing connections between UGA and federal, state, and local government. In 2002, Wrigley was appointed interim vice president for external affairs, and later permanent vice president. Wrigley returned to his former position as director of the Vinson Institute in 2006. Wrigley discusses Zell Miller's personal as well as political life and Miller's approch to fellow politicians and his legislative agenda.

ROGP 081 Steve Wrigley video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 082 Bill Lee

1 interview(s) 57 minutes

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 2002. As a state representative, he served as chairman of the Rules Committee and of the House Democratic Caucus. In 1998, he declined to run again, and worked as an aide to Speaker Tom Murphy. In 2002, Murphy was defeated, and Lee retired from politics. Lee discusses his time in legislature, comments on many historic events that occurred during his time in the state House of Representatives, and discusses party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 082 Bill Lee video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 083 J. Roy Rowland

1 interview(s) 80 minutes

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 1982. He was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia House of Representatives, and served there from 1976 to 1982. He served on several committees, including Health and Ecology, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Judicial, and Rules. In 1982, he ran a successful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, and served in five succeeding congresses, retiring in 1995. Rowland discusses his medical career, his political career, and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 083 J. Roy Rowland video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 084 Bobby Kahn

1 interview(s) 93 minutes

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 Roy Barnes. Kahn discusses his work with the Democratic party, his time as chief of staff for Governor Roy Barnes, and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 084 Bobby Kahn video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 085 Tyrone Brooks

1 interview(s) 102 minutes

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 president of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, and is a member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. Brooks discusses his activities as a civil rights activist, his time in the legislature, and his work with the SCLC.

ROGP 085 Tyrone Brooks video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 086 Lonnie King

1 interview(s) 93 minutes

Lonnie King was born in Arlington, Georgia. He was raised in Atlanta and served in the U.S. Navy. He left the Navy in 1957, returned to Atlanta, and earned his degree from Morehouse College. In 1960 he was present at the founding of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee at Shaw University. On March 9, 1960, King and SNCC published An Appeal for Human Rights as an advertisement in various Atlanta newspapers. A critical document of the Civil Rights Movement, the Appeal called for complete racial desegregation by peaceful and nonviolent means. King discusses his childhood in the deep south, his work with SNCC and SCLC, and his friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr.

ROGP 086 Lonnie King video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 087 Tom Houck

1 interview(s) 87 minutes

Thomas Houck dropped out of high school at age 15 and joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to work under Hosea Williams. In 1965, he met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at a meeting of the SCLC, and in 1966 he came to Atlanta and became the King family's personal driver. Later, he became an organizer for the SCLC, and was active in numerous demonstrations and marches. His case, Houck and Williams vs. Birmingham-Jefferson County, led to the desegregation of Southern jails. Houck went on to help campaign for various Atlanta mayors and governors, including Maynard Jackson and Zell Miller, and started doing commentary for WGST Radio. Houck discusses his work with the SCLC, some personal experiences with the King family, his work on various campaigns, and the state of party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 087 Tom Houck video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 088 Willie Bolden

1 interview(s) 81 minutes

Willie Bolden was born in Sumter, South Carolina on December 7, 1938. and was raised in Savannah, Georgia. He is best known for his work as a civil rights activist. In this interview, Bolden discusses his activity with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Poor People's Campaign, and the Summer Community Organization for Political Education (SCOPE). Specifically, he addresses his work with voter registration drives in Albany, Georgia, the efforts to integrate hotels and restaurants in St. Augustine, Florida, and his role as "wagon master" for the Poor People's Campaign. Other topics include the events of Bloody Sunday and his relationship with civil rights leaders Martin Luther King, Jr. and Hosea Williams.

ROGP 088 Willie Bolden video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 089 Matt Towery

1 interview(s) 101 minutes

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 encouragement of Newt Gingrich, Towery started the Campaign for Georgia's Future, and the next year ran an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor. In 1992, he served as Gingrich's campaign chairman for his successful race for the U.S. House of Representatives. Towery won a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives, making him the first Republican to preside over the Democratic House. In this interview, Towery comments on his experience working on several political campaigns, his own experience in legislature, and on party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 089 Matt Towery video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 090 Pierre Howard

1 interview(s) 130 minutes

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 numerous acts of legislation, including the Community Care Act. Governor Zell Miller appointed him chairman of the Senate Human Resources Committee. He served there for sixteen years. In 1990, Howard was elected lieutenant governor, and served under Governor Miller for two terms. Roy Barnes appointed him to the Board of the Natural Resources Committee, which he chaired for three years. Howard discusses his relationship with political colleagues in the Georgia legislature, his family's history in public service, and several campaigns he worked on.

ROGP 090 Pierre Howard video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 091 Chuck Clay

1 interview(s) 45 minutes

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, Clay served as chairman of the Cobb County Legislative Delegation and minority leader. He went on to serve six terms in the senate. In 2000 he was chairman of the Georgia Republican Party during George W. Bush's campaign for the presidency. Clay discusses his family history, the time he served in legislature, and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 091 Chuck Clay video, transcript and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 092 McCracken Poston

1 interview(s) 144 minutes

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 Congress against Nathan Deal, which he lost. Poston returned to Ringgold, Georgia to practice law, and serve as juvenile court judge on the Lookout Mountain Circuit. As a criminal defense attorney, Poston famously and successfully defended Alvin Ridley, who had been charged with imprisoning and killing his wife, and Ray Brent Marsh, in the Tri-state Crematory case. In this interview, Poston discusses his political career, including his working relationship with Speaker Tom Murphy and his efforts to pass an ethics reform bill. He also shares his experience practicing law in high profile cases.

ROGP 092 McCracken Poston video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 093 Harry Dixon

1 interview(s) 111 minutes

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 many of Georgia's liquor laws. Dixon served on the State Board of Transportation. He served in the Georgia House for 38 years. Dixon discusses his service in the war, several campaign experiences, and his time in the legislature.

ROGP 093 Harry Dixon video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 094 Ford Spinks

1 interview(s) 73 minutes

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 in 1971. He supported Jimmy Carter through many campaigns, and was appointed public service commissioner in 1971, a post he held until 1989. Outside of politics, he was a farm equipment dealer and served as director of the Bank of Tifton and chairman of the Coastal Plain Area Tourism Council. Spinks discusses Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign, his own campaigns for public service commissioner, and the state of politics in Georgia.

ROGP 094 Ford Spinks video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 095 Powell Moore

1 interview(s) 116 minutes

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 Nixon. He then developed a foundation client and consulting business called the Marketing Corporation of America. In 1981, he was appointed to serve President Ronald Reagan as deputy assistant to the president for Legislative Affairs. In 1982, he was appointed assistant secretary of state for Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs. In 1998, he became chief of staff for Senator Fred Thompson in Tennessee. Moore was later sworn in as assistant secretary of defense for Legislative Affairs under President Bush in 2001. In 2006, he was appointed representative of the U.S. Secretary of Defense to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and in this capacity was stationed in Vienna, Austria. Moore discusses the various presidents he has worked under, his opinion of party politics in Georgia, and his friendship with Richard B. Russell.

ROGP 095 Powell Moore video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 096 Hank Huckaby

1 interview(s) 104 minutes

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 the Senate Research Office and deputy commissioner of the new Department of Community Affairs. In 1980, Huckaby was selected to be chairman of the Georgia Residential Finance Authority, and served there for the next ten years. Under Governor Miller, he served as director of the Office of Budget and Planning. Upon leaving political life, he went to work in the Policy Research Center at Georgia State University, and in 1997 he became director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia. In 2000, he was appointed senior vice president in Finance and Administration at the University of Georgia. Huckaby discusses his friendship with and work for Zell Miller, his work in several government positions, and the state of education in Georgia.

ROGP 096 Hank Huckaby video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 097 Chuck Clay

1 interview(s) 65 minutes

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, Clay served as chairman of the Cobb County Legislative Delegation and minority leader. He went on to serve six terms in the senate. In 2000 he was chairman of the Georgia Republican Party during George W. Bush's campaign for the presidency. Clay discusses his legislative history, the outlook for the Republican Party in Georgia, and current events such as the War on Terror and the Obama administration.

ROGP 097 Chuck Clay video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 098 Stephanie Benfield

1 interview(s) 44 minutes

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 attorney to Georgia Senator Mary Margaret Oliver. In 1998, she ran a successful campaign for the Georgia State House of Representatives, currently representing District 85. She discusses the Stuckey family, her time as a state legislator, and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 098 Stephanie Benfield video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 099 Mary Margaret Oliver

1 interview(s) 49 minutes

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 first woman to chair the Committee in 40 years. In 2002, Oliver ran successfully for the Georgia House, and represents District 83. Oliver discusses her time in legislature, the causes she is passionate about, and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 099 Mary Margaret Oliver video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 100 Peter Banks

1 interview(s) 131 minutes

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 Georgia Senate as a Democrat in 1974 and served for four years. In 1978 he ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Congress, losing in the Democratic primary to Virginia Shapard. He was elected mayor of Barnesville, Georgia, in 2007. Banks discusses his time as a congressional intern, his time in the Georgia legislature, and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 100 Peter Banks video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 101 Dan Ebersole

1 interview(s) 78 minutes

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 he was a policy analyst and director of the Georgia Senate Research Office. In the 1990's he was deputy director of the Office of Planning and Budget and Senior Executive Assistant to Governor Zell Miller. Ebersole has also been the commissioner of the Georgia Merit System. From 1997-2010 he was the director of the Georgia Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services. Ebersole discusses his friendship with Zell Miller, his time working for state government, and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 101 Dan Ebersole video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 102 Dick Pettys

1 interview(s) 76 minutes

Richard Pettys attended the University of Georgia, where he worked on the student newspaper the Red and Black. In 1965 he began working for three newspapers in Gwinnett County that would soon become the Gwinnett Daily News. In 1969 he joined the Associated Press, and the next year was named capitol correspondent for Georgia. Considered the "Dean" of the Capitol Press Corps, he covered every governor from Lester Maddox to Sonny Perdue, and 40 legislative sessions. Pettys retired from the Associated Press in 2005 and went to work for Insider Advantage Georgia, an online political and business newsletter. Pettys discusses his entrance into journalism, his experience with many politicians at the capitol, and his life after journalism.

ROGP 102 Dick Pettys video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 103 Reid Harris

1 interview(s) 56 minutes

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 of the coast lands, including the Georgia Surface Mining Act and the Coastal Marshland Protection Act. Harris served as head of the environmental section of Governor Jimmy Carter's Goals for Georgia program and later as chairman of the governor's State Environmental Council. Reid Harris discusses his time in legislature, his struggles with wetland legislation, and his work after retiring from public life.

ROGP 103 Reid Harris video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 104 Reg Murphy

1 interview(s) 96 minutes

John Reginald "Reg" Murphy attended Mercer University in Macon, and worked for the Macon Telegraph. In 1955 he opened the Atlanta bureau of the Macon Telegraph. He was chosen to be a Neiman Fellow at Harvard in 1959, and in 1961 went to work for the Atlanta Constitution as political editor. He became managing editor of Atlanta magazine in 1965, and returned to the Constitution in 1968, succeeding Ralph McGill as editor. In 1975 Murphy left Georgia for the San Francisco Examiner, and in 1981 went to the Baltimore Sun. In 1996 he joined the National Geographic Society as president and chief executive. In 1999 his biography of Griffin Bell, Uncommon Sense: The Achievement of Griffin Bell was published. Murphy discusses his kidnapping, his time working as a journalist in Atlanta, and Atlanta's development into the cultural hub of the South.

ROGP 104 Reg Murphy video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 105 Cynthia Wright

1 interview(s) 28 minutes

Cynthia Diane Wright served as a research associate with the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government. She also served as corporate counsel to the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority and was assistant legal counsel to Governor George Busbee from 1978-1980. Wright served as chief legal counsel to Governor Zell Miller during his first term, from 1991-1995. During that time, she authored the legislation and constitutional amendment which established the Lottery for Education. She served as a judge of the State Court of Fulton County. In 1996, Gov. Miller appointed her to a judgeship on the Superior Court of Fulton County. Wright discusses her early life, her work under Governors Busbee and Miller, and explains the state of Georgia's judiciary.

ROGP 105 Cynthia Wright video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 106 Cathey Steinberg

1 interview(s) 89 minutes

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 primary sponsor of the 1981-1982 Equal Rights Amendment legislation. From 1993-1999, she was the managing partner for Ahead of the Curve, a public policy consulting and advocacy training firm. In 1999, Governor Roy Barnes appointed Cathey Steinberg as Georgia's first Consumer Insurance Advocate. She held that position until 2003. Steinberg later served as the executive director of the Juvenile Justice Fund, a non-profit child advocacy organization based in Atlanta, Georgia. She has been a consultant in public and community relations and marketing, and a frequent guest speaker and lecturer. Steinberg discusses the sexism and antisemitism she faced early in her legislative career, her work in the private sector with juveniles, insurance, and women, and the state of party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 106 Cathey Steinberg video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 107 Betty Vandiver

1 interview(s) 20 minutes

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 Milledgeville's Central State Hospital, Georgia's first mental institution. Vandiver discusses a recent Russell family reunion, her friends and associates while her husband was in office, and her daughter Jane Kidd.

ROGP 107 Betty Vandiver video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 108 Jane Kidd

1 interview(s) 60 minutes

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 Georgia's Grady College of Journalism in 1975, and in 1980 she won a seat on the Lavonia City Council, which she kept for three terms. In 1992 she was Don Johnson's campaign manager in his successful run for congress, and served as Johnson's district director. In 2004 Kidd was elected to the state house, serving for one term before mounting an unsuccessful bid for a state senate seat. In 2007 she was elected chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia. Kidd discusses her experience in legislature, some issues faced by Democrats in Georgia, and the political climate of the 2010 election year.

ROGP 108 Jane Kidd video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 109 Milton Jones

1 interview(s) 99 minutes

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 the University System of Georgia Board of Regents where he served until 1981. Jones discusses his time in legislature including issues with reapportionment and gubernatorial elections, his experience serving on the Board of Regents, and his impression of party poiltics in Georgia.

ROGP 109 Milton Jones video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 110 Tom Buck

1 interview(s) 69 minutes

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 chairman during his third year in the house, and worked his way steadily up the house leadership ladder, serving in turn as chairman of the Retirement Committee, the University System Committee, and the powerful Ways and Means and Appropriations Committees. In 2004, Buck retired from political office after nineteen legislative sessions. Buck discusses his time in the legislature, the process of drafting a budget, and the state of party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 110 Tom Buck video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 111 Carol Jackson

1 interview(s) 74 minutes

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 Property Committee, and as secretary of the Agriculture Committee. She is a member of the Appropriations, Veterans and Consumer Affairs, and Ethics Committees. Senator Jackson came to the General Assembly after serving 14 years as Superior Court Clerk in White County. She served as president of the Superior Court Clerks Association of Georgia. Jackson discusses her experience in legislature, her struggles to be taken seriously because of her gender, and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 111 Carol Jackson video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 112 Forrest Burson

1 interview(s) 83 minutes

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 years Burson fought a "War on Hunger" attempting to create food stamps programs across Georgia. Burson was elected State Treasurer in 1970 and campaigned for the U.S. Senate in 1972. After losing the senatorial campaign, he worked as a lobbyist for business interests in the Southeast. In 1975, he became Zell Miller's administrative and special assistant, a position he held until his retirement in 1991. Forrest Burson, son of Bill Burson, discusses his father's work in journalism, as a public servant, and as an important figure in the Miller administration.

ROGP 112 Forrest Burson video,transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 113 Wayne Garner

1 interview(s) 74 minutes

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 1993, Garner was appointed to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole by then-Governor Zell Miller, where he served as Chairman. In December of 1995, Governor Miller named Garner to the position of Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections, where he served for approximately five years. Garner discusses his early life in Georgia, his time in the legislature, and his friendship with many prominent Georgians.

ROGP 113 Wayne Garner video, transcript and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 114 Jack Etheridge

1 interview(s) 89 minutes

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 Huie, Etheridge, and Harland. Etheridge served as a State Representative in the General Assembly from 1992 through 1996 and served as the Chairman of the Fulton County Delegation. In 1966 Etheridge became a Superior Court Judge until 1977, when he assumed position as Senior Judge of Georgia State Superior Courts. Etheridge discusses his time in the legislature, his work as a judge, and his passion for mediation.

ROGP 114 Jack Etheridge video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 115 Bob Cohn

1 interview(s) 82 minutes

Bob Cohn began his career as a news writer and photojournalist after graduating from the University of Alabama. He has worked on Olympic and event marketing for many years and has served as a chairman of the National Parade and March Oversight Committee for the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and as Governor Zell Miller's appointee to the Metropolitan Atlanta Olympic Games Authority. Cohn discusses his work as a journalist, his experience working in the field of public relations, and his influence on several Olympic Games.

ROGP 115 Bob Cohn video,transcript, and interview index in OHMS, 2010 June 30 Access Online

 

ROGP 116 Kathy Ashe

1 interview(s) 63 minutes

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, and Appropriations committees. She has also served on the Appropriations K-12 Education Subcommittee. She has been the Chair of the Fulton County House Delegation and active in the Women's Caucus. Ashe discusses her time in the legislature, the issues she championed, and the state of party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 116 Kathy Ashe video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS, 2010 July 14 Access Online

 

ROGP 117 Harry Geisinger

1 interview(s) 85 minutes

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 with his attendance at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. He has served as a member on the Marta oversight committee (MARTOC), Natural Resources and Environment, and Transportation House Committees. He has also served as the Vice Chair of the Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications Committee. Geisinger discusses his time in legislature, the economic value of horse racing, and party politics in Georgia.Robert J. Shaw was born on August 21, 1929, in Bronwood, Georgia. He attending Georgia Tech and Georgia State before enlisting in the Air Force in 1950. Shaw has served as the Chariman of the Development Authority of Fulton County as well as being an active member in the Republican Party of Georgia. He unsuccessfully ran for State Senate in 1964. Shaw discusses his activities with the Republican party and comments on legislative matters and public policy.

ROGP 117 Harry Geisinger video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS, 2010 July 14 Access Online

 

ROGP 118 Bob Shaw

1 interview(s) 68 minutes

Robert J. Shaw was born on August 21, 1929, in Bronwood, Georgia. He attending Georgia Tech and Georgia State before enlisting in the Air Force in 1950. Shaw has served as the Chariman of the Development Authority of Fulton County as well as being an active member in the Republican Party of Georgia. He unsuccessfully ran for State Senate in 1964. Shaw discusses his activities with the Republican party and comments on legislative matters and public policy.

ROGP 118 Bob Shaw video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS, 2010 July 28 Access Online

 

ROGP 119 Mary Beazley

1 interview(s) 36 minutes

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, Carter's presidential campaign and presidential administration, and Gov. Miller. Beazley discusses her experiences working for politicians and her life outside of politics.

ROGP 119 Mary Beazley video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS, 2010 July 28 Access Online

 

ROGP 120 Jimmy Paulk

1 interview(s) 98 minutes

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 longest serving member of the Georgia Senate, to represent as a Democrat the 13th District, which covered Ben Hill, Irwin, Turner Worth, Crisp, Dooley, and part of Tift counties. After leaving office in 1980, Paulk relocated to New York City to work with the National Audobon Society. Paulk discusses his early work in the legislature, the friends he had made in the capitol, and his opinion of party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 120 Jimmy Paulk video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS, 2010 September 29 Access Online

 

ROGP 121 Rusty Paul

1 interview(s) 99 minutes

Rusty Paul grew up 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 this interview, Paul discusses his childhood and early interest in politics growing up in segregated Birmingham, as well as his varied career. He gives an overview of his work as Georgia Chair of the Republican Party, Georgia senator, and city councilman in Stone Mountain and Sandy Springs. Other topics include the decision to change the Georgia state flag and the rise of the Republican Party.

ROGP 121 Rusty Paul video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS, 2010 October 27 Access Online

 

ROGP 122 Ron Fennel

1 interview(s) 114 minutes

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 co-authored the Ethics in Government Act, River & Mountain Protection Act and Solid Waste Management Act. He discusses his time in the General Assembly, his friendship with Zell Miller, and his activities outside of politics.

ROGP 122 Ron Fennel video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS, 2010 November 17 Access Online

 

ROGP 123 Don Johnson

1 interview(s) 134 minutes

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 Utilities, and Rules Committees and was chair of the Appropriations Committee from 1990 to 1992. He was a member of the Senate Democratic Party Caucus Policy Committee and served as Governor Joe Frank Harris' assistant administration floor leader in the senate from 1989 until 1992. He discusses his service as a state senator, as a Representative in Congress, and his opinion on party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 123 Don Johnson video, transcript, and interview index in OHMS, 2010 November 29 Access Online

 

ROGP 124 Bill Jordan

1 interview(s) 123 minutes

William H. Jordan, Jr., served as executive secretary on the staff of Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr. from 1955 to 1968. In April 1968, he resigned to work for the Senate Appropriations Committee and was a member of the committee staff until circa 1982. While on the committee, Jordan served on the subcommittee overseeing the District of Columbia and as chief counsel of the Subcommittee on Foreign Aid. Jordan recalls his relationship with Richard B. Russell, his time working for the appropriations committee, and comments on party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 124 Bill Jordan video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 125 Nan Orrock

1 interview(s) 119 minutes

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 committee chair, and a member of the Speaker's Policy Committee. Her Senate District 36 encompasses downtown Atlanta, stretching north to Lenox Square, south to the city limits and west to the MARTA north-south line. Orrock discusses her early work in the civil rights movement, her time in the legislature, and the nature of party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 125 Nan Orrock video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 126 T. Rogers Wade

1 interview(s) 97 minutes

T. Rogers Wade was chairman of Herman E. Talmadge's 1980 re-election campaign, as well as a former administrative assistant and chief political fundraiser for the senator in Washington, D.C. Upon returning to Georgia, he was named vice president of Watkins Associated Industries, a national company with major holdings in transportation, development, seafood processing, insurance and communications. Wade discusses his work with Herman Talmadge, his life after politics, and his opinion on party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 126 T. Rogers Wade video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 127 Tom Baxter

1 interview(s) 95 minutes

Tom Baxter was a reporter, editor of the Sunday Perspective section, national editor, and chief political correspondent for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has written about politics in the South since 1987, joining InsiderAdvantage in 2007 to edit a website and newsletter devoted to that subject. He has witnessed many of the groundbreaking political developments of the past four decades in the South, and covered every presidential election since 1988, as well as the first integrated election in South Africa in 1994. Baxter comments on his time covering the South, the state of journalism in the present day, and party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 127 Tom Baxter video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 128 Karen Handel

1 interview(s) 77 minutes

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 philosophy. She talks about her experience as Secretary of State of Georgia, her identification as a Republican, her strategies for balancing the state budget, her work on voter ID laws, and her attempts to enact ethics reform in the state legislature.

ROGP 128 Karen Handel video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 129 Ralph Reed

1 interview(s) 59 minutes

Ralph Reed is founder and chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition. He was senior advisor to the Bush-Cheney campaigns in both 2000 and 2004, and chairman of the Southeast Region for BC04. As chairman of the Georgia Republican Party he led the GOP to its biggest victory in history, helping to elect the first Republican Governor and third U.S. Senator since Reconstruction. Reed is chairman and CEO of Century Strategies, LLC, a public relations and public affairs firm. Reed served as the executive director of the Christian Coalition from 1989-1997. Reed discusses his work with the Republican Party, his work with Coalitions, and the influence of religion on politics.

ROGP 129 Ralph Reed video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 130 David Morrison

1 interview(s) 98 minutes

David Morrison is a political journalist that covered Georgia politics for the Atlanta Constitution during the 1970s. He discusses his work in journalism, his experiences with prominent politicians, and the state of party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 130 David Morrison video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 131 Abit Massey

1 interview(s) 76 minutes

Abit Massey was born on November 14, 1927, in Hall County, Georgia. Abit Massey is a past Chairman of the Board of the American Society of Association Executives and the Center for Association Leadership and past President of the Georgia Society of Association Executives. Massey has served as the dean of the state's lobbyist corps. He is the former director of the Georgia Department of Commerce, how the Department of Economic Development, where he created the Tourist Division and built the first Georgia Welcome Station. Massey has worked at the Georgia Poultry Federation and served as the President of the UGA Alumni Association. Massey discusses his childhood in Athens, Georgia, his work with several politicians, and his time lobbying for poultry intersts in Georgia.

ROGP 131 Abit Massey video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 132 Laughlin McDonald

1 interview(s) 103 minutes

Laughlin McDonald has been director of the Atlanta-based Voting Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union since 1972. Prior to that he was in private practice and taught at the University of North Carolina Law School. He has represented racial and language minorities in numerous discrimination cases and specialized in the area of voting rights. He has argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, testified frequently before Congress, and written for scholarly and popular publications on civil liberties issues. His most recent books are A Voting Rights Odyssey: Black Enfranchisement in Georgia, and American Indians and the Fight for Equal Voting Rights. He is a South Carolina native, received a B.A. from Columbia University in 1960, and a LL.B from the University of Virginia in 1965. McDonald Discusses his work with the ACLU, the imporance of litigation in civil rights struggles, and his personal life.

ROGP 132 Laughlin McDonald video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 133 Julian Bond

1 interview(s) 77 minutes

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 People (NAACP). He helped organize civil rights activities such as sit-ins, protests, and voter registration drives across Georgia. He also held public office as a member of the Georgia House, and, later, senate. In this interview, Bond discusses his early years, his education at Morehouse College, and his involvement in the civil rights movement, including his activities with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He talks about the racial and political climate in Atlanta in the 1960s. Bond also describes his experience in the political arena as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives and, later, the Georgia senate.

ROGP 133 Julian Bond video and interview index in OHMS, 2012 February 27 Access Online

 

ROGP 134 Bill Stephens

1 interview(s) 42 minutes

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.

ROGP 134 Bill Stephens video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 136 Roy Moultrie

1 interview(s) 52 minutes

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 the 93rd district in 1984. He served as a state representative from 1985 to 1993. Moultrie discusses his experiences as a judge, his work in the legislature, and the many Georgia politicians with whom he has worked.

ROGP 136 Roy Moultrie video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 137 Lindsay Thomas

1 interview(s) 81 minutes

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. and his work with water resource management in Georgia.

ROGP 137 Lindsay Thomas video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 138 Doug Teper

1 interview(s) 108 minutes

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 Committees. Teper discusses his early forays into politics, his time in the legislature, and his work in Iraq

ROGP 138 Doug Teper and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 139 John Lewis

1 interview(s) 40 minutes

John Lewis is best known for his civil rights activism in the 1960s and, since 1986, his work as a U.S. Representative. In this interview John Lewis discusses his early years in rural Alabama and his work as a civil rights leader and U.S. Representative. He covers his early activism and education in non-violence in Nashville as a student of Fisk University's American Baptist Theological Seminary, his participitation in the Freedom Rides, and his work organizing demonstrations as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He discusses his relationships with other civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Hosea Williams, and James Lawson, and his involvment with sit-ins and marches, including his experiences being assaulted and jailed. He also gives details about his experience in the famous march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

ROGP 139 John Lewis video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 140 Eva Galambos

1 interview(s) 44 minutes

Eva Galambos has served as mayor of Sandy Springs since 2005. She is a retired economist specializing in urban finance and labor economics. She has also served as an arbitrator resolving disputes between labor and management. Galambos has been deeply involved in the founding and development of Sandy Springs. She was president of Committee for Sandy Springs from 1975-2005, leading the effort to incorporate Sandy Springs. She is a co-founder and former secretary of Sandy Springs Revitalization and founder of Sandy Springs Clean and Beautiful. Galambos discusses her time as a journalist, her experience with the founding of Sandy Springs, and her work as mayor.

ROGP 140 Eva Galambos video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 141 Marti Fullerton

1 interview(s) 49 minutes

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 Constitutional Revision Committee and as an aide in the State Senate. Fullerton has also worked in the Lieutenant Governor's office and the Governor's office. In 1998 she was appointed Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor by Governor Zell Miller. Fullerton discusses her friendship with Zell Miller, her experience in politics, and her appointment to Labor Commissioner.

ROGP 141 Marti Fullerton video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 142 Sadie Fields

1 interview(s) 72 minutes

Sadie Fields is best known for her work for the Christian Coalition in Georgia. In this interview, Fields discusses her early years growing up in south Georgia and the formation of her interest in politics. She describes her experience working for the campaigns of John Knox and Guy Millner in their gubernatorial races in Georgia, as well as her work for Pat Buchanan during the 1996 presidential race. Fields also addresses her years as state director of the Christian Coalition and gives her thoughts on the role of religion in the public sphere.

ROGP 142 Sadie Fields video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 143 Margaret Holliman

1 interview(s) 30 minutes

Margaret Holliman is a conservative Georgian who has been active in many political campaigns and organizations. She worked on the campaigns of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. Holliman has also attended several Republican National Conventions and has served as the head of the Georgia Republican Federation of Women. Holliman discusses her early start in political volunteering, her opinion of prominent Republicans in the past forty years, and the future of the Republican Party in Georgia.

ROGP 143 Margaret Holliman video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 144 Andrew Young

1 interview(s) 75 minutes

A former member of Congress, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and two-term Mayor of Atlanta, Andrew Young began his political career as a minister and civil rights activist. Young discusses his upbringing in New Orleans, education, early career as a United Church of Christ minister, and civil rights work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The interviews closes with Young's memories of Dr. King's assassination, time in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1970s, and service as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during President Jimmy Carter's administration.

ROGP 144 Andrew Young video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 145 Billy Lovett

1 interview(s) 48 minutes

Billy Lovett is a former Laurens County Comissioner, member of the State Public Service Commission, candidate for Governor, and businessmen in Atlanta. Lovett discusses hsi work in the Public Service Commissioner, his campaign for Governor, and the role of party politics in Georgia.

ROGP 145 Billy Lovett video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 146 Bill Hardman

1 interview(s)

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 through efforts such as building Welcome centers and improving major roadways. He also discusses efforts to promote Georgia tourism outside of the state through trade shows and at public events like Kennedy's inauguration parade and the Tournament of Roses Parade. Other topics include the Southeast Tourism Society and the annual Hoedown in Washington, D.C., the development of the World Congress Center in Atlanta, Six Flags, the impact of sports on Atlanta tourism, and changes to the tourism industry in the late twentieth century.

ROGP 146 Bill Hardman video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 147 Bill Shipp

1 interview(s)

William "Bill" Shipp worked as a journalist in Georgia for fifty years. In this interview at his home in Acworth, Georgia, Shipp discusses the range of modern Georgia politics, with a particular emphasis on Georgia governors since 1946. Topics include race relations in Atlanta during the Civil Rights Movement, the fall of the county unit system, congressional reapportionment in Georgia, the race between Carl Sanders and Jimmy Carter in 1972, Leroy Johnson, Zell Miller and the Georgia lottery, the rise of the Republican Party in Georgia, the Three Governors Controversy, Herman Talmadge's governorship, Jim Gillis's tenure as the director of the highway department, Roy Barnes and the Georgia flag controversy, Newt Gingrich, Max Cleland, and Shipp's career as a journalist.

ROGP 147 Bill Shipp video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 148 George Berry on James Carmichael

1 interview(s) 40 minutes

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 against Eugene Talmadge and Three Governors Controversy. Berry also discusses Carmichael's civic involvement in Marietta and Cobb County. Berry served as deputy chief administrative officer in Mayor Ivan Allen's administration and under Mayor Sam Massell as chief administrative officer during Atlanta's critical transition from primarily white to mixed race leadership. In 1983, Berry became the commissioner of Industry, Trade and Tourism for the state of Georgia. He remained in that position until 1990, when he ran an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor.

ROGP 148 George Berry video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 149 Ray Moore

1 interview(s) 103 minutes

Ray Moore (b. 1922) was an Atlanta TV newsman for twenty-three years. In 1951, he joined WSB Radio and then WSB-TV the following year. Moore resigned as news director of WSB, in 1969, and joined WAGA-TV (Channel 5) until he retired from broadcasting entirely in 1974. Moore produced a number of documentaries on penal reform, school desegregation, hunger, religion, and urban development. Moore discusses his work with WSB, covering legislative news in Georgia, and his experience making documentaries.

ROGP 149 Ray Moore video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 150 Dick Yarbrough

1 interview(s) 55 minutes

For the past 15 years, Dick Yarbrough has gained a large following with his syndicated newspaper column which reaches some 600,000 households and more than 1.3 million readers each week throughout Georgia. In March, 2013, Gov. Nathan Deal named Dick Yarbrough to the recently revamped state board of juvenile justice. Yarbrough discusses his experience with the State Ethics Commission, serving on the Olympics committee, and his experience with art.

ROGP 150 Dick Yarbrough video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 151 Casey Cagle

1 interview(s) 102 minutes

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 conservative political activist and former director of the Christian Coalition. Casey Cagle discusses his early life in Gainesville and his start in the business world, when he took over the management of a tuxedo shop and expanded the business. Cagle talks about his decision to run for the State Senate and his later campaign against Ralph Reed for the lieutenant governorship. Cagle also discusses issues such as education, transportation, ethics in government and politics, and the role of the lieutenant governor in Georgia.

ROGP 151 Casey Cagle video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 152 Frank Albert

1 interview(s) 48 minutes

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 Murphy. Albert recalls a few particularly memorable experiences, including Culver Kidd's "Crown Royal pants" and the articles written about him when he endorsed Democratic candidate Zell B. Miller for Governor.

ROGP 152 Frank Albert video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 153 Andrew Young

1 interview(s) 81 minutes

Andrew Young is a politician, businessman, and activist. Over his career, he has worked as a pastor, was involved in the Civil Rights Movement, served as a U.S. Representative and UN Ambassador, and as mayor of Atlanta. In this interview, he discusses the importance of economic enfranchisement and global economic policy, his work fueling economic growth in his terms as Atlanta mayor, securing the bid for Atlanta to host the 1996 Olympics, and the ramifications of current technological change.

ROGP 153 Andrew Young video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 154 Garland Pinholster

1 interview(s) 58 minutes

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 the Georgia House of Representatives. In this interview he talks about his coaching career, his entry into politics, and his role in the growth of the Republican Party in Georgia. Pinholster also discusses the influence of early Republicans candidates Barry Goldwater and Paul Coverdell, his views on political extremism and the Tea Party, and his work on the State School Board and the Georgia State Board of Transportation.

ROGP 154 Garland Pinholster video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 155 Johnny Isakson

1 interview(s) 35 minutes

Johnny Isakson was born in Atlanta, Georgia, 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, and has run a successful real estate business. In this interview, Isakson sits down to talk after his return from a month-long tour of Georgia to meet with his constituents. He addresses various issues that include homeland security, the budget and economy, trade and transportation, and education.

ROGP 155 Johnny Isakson video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 156 Ray Holland

1 interview(s) 195 minutes

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 experiences as a legislator after being elected in 1988, including the Biennial Institute, first impressions of other legislators, and serving on various committees. Holland discusses proposing budget reform legislation, his relationship with Zell Miller, and ethics issues. Holland also discusses reapportionment and the rise of the Republican party, minority politicians, and demographic changes in Georgia. He talks about rural economic development, compensation of public officials, and the controversy over changing the Georgia state flag.

ROGP 156 Ray Holland video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 157 Jay Beck

1 interview(s) 48 minutes

Jay Beck was born in Albany, Georgia, and was a close friend of Hamilton Jordan. Beck served on Carter's staff during his presidency, and later worked as financial consultant for the Carter Center. Beck discusses Hamilton's Jordan's role as campaign manager and Chief of Staff for Jimmy Carter, Jordan and Carter's political partnership, and the types of policy that they initiated, relating to issues of energy, education, economy, and international relations. Beck also comments on Carter's unsuccessful 1980 reelection campaign.

ROGP 157 Jay Beck video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 158 Phil Wise

1 interview(s) 38 minutes

Phil Wise served as a member of the White House staff of President Jimmy Carter. In this interview, he briefly talks about his childhood, his early relationship with Carter, and his increased involvement in Carter's administrations, first in managing the Southern base of Carter's 1976 presidential campaign, and later working as Carter's Appointments Secretary. Wise describes the personalities and leadership styles of Jimmy Carter and his Chief of Staff, Hamilton Jordan. Wise also mentions returning to work at the Carter Center as Vice President of Operations.

ROGP 158 Phil Wise video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 159 Sam Doss

1 interview(s) 42 minutes

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 Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon, Georgia. In this interview, he talks about his childhood, his involvement with the Junior Chamber of Congress organization, and memories of his senate career.

ROGP 159 Sam Doss video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 160 Charlie Graves

1 interview(s) 65 minutes

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 interview he discusses his childhood, early news career, his coverage of the Bertha Hill trial, his entry into state politics, and his role as Executive Director of the state Democratic Party. He also comments on issues relating to other politicians and administrations, and reflects on the decline of the Democratic Party in Georgia.

ROGP 160 Charlie Graves video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 161 Stacey Abrams

1 interview(s) 20 minutes

Stacey Abrams served as State Representative for Georgia's 89th House District and was selected to the role of House Minority Leader for the Georgia General Assembly. In this interview, she discusses her early life, education, and career, including roles in city government, entrepreneurial business, state politics, and writing.

ROGP 161 Stacey Abrams video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 162 Frank Moore

1 interview(s) 86 minutes

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 lobbyist in Carter's administration. Moore also discusses campaign strategy, the relationship between Congress and Carter's administration, and Carter's legislative agenda. He further discusses notable events from the Carter presidency, including policy change and the United States' role in international politics and peacekeeping.

ROGP 162 Frank Moore video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 163 Stacey Abrams

1 interview(s) 58 minutes

Stacey Abrams served as State Representative for Georgia's 89th House District and was selected to the role of House Minority Leader for the Georgia General Assembly. In this interview, she discusses issues facing Georgia, including the public education system (with a discussion about the differences between public schools, charter schools, and private schools), voter registration, political reapportionment and redistricting, and challenges to Medicaid expansion.

ROGP 163 Stacey Abrams video and interview index in OHMS Access Online

 

ROGP 164 Jack Watson

1 interview(s) 152 minutes

Jack Watson, a former aide to President Jimmy Carter, discusses his early life, political career, and experience working on the 1976 Carter campaign and in the Carter White House. Watson explains his roles and responsibilities within the administration as well as his analysis of Carter's declining popularity and loss to Ronald Reagan in 1980.

ROGP 164 Jack Watson video and interview index in OHMS, 2015 November 11 Access Online

 

ROGP 165 Marion Pope

1 interview(s) 94 minutes

Retired Judge Marion Pope talks about his early life, experiences in the Georgia House of Representatives, time as a Superior Court Judge, and lengthy tenure on the Court of Appeals of Georgia. Topics of interest include Judge Pope's reflections on the death penalty and the growth of the Georgia Republican Party.

ROGP 165 Marion Pope video and interview index in OHMS, 2016 January 29 Access Online

 

ROGP 166 Eric Johnson

1 interview(s) 73 minutes

Former Georgia Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson discusses his long career in Georgia politics and government. Topics of interest include Johnson's analysis of the historic 1966 and 2002 Georgia gubernatorial elections as well as his own unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2010.

ROGP 166 Eric Johnson video and interview index in OHMS, 2016 April 05 Access Online

 

ROGP 167 Wesley Dunn

1 moving_image(s) 72 minutes

Wesley Dunn, an attorney and former state legislator, talks about his career in Georgia House of Representatives and other political experiences. Highlights include Dunn's memories of Tom Murphy, Joe Frank Harris, and Zell Miller as well as important legislative achievements.

ROGP 167 Wesley Dunn video and interview index in OHMS, 2016 May 25 Access Online

 

ROGP 168 Oliver Welch

1 moving_image(s) 77 minutes

Oliver Welch, an educator and consultant, discusses his career in Georgia government. Highlights include Welch's relationship with Governor Carl Sanders, his work in the Office of the State School Superintendent and the Bureau of State Planning and Community Affairs, and the challenges related to intergovernmental planning in Georgia.

ROGP 168 Oliver Welch video and interview index in OHMS, 2016 July 20 Access Online

 

ROGP 169 Roland McElroy

1 moving_image(s) 75 minutes

Roland McElroy is a freelance writer and former U.S. Senate staffer. He discusses his experiences working with Governor Jimmy Carter, Senator Sam Nunn, and Senator Chuck Robb of Virginia. Highlights include Sam Nunn's 1972 campaign and McElroy's book, The Best President the Nation Never Had, a memoir of his time with Nunn.

ROGP 169 Roland McElroy video on Kaltura, 2017 November 15 Access Online