Short, Bob, 1932-United States, 39.76, -98.5United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018Darden, George, 1943Short, Bob, 19322008-06-18Darden discusses his early life and his political and law career. He talks about his experience working for Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr., as a patronage employee during his college years and covers the beginnings of his political career as an assistant district attorney and, later, district attorney for Cobb County. He gives an overview of his legislative work serving in the Georgia House of Representatives and recalls his special election campaign that led him to fill the seat of U.S. Representative Larry Walker after his sudden death in 1983. Darden comments on the committee work he performed in the U.S. House, including work with the Armed Services, Interior and Insular, Appropriations, and Ethics Committees. He shares his thoughts and opinions on a range of policy issues, including fiscal matters, foreign policy, immigration, and campaign finance. He reflects on the shifts in party power amidst the Republican Revolution in 1994 and the rise of a Republican dominance in Georgia politics. Darden also discusses his relationships with important figures in his career, such as Senator Russell, Roy Barnes, Carl Vinson, and Tom Murphy.George Washington "Buddy" Darden was born in Sparta, Georgia, on November 22, 1943. He attended North Georgia College, and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in 1965. He was selected to serve in Senator Richard B. Russell's patronage program in Washington, D.C. He received his law degree from the University of Georgia Law School in 1967, and served as assistant district attorney in Cobb County from 1968 to 1972, when he was elected district attorney. In 1980, he was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia House of Representatives, and served on the Judiciary Committee. After the death of U.S. Representative Larry McDonald, Darden won the special election to take his seat. In congress, he served on several committees, including the House Armed Services, Ethics, and Appropriations. In 1994, he lost his reelection bid, and unsuccessfully campaigned for congress in 2002. He served under Governor Roy Barnes as chairman of the Judicial Nominating Commission. Since 1995, he has been with the law firm McKenna, Long & Aldridge. President Clinton appointed him to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. After Clinton left office, Darden began doing work for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, traveling to various countries including Indonesia and Senegal. Darden has also represented Georgia's interests in the water disputes with Alabama and Florida.Finding aid available in repository.Related materials found in the following collections of this repository: George W. (Buddy) Darden Papers, Audiovisual Materials; Zell Miller Papers, Series IX: Audiovisual Material.Interviewed by Bob Short.video/mp4enghttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collectionhttp://sclfind.libs.uga.edu/sclfind/view?docId=ead/RBRL220ROGP.xmlGeorgia--General Assembly--House of RepresentativesUnited States--Congress--HouseElections--GeorgiaPolitical parties--GeorgiaCampaign funds--United StatesCampaign fundsElectionsEmigration and immigrationPolitical partiesPolitics and governmentGeorgia--Politics and governmentUnited States--Emigration and immigrationGeorgiaUnited StatesBuddy Darden, 18 June 2008.MovingImage