Short, Bob, 1932-United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018Vandiver, Betty RussellShort, Bob, 19322008-10-03Vandiver recalls growing up as part of the Russell family in Winder, Ga. She talks about meeting Ernest Vandiver and their early courtship. She recalls moving to Atlanta so Ernest could work for Governor Herman Talmadge's campaign, and Ernest's subsequent appointment to Adjutant General. Vandiver discusses her tenure as first lady of Georgia, including governor's conferences, campaigning around the state, and moving into the Governor's mansion. She recalls Ernest Vandiver's struggles with integration in Georgia and their conversations regarding the topic. Vandiver recalls her work in establishing the Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia, including her work with fundraising, establishing a church on the hospital grounds, and her personal friendships with the patients. She also discusses her work with the Mayor's parade in Milledgeville as well. Vandiver talks about Governor Vandiver's experiences working for Senator Richard Russell's campaign for President, and his disappointment in not being appointed to succeed Senator Russell. Vandiver recalls her husband's 1966 run for Governor and his 1972 race for U.S. Senate. Vandiver recalls working with Billly Bower, John Greer, David Walker, Bobby Kennedy, Bobby Baker, Lyndon Johnson, Carl Sanders, John Sibley, and Jimmy Carter. Vandiver discusses her children and extended family as well as Ernest's other work in prison reform, infrastructure, and the port authority.Related material available in the following collections of this repository: Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection, ROGP 013 Betty Vandiver and Jane Kidd on Ernest Vandiver; Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection, ROGP 107 Betty Vandiver; Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection, ROGP 108 Jane Kidd; S. Ernest Vandiver, Jr. Papers.Finding aid available in repository.Interviewed by Bob Short.Sybil Elizabeth "Betty" Russell Vandiver was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1925. The niece of Richard B. Russell, she grew up in Winder, Georgia. In 1947, she graduated from the University of Georgia and married Samuel Ernest Vandiver of Lavonia, Georgia, with whom she had three children. She helped him campaign successfully for lieutenant governor, a post Vandiver was elected to in 1954. In 1958, 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. Ernest Vandiver's subsequent campaigns for governor (1966) and U.S. Senate (1972) proved unsuccessful, and the Vandivers retired from politics. They remained active in the business and community affairs of Lavonia.video/mp4enghttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collectionhttp://sclfind.libs.uga.edu/sclfind/view?docId=ead/RBRL220ROGP.xmlCentral State Hospital (Milledgeville, Ga.)Georgia Ports AuthorityGovernors' spouses--Georgia--InterviewsGovernors--GeorgiaPolitical campaigns--GeorgiaCollege integration--Georgia--HistoryPrisons--Law and legislation--GeorgiaInfrastructure (Economics)--GeorgiaCollege integrationGovernorsGovernors' spousesInfrastructure (Economics)Political campaignsPolitical participationPrisons--Law and legislationRace relationsGeorgia--Race relations--HistoryGeorgiaBetty Vandiver, 03 October 2008.MovingImage