Steely, MelFitz-Simons, TedUniversity of West Georgia. Georgia Political Papers and Oral History ProgramUnited States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018Arnall, Ellis Gibbs, 1907-19921986-02-18Ellis Arnall (1907-1992) was born in Newnan, Georgia on March 20, 1907. After earning a degree in Greek from the University of the South, he served as president of his class and the student body at the University of Georgia where he got his law degree in 1931. He was elected to represent Coweta County, as a Democrat in the Georgia House of Representatives in 1932 at the age of 25, where he rose to the position of Speaker pro tempore. At the age of 31, he was appointed attorney general by Governor E.D. Rivers, and in 1942 he defeated Eugene Talmadge to become the nation's youngest governor. Arnall is considered one of the most progressive governors in Georgia history. Among his reforms was an end to the poll tax, lowering of the voting age, a revised state constitution, and paying off the state's debt. His popularity declined due to his support of court decisions allowing blacks to vote in the state's white only primaries. He was a successful lawyer and businessman and served for a short time in the Truman administration. He ran for governor again in 1966, but lost a runoff election to segregationist Lester Maddox. Arnall died of pneumonia at an Atlanta hospital in 1992.; Interviewed in Governor Arnall's Law Office at Arnall, Gold and Gregory on February 18, 1986, by Dr. Mel Steely and Ted Fitz-Simons.; Arnall begins the interview by talking about the early history of his family, known from family stories and history books. He mentions that his first taste of politics was as a pageboy for the Alabama State Legislature. He cites his father and uncle's role as merchants, and his early work in their general store, as having influenced his interactions with the food industry while governor. Arnall also discusses his education, mentioning the fact that he had not graduated from high school, listing his favorite teachers and the benefits that good educators provide. He goes into more detail about his years pursuing higher education, going through his time at Mercer and Vanderbilt Universities, as well as law school at the University of Georgia and providing anecdotes about interesting clients and co-workers from over the years. Arnall discusses his decision to run for the House of Representatives in 1932, during the Great Depression, winning the position of Speaker pro tempore. He goes on to discuss the roles of the Federal and State governments during that time, as well as his relationship with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eugene Talmadge. Arnall speaks about his time as attorney general, giving anecdotes of some of the cases he was involved in and the campaigns he ran, going on to talk about the office of Lieutenant Governor of Georgia that had been established under his governorship and mentioning his wife, Mildred, who had once been encouraged by constituents to run for governor herself. Arnall speaks of his political views - arguing for the industrialization of Georgia and the promotion of the state's educational quality; he goes on to speak of his beliefs in human rights, racial equality and the right to pursue happiness.video/mp4engCarrollton, Ga. : University of West Georgia Special Collections in association with the Digital Library of Georgiahttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program oral history interviews. 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(Lint)Moore, Wiley LemuelMoses, George BigginsMurray, William Henry Davis (Alfalfa Bill)Nestle, CarnationNewnan, GANew Orleans, LAO'Daniel, Wilbert Lee (Pappy)Paige, Leroy Robert (Satchel)Peachtree Creek, GARivers, Eurith Dickinson (Ed)Roberts, ColumbusRoosevelt, Franklin DelanoRussell, Richard Brevard, Jr. (Dick)Sargent, GASavannah, GeorgiaSchmid, Smoot (sheriff)Shepperson, Gay BollingStevenson, Coke RobertSpivey, AlfredSpivey, JackStevenson, CopeTalmadge, EugeneThompson, Melvin ErnestTruman, Harry S.Union Springs, ALUniversity of Georgia, Athens, GAUniversity of the South, Sewanee, TNVanderbilt University, Nashville, TNWallace, Henry AgardWalton County, GAWarm Springs, GAWilson, Charles ErwinWoolman, CharlieOral history interview with Ellis Arnall, 1986 February 18MovingImage