Steely, MelUniversity of West Georgia. Georgia Political Papers and Oral History ProgramUnited States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018Fowler, Wyche, 1940-2004-11-16Wyche Fowler, Jr. was born in Atlanta on October 6, 1940, attended public schools, and earned a law degree from Emory University in 1969. He served in the U.S. Army from 1963-1964 and worked as chief of staff for Representative Charles Weltner from 1965-1966. After leaving school, he worked as an attorney and served on Atlanta's city council from 1970-1977. In 1977, Fowler won a special election as a Democrat for the U.S. House of Representatives 5th District. He was re-elected four times in the majority African American district, beating civil rights leader John Lewis who would later win the seat. Fowler was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, and became known as a liberal on social issues and a moderate on economic and security concerns. He lost re-election in a close runoff to Paul Coverdell in 1992. Fowler was appointed Ambassador to Saudi Arabia by President Bill Clinton in 1996 and served until 2001. He has since served on various corporate and academic boards including the Carter Center. Fowler currently practices law in Washington, D.C. and in late 2007 joined the University of Georgia's School of Law and began teaching in the 2008 spring semester.; Interviewed by Mel Steely on November 16, 2004 at the University of West Georgia.; The interview picks up where the first left off, beginning with a discussion on Fowler's election to Congress. Fowler then answers questions about his relationship with Newt Gingrich, as well as his decisions and issues he dealt with while in the House and as a Senator. He says he is most proud of the Tax Act of 1986. The interview also covers other political issues and decisions that Fowler had a part with, including the change in AMTRAK trains, et cetera. He says that he certainly failed a lot during his time, and the most disappointing one had to do with transportation tax and raising it to 1%; it lost by one vote. The interview then shifts gears to Fowler's time in the Senate, beginning in 1986, and spending the majority of the discussion on the Gulf War and the decisions surrounding it. He also takes about his time as a foreign ambassador. In regards to his time as ambassador, Fowler talks about the people he met and his relations with Saudi Arabia, where he was selected to go. The rest of the interview is devoted to problems in the Middle East.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. Annie Belle Weaver Special Collections, Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library, State University of West GeorgiaGeorgia--Politics and government--1865-1950Georgia--Politics and government--1951-Legislators--Georgia--InterviewsNational Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United StatesUnited States. Central Intelligence AgencyUnited States. Congress. SenateAmtrakTaxation--United StatesArab-Israeli conflictIran-Iraq War, 1980-1988Fowler, Wyche, 1940---InterviewsOral history interview with Wyche Fowler, 2004 November 16MovingImage