- Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
- Title:
- Oral history interview with Carl Gillis, 1990 August 6
- Creator:
- Gillis, Carl, 1917-
- Contributor to Resource:
- Steely, Mel
University of West Georgia. Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program - Publisher:
- Carrollton, Ga. : University of West Georgia Special Collections in association with the Digital Library of Georgia
- Date of Original:
- 1990-08-06
- Subject:
- Georgia--Politics and government--1865-1950
Georgia--Politics and government--1951-
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College--Alumni and alumnae
University of Georgia--Alumni and alumnae
United States. Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service
United States. Federal Housing Administration
Foundation for Economics Education
Civil rights--Georgia--History
Lumber trade--Georgia
Depressions--1929
Kennedy Family
Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )
Gillis, Carl, 1917---Interviews
Bush, George, 1924-
Callaway, Howard H. (Howard Hollis), 1927-
Coverdell, Paul Douglas, 1939-2000
Dukakis, Michael S. (Michael Stanley), 1933-
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969
Gingrich, Newt
Goldwater, Barry M. (Barry Morris), 1909-1998
Isakson, Johnny, 1944-
Lovett, Billy
Mandela, Nelson, 1918-
Mattingly, Mack, 1931-
Miller, Zell, 1932-
Reagan, Ronald
Swindall, Pat, 1950-
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - People:
- Maddox, Lester, 1915-2003
Young, Andrew, 1932-
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945 - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
United States, Georgia, Emanuel County, 32.58976, -82.30171
United States, Georgia, Emanuel County, Adrian, 32.53072, -82.5893
United States, Georgia, Emanuel County, Swainsboro, 32.59739, -82.33374
United States, Georgia, Johnson County, 32.70146, -82.66008
United States, Georgia, Laurens County, Dublin, 32.54044, -82.90375
United States, Georgia, Treutlen County, 32.40388, -82.56728
United States, Georgia, Treutlen County, Gillis Springs, 32.45934, -82.49152
United States, Georgia, Treutlen County, Soperton, 32.37712, -82.59236
United States, New York, Westchester County, Irvington, 41.03922, -73.86823 - Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
moving images - Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- Carl Gillis (1917 - ) was a national Republican Party Committee member for many years beginning in the 1980s, and was a strong supporter of Ronald Reagan. He was a successful businessperson, owning a homebuilding company and later focusing on real estate.; Interviewed by Dr. Mel Steely on August 6, 1990 at an unspecified location.; Gillis begins the conversation by speaking of his ancestry and memories of his childhood and family life. He reflects on the Great Depression and its impact on his family and community. He graduated from Adrian High School in 1934, went on to attend the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and then taught school for two years. He speaks about briefly attending the University of Georgia during WWII and his ultimate decision to pursue business in Adrian, Georgia. He began working in the lumber business, eventually making his way into the business of building houses from about 1960 to 1988 and then going into real estate. Gillis speaks to his motivations for continuing to work, despite having gained enough finances over the years to be able to retire comfortably. He then discusses his political philosophy and his eventual conversion to the Republican Party. He speaks of how race and Civil Rights affected the Republican Party and expresses his views on segregation and racism. The conversation then moves to the Vietnam War and Richard Nixon and Gillis speaks of his decision to run for delegation. [segments from tapes 6 and 7 are missing] Gillis then speaks of three key Republicans of the 1980s, Mack Mattingly, Pat Swindall and Newt Gingrich - he assesses each and their impact upon the party. He then goes on to speak of the role of minorities in the Republican Party and mentions several women that he had worked alongside on the National Committee. The conversation ends with Gillis commenting on what he believes the 1990s will hold for the Republican Party.
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:uwg_phc_gillis19900806
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/uwg/phc/do:gillis19900806
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [interview title], Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program oral history interviews. Annie Belle Weaver Special Collections, Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library, University of West Georgia
- Extent:
- 1 interview (circa 128 mins.)
- Original Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program oral history interviews. Annie Belle Weaver Special Collections, Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library, State University of West Georgia
- Holding Institution:
- University of West Georgia. Special Collections
- Rights:
-
