- Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
- Title:
- Transcript of oral history interview with Johnny Isakson, 2002 February 11
- Creator:
- Isakson, Johnny, 1944-
- Contributor to Resource:
- University of West Georgia. Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
- Date of Original:
- 2002-02-11
- Subject:
- Georgia--Politics and government--1865-1950
Georgia--Politics and government--1951-
Legislators--Georgia--Interviews
University of Georgia--Alumni and alumnae
Budget--United States
Civil rights movements--United States--History--20th century
Taxation--United States
Real estate agents--Georgia--Atlanta
Atlanta (Ga.)
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962
Isakson, Johnny, 1944- --Interviews - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
transcripts - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Johnny Isakson was born in Atlanta on December 28, 1944. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1966 and opened a real estate firm in 1967. He served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972, and became very active in Republican politics. In 1976, after an earlier unsuccessful attempt, Isakson was elected to represent eastern Cobb County in the state assembly. He served in that position until 1990, when he ran unsuccessfully for governor. He was elected to represent the Cobb County area in the state senate from 1993-1996, and to the 6th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1999-2005. In 2004, Isakson won a seat in the U.S. Senate where he has become known as an advocate for far-right positions on social issues, a strong supporter of tax cuts, and a co-author of the No Child Left Behind Act. His current term expires in 2011.; Interviewed by Mel Steely on February 11, 2002 at Isakson's Cobb County office.; The interview begins with a discussion on Isakson's childhood in Atlanta and Brookhaven, his parents, his grandparents, and his early education. He had interesting experiences during and just after college, as the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement were prevalent. As a result of a motivational speaker, Isakson was convinced to run for an office and become an active member of politics. He had an unsuccessful first race, but later ran again and became the only Republican to win a race against a Democrat in Georgia legislature in the year that Jimmy Carter became president. Isakson talks about his proximity to scandals and issue within the Senate and Congress. He then answers Dr. Steely's question about which office he preferred, he says he enjoyed both of them and has no regrets. As for his opportunity to see great change over his tenure in the government, he says that there is no complacency in politics anymore, and he says that has been the best change in the last 25 years. Isakson also talks about the importance of budgets and how they should have the chance to be amended if necessary.
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:uwg_phc_isakson20020211-transcript
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/uwg/phc/do-pdf:isakson20020211-transcript
- Language:
- eng
- 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:
-
