- Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
- Title:
- Oral history interview with Herman Talmadge, 1985 October 23
- Creator:
- Talmadge, Herman E. (Herman Eugene), 1913-2002
- Contributor to Resource:
- Steely, Mel
Wagner, Don
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:
- 1985-10-23
- Subject:
- Georgia--Politics and government--1865-1950
Georgia--Politics and government--1951-
Governors--Georgia--Interviews
Legislators--Georgia--Interviews
University of Georgia. School of Law--Alumni and alumnae--Interviews
Ku Klux Klan (1915- )
Depressions--1929
Race relations--Georgia
School integration--Georgia
Primaries--Georgia--History
New Deal, 1933-1939 - People:
- Talmadge, Herman E. (Herman Eugene), 1913-2002--Interviews
Talmadge, Herman E. (Herman Eugene), 1913-2002
Talmadge, Eugene, 1884-1946
Talmadge, Thomas R.
Foley, Frank D., 1888-1966
Hardwick, Thomas W. (Thomas William), 1872-1944
Harris, William J. (William Julius), 1868-1932
Holder, John
Maddox, Lester, 1915-2003
Redwine, Charlie
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
Russell, Richard B. (Richard Brevard), 1897-1971
Wallace, John
Watson, Thomas E. (Thomas Edward), 1856-1922 - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
moving images - Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- Herman Eugene Talmadge (1913-2002), son of former governor Eugene Talmadge, was born on August 9, 1913 in the small Telfair County town of McRae, Georgia. He earned his law degree from the University of Georgia in 1936, and practiced law for several years before joining the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he saw extensive combat in the South Pacific. In 1946, Talmadge ran his father's successful Democratic race for governor, though the elder Talmadge died before he could take office. The state legislature elected Herman to take his father's place, but the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled the move unconstitutional.Talmadge vacated the governor's mansion, but came back to win a special election in 1948, and a full four years as governor in 1950. As was common at the time, he was an ardent segregationist, but implemented the first state sales tax as a way to improve public schools. In 1956, Talmadge was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he concentrated on agricultural issues and sponsored the creation of a food-stamp program. In 1980, he lost his seat to Republican Mack Mattingly. Talmadge retired to his home in Hampton, Georgia where he died on March 21, 2002.; This interview took place at Senator Talmadge's home in Hampton, Georgia with Mel Steely and Don Wagner on October 23, 1985.; The interview is set to discuss Herman's father, Eugene Talmadge, and his politics. Talmadge begins the interview by talking about his family history in politics throughout the nation. He discusses his time at the University of Georgia and his father's relationships with other Georgia politicians. He spends a portion of the time talking about the three-governor crisis during the Great Depression. The majority of the interview covers Eugene's personal relationships with members of the legislature and his often-criticized motions within the Senate. Talmadge refers to his father as "his own man, in every sense of the word."
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:uwg_phc_talmadge19851023
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/uwg/phc/do:talmadge19851023
- 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:
- 3 interviews (circa 50 mins.; circa 61 mins.; circa 22 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:
-
