- Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
- Title:
- Oral history interview with Herman Talmadge, 1986 April 10
- 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:
- 1986-04-10
- 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
Educational change--Georgia
World War, 1914-1918
Industrialization--Georgia--History
Communism
Ethics--United States
Social values--United States
Education--United States
Soviet Union
World War, 1939-1945
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 - People:
- Talmadge, Herman E. (Herman Eugene), 1913-2002--Interviews
Talmadge, Herman E. (Herman Eugene), 1913-2002
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
Talmadge, Eugene, 1884-1946
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972 - 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.; Interviewed by Dr. Mel Steely and Don Wagner at Talmadge's home on April 10, 1986.; Herman Talmadge spends this interview reflecting on history and his political life. He begins by discussing where he came from and his early life. He says that the status of medicine, science, and technology has improved, but morals and family life have declined over the course of the century. He states that history is important because you have a written record of what has happened in the past so you can consider it and make better decisions in the present and future. He cites Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson as the greatest presidents. After discussing former presidents and American leaders, Talmadge answers questions about how the role of the president has changed over the years. The interview then shifts to the role of the military in America. Talmadge also discusses education and he says that it appears the more money is spent on education, the poorer the results are.
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:uwg_phc_talmadge19860410
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/uwg/phc/do:talmadge19860410
- 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 62 mins.; circa 15 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: