Steely, MelNo, KennethUniversity of West Georgia. Georgia Political Papers and Oral History ProgramUnited States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018Talmadge, Herman E. (Herman Eugene), 1913-20021995-11-07Herman 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 Mel Steely and Kenneth No on November 7, 1995 at Talmadge's Home.; Dr. Steely opens the interview by asking Talmadge how he would assess his "legacy," as this interview takes place 10 years after his last one. He says that the Talmadge's lasting presence in the government is what historians will remember most. Talmadge then talks about how politics and campaigning have changed over the years. The conversation then shifts to Talmadge's opinions on the last three gubernatorial elections, 1986, 1990, and 1994, and the shifting of political parties on a national scale. He shifts to sex scandals in the Senate and the Congress. Dr. Steely asks about the status of race relations in the nation during the mid-1990s in relation to how they used to be when he was in politics. Later in the interview, Talmdage discusses his school days and his entrance into politics.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-Governors--Georgia--InterviewsLegislators--Georgia--InterviewsCivil Rights--United States--HistoryDemocratic Party (U.S.)McRae (Ga.)Feminism--United StatesPolitical parties--United StatesOral history interview with Herman Talmadge, 1995 November 7MovingImage