Steely, MelUniversity of West Georgia. Georgia Political Papers and Oral History ProgramUnited States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018Weltner, Charles Longstreet1991-05-16"Representative from Georgia; born in Atlanta, Fulton County Ga., December 17, 1927; attended the public schools of Fulton County, Ga.; graduated from Oglethorpe University at Atlanta, Ga., in 1948 and from Columbia University School of Law at New York City, in 1950; received M.A. from Columbia Theological Seminary, 1983, and LL.M., University of Virginia Law School, 1983; commenced practice in Atlanta, Ga., in 1950; served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army, 1955-1957; elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-eighth and Eighty-ninth Congresses (January 3, 1963-January 3, 1967); was not a candidate for reelection in 1966 to the Ninetieth Congress; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1968 to the Ninety-first Congress; deputy chairman, Democratic National Committee, and director of young Americans division, 1967; resumed the practice of law; judge, Superior Court, Atlanta Judicial Circuit, 1976-1981; chairman, Judicial Council of Georgia, 1980-1981; justice, Supreme Court of Georgia, 1981-1992, chief justice from June 1992 until his death in Atlanta, Ga., on August 31, 1992; was a resident of Atlanta."--Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.; Interviewed by Mel Steely on May 16, 1999 at Weltner's office.; The interview begins with a discussion on Weltner's childhood and education. Weltner refuses to discuss his religious beliefs, stating that he does not want to use them as an excuse or as protection from any of his poor decisions. He answers questions about his time in law school at Columbia and his knowledge that he would always be a lawyer and get involved in politics. He then discusses his entrance into politics and addresses being referred to as an example of the "new wave of politicians." He says the idea was to be a lot like Kennedy-- but not too much like him. In regards to President Kennedy, Weltner reflects on him as a man and remembers his assassination. He summarizes the attitudes of Congress towards Civil Rights, Vietnam, and the economy during his time in office. Weltner addresses his voting against and then changing his mind and voting for the Civil Rights Bill of 1967. One of the main themes of the interview involves Weltner's stance on race in politics. He repeatedly says that race was not why he decided to vote on certain things, but rather he made decisions and changed his mind if he felt like it-- he said he was content to be called a flip-flop. Later, when it came down to running again, he withdrew from the electoral race because he refused to support Lester Maddox. Later in the interview, Weltner talks about his return to law after his time in politics as a judge.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-Legislators--GeorgiaUnited States. ArmyColumbia University. School of Law--Alumni and alumnaeAnti-communism movements--United StatesUnited States--Economic conditionsGeorgia--Economic conditionsViolence--PreventionAttorneys general--GeorgiaAtlanta ConstitutionBanks and banking--United StatesBlack power--United States--History--20th centuryUniversity System of Georgia. Board of RegentsBoy Scouts of AmericaPolitical campaigns--GeorgiaPolitical campaigns--United StatesCapital punishment--United StatesCapital punishment--GeorgiaCivil rights--United States--History--20th centuryUnited States. Civil Rights Act of 1964Cold WarUnited States. CongressCrime--United StatesCrime--GeorgiaDeKalb County (Ga.)Democratic Party (U.S.)Forests and forestry--United StatesForests and forestry--GeorgiaFulton County (Ga.)Georgia. General AssemblyKu Klux Klan (1915- )Elections--GeorgiaNewnan (Ga.)Oglethorpe UniversityRockdale County (Ga.)Urban renewal--United StatesUrban renewal--Georgia16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, Birmingham, Ala., 1963Chicago Seven Trial, Chicago, Ill., 1969-1970Vietnam War, 1961-1975WSB (Radio station : Atlanta, Ga.)World War, 1914-1918Weltner, Charles LongstreetAtley, C.Landrum, Philip M.Sanders, Carl Edward, 1925-Allen, Ivan, 1877-1968Blackburn, Benjamin B. (Benjamin Bentley), 1927-Bond, Julian, 1940-Brannon, EdBowers, MikeBenus, KennethBoyd, Betty CobbBusbee, George, 1927-Callaway, Howard H. (Howard Hollis), 1927-Gregory, Cleveland E., Jr.Clint, JackCraig, Calvin FredDavis, James C. (James Curran), 1895-Dirksen, Everett McKinleyFlynt, John James, 1914-Fortson, BlantonGingrich, NewtFowler, Wyche, 1940-Geer, Peter ZackHumphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963--AssasinationLowe, WymanMassell, SamMurphy, Thomas Bailey, 1924-2007Patterson, Eugene C. (Eugene Corbett), 1923-Powell, Adam Clayton, 1908-1972Rivers, Eurith Dickinson, 1895-1967Thompson, Fletcher, 1925-Oral history interview with Charles Weltner, 1991 May 16MovingImage