George C. Wallace, Jr.
48th Governor of Alabama
In office January 14, 1963 – January 16, 1967
Lieutenant	James B. Allen
Preceded by	John Malcolm Patterson
Succeeded by	Lurleen Wallace
In office January 18, 1971 – January 15, 1979
Lieutenant	Bill Baxley
Preceded by	Albert Brewer
Succeeded by	Fob James
In office January 17, 1983 – January 19, 1987
Preceded by	Fob James
Succeeded by	H. Guy Hunt
American Independent Party nominee for President of the United States
Election date November 5, 1968
Running mate	Curtis LeMay
Opponent(s)	Richard Nixon (R) Hubert Humphrey (D)
Incumbent	Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
Preceded by	New party
Succeeded by	John G. Schmitz
Born	April 25, 1919(1919-04-25) Clio, Alabama
Died	September 13, 1998 (aged 79) Montgomery, Alabama
Political party	Democratic American Independent Party (1968)
Spouse	Lurleen Wallace (deceased) Cornelia Ellis Snively (divorced) Lisa Taylor (divorced)
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Born-again Christian

George Corley Wallace Jr. The Governor of the State of Alabama is the chief executive of the Government of Alabama The Governor has the power to execute Alabama 's laws and to call Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. James or Jim Allen may refer to James Allen (American football (b John Malcolm Patterson (born September 27, 1921) is an American Politician who was the forty-ninth Governor of Alabama, Lurleen Brigham Wallace ( September 19, 1926 – May 7, 1968) born in Tuscaloosa Alabama, was the Governor of Alabama Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) William Joseph Baxley II (born June 27 1941) is an American Democratic politician and attorney Albert Preston Brewer (born October 26, 1928) is an American Politician who was the governor of Alabama from May 1968 Forrest Hood "Fob" James Jr (born September 15, 1934 in Lanett Alabama) is an American Republican Politician Events 38 BC - Octavian marries Livia Drusilla. 1287 - King Alfonso III of Aragon invades Minorca Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Forrest Hood "Fob" James Jr (born September 15, 1934 in Lanett Alabama) is an American Republican Politician Harold Guy Hunt (born June 17, 1933 in Holly Pond Alabama) is an American Politician who served two terms as the Governor The American Independent Party is a California Political party. Please DO NOT flip the colors -->The United States presidential election of 1968 was a wrenching national experience and included the assassination of Democratic candidate Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Curtis Emerson LeMay (15 November 1906–3 October 1990 was a General in the United States Air Force and the vice presidential running mate of American Independent Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr ( May 27, 1911 &ndash January 13, 1978) was the thirty-eighth Vice President of the United States, serving The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. John George Schmitz (August 12 1930 &ndash January 10 2001 was a conservative Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Orange Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Clio is a city in Barbour County, Alabama, United States. The population was 2206 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Montgomery (məntˈgəmɜriː is the Capital, second most populous city and the 4th most populous metropolitan area in the Southern U The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. The American Independent Party is a California Political party. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Lurleen Brigham Wallace ( September 19, 1926 – May 7, 1968) born in Tuscaloosa Alabama, was the Governor of Alabama A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person (August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998), was a United States politician who was elected Governor of Alabama as a Democrat for four terms (1963-1967, 1971-1979 and 1983-1987) and ran for U.S. President four times, running as a Democrat in 1964, 1972, and 1976, and as the American Independent Party candidate in 1968. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) The Governor of the State of Alabama is the chief executive of the Government of Alabama The Governor has the power to execute Alabama 's laws and to call Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Please DO NOT flip the colors -->The United States presidential election of 1964 was one of the most lopsided presidential elections in the history of the United States The United States presidential election of 1972 was waged on the issues of radicalism and the Vietnam War. The United States presidential election of 1976 followed the resignation of President Richard M The American Independent Party is a California Political party. Please DO NOT flip the colors -->The United States presidential election of 1968 was a wrenching national experience and included the assassination of Democratic candidate He is best known for his pro-segregation attitudes and as a symbol of state's rights during the American desegregation period, which he modified after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by arguing that it was better that he be governor while the schools were being desegregated than for someone else to be in authority. Desegregation is the process of ending Racial segregation, most commonly used in reference to the United States. Origins The bill was introduced by President John F Kennedy in his civil rights speech of June 11 1963, in which he asked for legislation "giving

Early life

Wallace was born in Clio in Barbour County in southeastern Alabama to George Corley Wallace and Mozell Smith. Clio is a city in Barbour County, Alabama, United States. The population was 2206 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town Barbour County Alabama is a County of the US state of Alabama. He became a regionally successful boxer in his high school days, then went directly to law school at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 1937. Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, High school is the name used in some parts of the world (in particular Scotland, North America and Australia) to describe an institution A law school (also known as a school of law or college of law) is an institution specializing in Legal education. Tuscaloosa is a city in west central Alabama in the southern United States. ^[1] After receiving a law degree in 1942, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps, flying combat missions over Japan during World War II. The United States Army Air Forces ( USAAF) was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II. The ComBat was an Aluminium Cricket bat and the subject of an incident that occurred at the WACA cricket ground in Perth in December 1979. The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Wallace attained the rank of staff sergeant in the 58th Bomb Wing of the 20th Air Force Division. For the Brush-footed butterfly Species, see Athyma selenophora. Twentieth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force of the United States in Air Force Space Command (AFSPC He served under General Curtis LeMay, who would be his running mate in the 1968 presidential race. Curtis Emerson LeMay (15 November 1906–3 October 1990 was a General in the United States Air Force and the vice presidential running mate of American Independent Please DO NOT flip the colors -->The United States presidential election of 1968 was a wrenching national experience and included the assassination of Democratic candidate While in the service, Wallace nearly died of spinal meningitis, but prompt medical attention saved him. Meningitis is Inflammation of the protective membranes covering the Brain and Spinal cord, known collectively as the Meninges. He was left with partial hearing loss and nerve damage, and was medically discharged with a disability pension. There is no single classification system that can describe all the many variations of nerve injury.

Entry into politics

In 1938, at age nineteen, Wallace contributed to his grandfather's successful campaign for probate judge. Late in 1945, he was appointed Assistant Attorney General of Alabama, and during May 1946, he won his first election as a member to the Alabama House of Representatives. In most Common law jurisdictions the Attorney General, or Attorney-General, is the main legal advisor to the government and in some jurisdictions may in addition Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. The Alabama House of Representatives is the Lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U At the time, he was considered a moderate on racial issues. As a delegate to the 1948 Democratic National Convention, he did not join the Southern walkout at the convention, despite his opposition to President Harry S. Truman's proposed civil rights program, which he considered an infringement on states' rights. The 1948 Democratic National Convention was held at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 12 to The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive States' rights refers to the idea in US politics and constitutional law, that U The dissenting Democrats, known as Dixiecrats, supported then-Governor Strom Thurmond of South Carolina for the presidency. The States' Rights Democratic Party (commonly known as the Dixiecrats) was a segregationist, socially conservative Political party James Strom Thurmond ( December 5, 1902 – June 26, 2003) was an American politician who served as governor of South Carolina and South Carolina ( is a state in the southern region ( Deep South) of the United States of America. In his 1963 inauguration as governor, Wallace excused this action on political grounds.

In 1953, he was elected judge in the Third Judicial Circuit Court. Circuit court is the name of court systems in several Common law jurisdictions Here he became known as "the little fightin' judge," a reference to his boxing days.

Failed run for governor

In 1958, he was defeated by John Patterson in Alabama's Democratic gubernatorial primary election, which at the time was the decisive election, the general election still almost always being a mere formality. John Malcolm Patterson (born September 27, 1921) is an American Politician who was the forty-ninth Governor of Alabama, A primary election ( nominating primary) also referred to simply as a primary, is an election in which voters in a Jurisdiction select candidates This was a political crossroads for Wallace. Patterson ran with the support of the Ku Klux Klan, an organization Wallace had spoken against, while Wallace was endorsed by the NAACP. Ku Klux Klan ( KKK) is the name of several past and present secret domestic terrorist organizations in the United States, generally in the southern states that are The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is one of the oldest and most influential Civil rights organizations ^[2] After the election, aide Seymore Trammell recalled Wallace saying, "Seymore, you know why I lost that governor's race?. . . I was outniggered by John Patterson. And I'll tell you here and now, I will never be outniggered again. "^[2][3] In the wake of his defeat, Wallace adopted hard-line segregationism, and used this stand to court the white vote in the next gubernatorial election.

Governor of Alabama

From left to right: Governor Wallace, NASA Administrator James E. Webb and scientist Wernher von Braun at the Marshall Space Flight Center. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program James Edwin Webb ( October 7, 1906 – March 27, 1992) was the second administrator of NASA, serving from February 14 Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun (March 23 1912 &ndash June 16 1977 a German rocket physicist and astronautics engineer became one of the leading figures in George C Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC the original home of NASA, is a lead center for propulsion, Space Shuttle propulsion Shuttle external fuel

Wallace standing against desegregation while being confronted by Deputy U. S. Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach at the University of Alabama in 1963. Nicholas deBelleville Katzenbach (born January 17, 1922) is an American lawyer who served as United States Attorney General during the Lyndon

Segregation

In 1962, he was elected governor in a landslide victory. He took the oath of office standing on the gold star where, 102 years prior, Jefferson Davis was sworn in as President of the Confederate States of America. An oath of office is an Oath or Affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an Office, usually a position in government or within a religious Jefferson Finis Davis ( June 3, 1808 &ndash December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as President of the The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 In his inaugural speech, he used the line for which he is best known:

The lines were written by Wallace's new speechwriter, Asa Carter, a Klansman and longtime anti-Semite. Asa Earl Carter ( September 4, 1925 &ndash June 7, 1979) was an American speechwriter and author Ku Klux Klan ( KKK) is the name of several past and present secret domestic terrorist organizations in the United States, generally in the southern states that are Antisemitism (alternatively spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism; also rarely known as judeophobia) is the Prejudice against or hostility

On June 11, 1963 in an attempt to stop desegregation by the enrollment of two black students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, he stood in front of Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Desegregation is the process of ending Racial segregation, most commonly used in reference to the United States. Vivian Juanita Malones Jones ( July 15, 1942, in Mobile Alabama - October 13, 2005 in Atlanta Georgia) was an James Hood (born c 1943 was one of the first African Americans to enroll at the University of Alabama in 1963 and was made famous when Alabama Governor Foster Auditorium is a multi-purpose facility at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa Alabama. This became known as the "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door. " After being confronted by federal marshals, Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, and the Alabama National Guard, he stood aside. Nicholas deBelleville Katzenbach (born January 17, 1922) is an American lawyer who served as United States Attorney General during the Lyndon For the National Guard of a State and other countries' National Guard see National Guard.

In September 1963, Wallace again attempted to stop four black students from enrolling in four separate elementary schools in Huntsville. Huntsville is a city in Madison and Limestone Counties in the U After intervention by a federal court in Birmingham, the four children were allowed to enter on September 9, becoming the first to integrate a primary or secondary school in Alabama. Birmingham (ˈbɝmɪŋhæm is the largest City in the US state of Alabama and is the County seat of Jefferson County. ^[6][7]

Wallace disapproved vehemently of the desegregation of the state of Alabama and wanted desperately for his state to remain segregated. In his own words: "The President (Kennedy) wants us to surrender this state to Martin Luther King and his group of pro-Communists who have instituted these demonstrations. "^[8]

Economics and education

The principal achievement of Gov. Wallace's first term was an innovation in Alabama development several other states later adopted: he was the first Southern governor to travel to corporate headquarters in Northern and Northeastern states to offer tax abatements and other incentives to companies willing to locate plants in Alabama. The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive The Northern United States is a large geographic region of the United States of America. The Northeast is a region of the United States. As defined by the U Numerous companies did so, notably shoe and textile manufacturers from the Northeast, and others such as Uniroyal, which located its first modern tire plant in Opelika, Alabama. The United States Rubber Company was founded in Naugatuck Connecticut in 1892 Opelika is a city in and the County seat of Lee County in the east central part of the U

Wallace initiated a junior college system that is now spread throughout the state, preparing many students to complete four-year degrees at Auburn University or the University of Alabama. The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries Auburn University ( AU or Auburn) is a State university located in Auburn, Alabama, U

Democratic presidential primaries of 1964

Using the segregationist image created by the University of Alabama controversy, he attempted to win national office in the United States presidential election, 1964. Please DO NOT flip the colors -->The United States presidential election of 1964 was one of the most lopsided presidential elections in the history of the United States He ran on an "outsider" image, opposition to civil rights for blacks, message of states' rights, and "law and order" platform. In Democratic primaries in Wisconsin, Maryland and Indiana, he won a third of the vote in each. A primary election ( nominating primary) also referred to simply as a primary, is an election in which voters in a Jurisdiction select candidates Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States The State of Indiana ( was the 19th US state admitted into the union

The End of the War Between the States Centennial

Governor Wallace honored the memory of Confederate Veterans who had sacrificed all in the "Lost Cause". He quietly observed the 100th anniversary of the Southern defeat in 1965.

First Gentleman of Alabama

A restriction in Alabama's state constitution prevented Wallace from seeking a second term in 1966. See also Rotation in office A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office The Constitution of the State of Alabama is the basic governing document of the U Therefore, Wallace had his wife, Lurleen Wallace, run for the office as a surrogate candidate, similar to the 1917 run of Ma Ferguson for the governorship of Texas on behalf of her husband, who had been impeached and was barred from running. Lurleen Brigham Wallace ( September 19, 1926 – May 7, 1968) born in Tuscaloosa Alabama, was the Governor of Alabama The phrase power behind the throne refers to a person or group that informally exercises the real power of an office Miriam Amanda Wallace "Ma" Ferguson ( June 13 1875 – June 25 1961) became the first female Governor of Texas in 1925 Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. James Edward "Pa" Ferguson ( August 31, 1871 - September 21, 1944) was a United States Politician from the Impeachment is the first of two stages in a specific process for a legislative body to forcibly remove a Government official

Mrs. Wallace won the election in the fall of 1966, and was inaugurated in January 1967.

Lurleen Wallace died in office on May 7, 1968, during her husband's presidential campaign. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[9] She was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Albert Brewer, reducing Wallace's influence until his new bid for election in his own right in 1970. A Lieutenant Governor is a high officer of state whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction Albert Preston Brewer (born October 26, 1928) is an American Politician who was the governor of Alabama from May 1968

However, largely due to the work of Wallace's supporters, the restriction was later repealed.

1968 third party presidential run

Wallace ran for President in the 1968 election as the American Independent Party candidate. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Please DO NOT flip the colors -->The United States presidential election of 1968 was a wrenching national experience and included the assassination of Democratic candidate The American Independent Party is a California Political party. He hoped to force the House of Representatives to decide the election by receiving enough electoral votes, presumably giving him the role of a power broker. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. The Electoral College consists of 538 popularly elected representatives who formally select the President and Vice President of the United States. A power broker is a person who can influence people to vote towards a particular client (i Wallace hoped that southern states could use their clout to end federal efforts at desegregation. The federal government of the United States is the central United States Governmental body established by the United States Constitution. Desegregation is the process of ending Racial segregation, most commonly used in reference to the United States. His platform contained generous increases for beneficiaries of Social Security and Medicare. Social Security, in the United States currently refers to the federal Old-Age Survivors and Disability Insurance ( OASDI) program This article refers to Medicare, a United States health insurance program

Nixon worried Wallace might steal enough votes to give the election to the Democratic candidate, Vice President Hubert Humphrey. __FORCETOC__ For the Vice President of the United States, their roles and other information see Vice President of the United States. Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr ( May 27, 1911 &ndash January 13, 1978) was the thirty-eighth Vice President of the United States, serving Some Democrats feared Wallace's appeal to blue-collar workers and union members would hurt Humphrey in Northern states like Ohio, New Jersey, and Michigan. Wallace ran a "law and order" campaign similar to Nixon's. In Politics, law and order refers to a political platform which supports a strict Criminal justice system especially in relation to Violent crime

Further information: Southern strategy

When Wallace pledged to run over any demonstrators who got in front of his limousine and asserted the four letter words hippies did not know were w-o-r-k and s-o-a-p, his rhetoric became famous. In American politics, the Southern strategy refers to a Republican method of carrying Southern states in the latter decades of the 20th century and first decade of He accused Humphrey and Nixon of wanting to radically desegregate the South. Wallace said, "There's not a dime's worth of difference between the Democrat and Republican Parties. " His campaign was supported by the John Birch Society. The John Birch Society is a political education and action organization founded by Robert W

While most of the media opposed Wallace, some southern newspapers enthusiastically backed him. George W. Shannon (1914–1998) of the now defunct Shreveport Journal, wrote countless editorials supporting the third-party concept. George Washington Shannon ( February 20, 1914 - April 25, 1998) was a conservative Louisiana Journalist. Wallace repaid Shannon by appearing at Shannon's retirement dinner.

While Wallace carried five Southern states and won almost ten million popular votes, Nixon received 31 electoral votes more than needed to win the election. Wallace remains the last non-Democrat, non-Republican candidate to win any electoral votes. He was the first person since Harry F. Byrd, an independent segregationist candidate in the 1960 presidential election. Harry Flood Byrd Sr ( June 10, 1887 – October 20, 1966) of Berryville in Clarke County Virginia was an American The United States presidential election of 1960 marked the end of Dwight D (John Hospers in 1972, Ronald Reagan in 1976, Lloyd Bentsen in 1988 and John Edwards in 2004 all received one electoral vote from dissenters, but none "won" these votes. John Hospers (born 9 June 1918) is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California. Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr ( February 11 1921 – May 23 2006) was a four-term United States senator (1971 until 1993 from Texas Johnny Reid "John" Edwards (born June 10 1953 ) Wallace also received the vote of one North Carolina elector who was pledged to Nixon. North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States

Many found Wallace an entertaining campaigner. To hippies who called him a Nazi, he replied, "I was killing fascists when you punks were in diapers. The Hippie Subculture was originally a Youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German Fascism is a totalitarian nationalist and corporatist ideology " Another quote: "They're building a bridge over the Potomac for all the white liberals fleeing to Virginia. The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid- Atlantic coast of the United States. Liberalism in the United States is a broad political and philosophical mindset favoring individual Liberty, and opposing restrictions on liberty whether they come from The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state "

Although he agreed with Abraham Lincoln black equality can come with education, uplift, and time,^[10] he disagreed blacks should be able to vote, serve on juries, or hold public office.

Second term as governor

In 1970, Wallace faced incumbent Governor Albert Brewer, who was the first gubernatorial candidate since Reconstruction to openly court black voters. Albert Preston Brewer (born October 26, 1928) is an American Politician who was the governor of Alabama from May 1968 ^[11] Brewer unveiled a progressive platform and worked to build an alliance between blacks and the white working class. He said of Wallace's out of state trips, "Alabama needs a full-time governor. "^[12]

To weaken the prospects of a presidential campaign in 1972, President Nixon backed Brewer and arranged an Internal Revenue Service investigation in the Wallace campaign. The In the primary, Brewer got the most votes but failed to win an outright majority, triggering a run-off election.

The Wallace campaign aired TV ads with slogans such as "Do you want the black block electing your governor?" and circulated an ad showing a white girl surrounded by seven black boys, with the slogan "Wake Up Alabama! Blacks vow to take over Alabama. "^[13] Wallace called Brewer "Sissy Britches"^[14][15] and promised not to run for president a third time. ^[16]

Wallace defeated Brewer in the runoff. The day after the election, he flew to Wisconsin to campaign for the White House. Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States ^[17] Wallace, whose presidential ambitions would have been destroyed by a defeat, ran "one of the nastiest campaigns in state history," using racist rhetoric while proposing few ideas of his own. ^[18]

A Gallup Poll shows Wallace was the seventh most admired man in America, just ahead of Pope Paul VI. The Gallup Poll is the division of Gallup that regularly conducts public Opinion polls in the United States and more than 140 countries around the world Pope

Democratic presidential primaries of 1972

In early 1972, he declared himself a candidate, entering the field with George McGovern, 1968 nominee Hubert Humphrey, and nine other Democratic opponents. George Stanley McGovern Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr ( May 27, 1911 &ndash January 13, 1978) was the thirty-eighth Vice President of the United States, serving In Florida's primary, Wallace carried every county to win 42 percent of the vote. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the When running, Wallace claimed he was no longer for segregation, and had always been a moderate. ^[19]

Assassination attempt

Wallace was shot five times by Arthur Bremer while campaigning in Laurel, Maryland, on May 15, 1972. Arthur Herman Bremer (born August 21 1950) gained notoriety after he shot U Laurel is a Maryland, US Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. As one of the bullets lodged in Wallace's spinal column, the shooting left him paralyzed. The spinal cord is a long thin tubular bundle of Nerves that is an extension of the Central nervous system from the brain and is enclosed in and protected Paralysed redirects here For other uses see xx Paralysed (disambiguation Paralysis is the complete loss of Muscle function Three others wounded in the shooting survived. Bremer's diary, An Assassin's Diary, published after his arrest shows the assassination attempt was motivated by a desire of fame, and President Nixon had been a possible target. An Assassin's Diary (ISBN 0-06-120470-6 is the title of a book released in 1973 which was based on part of the diary of Arthur Bremer, the would-be assassin AssassiNation is the sixth album by Krisiun, released in 2006 on Century Media.

Following the shooting, Wallace won primaries in Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States From his wheelchair, Wallace spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Miami on July 11, 1972. The Democratic nominee, South Dakota Senator George McGovern, was later defeated by President Nixon who carried 49 of the 50 states, losing only in Massachusetts. South Dakota ( is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives George Stanley McGovern The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States.

Since Wallace was out of Alabama for more than twenty days when he was recovering in Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland, the state constitution required the lieutenant governor Jere Beasley to serve as acting governor from June 5 until Wallace's return to Alabama on July 7. Silver Spring is an urbanized Unincorporated area in Montgomery County Maryland, USA The Constitution of the State of Alabama is the basic governing document of the U A Lieutenant Governor is a high officer of state whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction Jere Locke Beasley (born December 12, 1935) was the acting governor of the U An acting governor is a Constitutional position created in some U Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Wallace never returned to Maryland.

Bremer was sentenced to fifty-three years in prison. He served thirty-five years and was released on parole on November 9, 2007.

Democratic presidential primaries of 1976

In November 1975, Wallace announced his bid. The campaign was plagued by voters' concerns with his health, as well as the media's constant use of images of his apparent "helplessness. " His supporters complained such coverage was motivated by bias, citing the discretion used in coverage three decades earlier, or lack of coverage, of Franklin D. Roosevelt's paralysis before television became commercially available. Jimmy Carter won the nomination. Calculating all the southern primaries and caucuses, Wallace only carried Mississippi, South Carolina and his home state of Alabama. Calculating the popular votes in all primaries and caucuses, Wallace placed third behind Jimmy Carter and California Governor Jerry Brown. After all the primaries ended losing several Southern primaries to former Georgia governor Jimmy Carter, Wallace dropped out in June 1976. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 He eventually endorsed Carter, later claiming he facilitated a Southerner's nomination.

Final term as governor

Change of views

Wallace became a born-again Christian in the late 1970s and apologized for his earlier segregationist views to black civil rights leaders. He said while he once sought power and glory, he realized he needed to seek love and forgiveness. His term as Governor (1983–1987) saw a record number of black appointments to government positions.

In the 1982 Alabama gubernatorial Democratic primary, Wallace's main opponents were Lieutenant Governor George McMillian and Alabama House Speaker Joe McCorquodale. A Lieutenant Governor is a high officer of state whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction In the primary, McCorquodale was eliminated, and the vote went to a runoff with Wallace holding a slight edge over McMillian. RUNOFF was the first Computer Text formatting program to see significant use Wallace won the Democratic nomination by a margin of 51 to 49 percent.

In the general election, his opponent was Montgomery Republican mayor Emory Folmar. Emory McCord Folmar (born June 3, 1930) was the mayor of Montgomery Alabama from 1977 to 1999 Most polling experts said this was the best chance since Reconstruction for a Republican to be elected Alabama governor. However, Wallace easily won the general election, with a margin of 62 to 39 percent.

Counting Lurleen Wallace's term as his surrogate, George Wallace achieved five gubernatorial terms across three decades, totaling seventeen years in office (it would have been twenty had Lurleen served four years instead of 17 months). This record is approached by the 15 year tenure of Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller in New York, the 14-year tenure (in consecutive terms) of Governor James R. Thompson of Illinois and Governor Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin, as well as the 16-year tenures attained by Governors Terry E. Branstad of Iowa (in consecutive terms), and Governors James A. Rhodes of Ohio, Edwin Washington Edwards of Louisiana, William Milliken of Michigan, and Jim Hunt of North Carolina (in non-consecutive terms). Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller ( July 8, 1908 January 26, 1979) was the forty-first Vice President of the United States, the forty-ninth New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous James Robert Thompson Jr (born May 8, 1936) also known as "Big Jim Thompson" was the longest-serving Governor of the U The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. Tommy George Thompson (born November 19, 1941) a United States Politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin and the 7th Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States Terry Edward Branstad (b November 17 1946, Leland Iowa) is a former four-term Republican Governor of Iowa, who served from The State of Iowa ( is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. James Allen Rhodes ( September 13, 1909 – March 4, 2001) was an American Republican politician from Ohio, and Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads Edwin Washington Edwards (born August 7, 1927) served as the Democratic Governor of Louisiana for four non-consecutive terms (1972–1980 1984–1988 The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America William Grawn Milliken (born March 26, 1922) is an American politician and served as the Moderate Republican Governor Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. James Baxter Hunt Jr (born May 16, 1937 in Wilson NC) is a former four-term Democratic Governor of the U

Final years

At a Montgomery restaurant a few blocks from the State Capitol, Wallace became something of a fixture. Montgomery (məntˈgəmɜriː is the Capital, second most populous city and the 4th most populous metropolitan area in the Southern U In constant pain, he was surrounded by an entourage of old friends and visiting well-wishers and continued this ritual until a few weeks before his death.

Wallace was the subject of a documentary, George Wallace: Settin' the Woods on Fire, shown by PBS on the American Experience in 2000. The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the American Experience (sometimes abbreviated AmEx) is a Television program airing on the PBS network in the United States ^[20][21]

On one occasion, when asked by a reporter which contemporary American political figure he most admired, he paused thoughtfully for a moment, smiled, and said: "Myself. "

A black lawyer recalls, "Judge George Wallace was the most liberal judge that I had ever practiced law in front of. He was the first judge in Alabama to call me 'Mister' in a courtroom. " Later, when a supporter asked why he started using racist messages, Wallace replied, "You know, I tried to talk about good roads and good schools and all these things that have been part of my career, and nobody listened. And then I began talking about niggers, and they stomped the floor. "^[5]

Wallace died of septic shock from a bacterial infection in Jackson Hospital in Montgomery on September 13, 1998. Septic shock is a very serious medical condition caused by decreased tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery as a result of Infection and Sepsis, though the Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) He suffered from Parkinson's disease and respiratory problems in addition to complications from his gun-shot spinal injury. Parkinson's disease (also known as Parkinson disease or PD) is a degenerative disorder of the Central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer's

The Interstate 10 tunnel which traverses the Mobile River is named in his honor. Interstate 10 ( I-10) is the southernmost east-west coast-to-coast Interstate highway in the United States.

Marriages and children

Wallace's first wife, Lurleen Burns Wallace, was the first (and, as of 2008, only) woman to be elected as governor of Alabama. Lurleen Brigham Wallace ( September 19, 1926 – May 7, 1968) born in Tuscaloosa Alabama, was the Governor of Alabama 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common They had four children together: Bobbi Jo (1944) Parsons, Peggy Sue (1950) Kennedy, George III (1951), and Janie Lee (1961) Dye, who was named after Robert E. Lee. George Corley Wallace III (often called George Wallace Jr) born October 17, 1951, in Eufaula Alabama, is a former Alabama Public Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated

Lurleen died of cancer in 1968, while governor of Alabama. By the time of her funeral on May 9, Wallace had moved out of the governor's mansion and back to a home they had bought in Montgomery in 1967. Events 1457 BC - Battle of Megiddo (15th century BC between Thutmose III and a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Montgomery (məntˈgəmɜriː is the Capital, second most populous city and the 4th most populous metropolitan area in the Southern U Their children, aged 18, 16, and 6, were "distributed" to family members and friends for care (their eldest daughter had already married and left home). ^[9]

Their son, commonly called George Wallace Jr. , is a Republican active in Alabama politics. He was twice elected State Treasurer. He was an elected member of the Public Service Commission until he sought the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor. He lost in a runoff in July 2006, despite support obtained from popular Arizona U. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. S. Senator John McCain.

George Wallace later remarried and divorced twice. On 4 January 1971, he wed Cornelia Ellis Snively, a niece of former Alabama Governor Jim Folsom ("Big Jim"). Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. James Elisha Folsom Sr ( October 9 1908 &ndash November 21 1987) commonly known as Jim Folsom or "Big Jim" was the The couple was divorced in 1978. In 1981, Wallace married Lisa Taylor, a country music singer, but the relationship ended in 1987. Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains.

In popular culture

The "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" is featured in the 1994 film Forrest Gump. Forrest Gump is a 1994 Comedy film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom and the name of the title character The sequence depicting this event is edited to make it appear that the film's lead character was part of the event. The film also showed footage of the attempted assassination of Wallace, which also was shown in the Oliver Stone film Nixon. William Oliver Stone (born 15 September) is an American Film director and Screenwriter. Nixon is a 1995 Biographical film directed by Oliver Stone for Cinergi Pictures that tells the story of the political and personal

Drive-By Truckers released two songs on its 2001 album Southern Rock Opera referring to life of George Wallace, entitled "The Three Great Alabama Icons" and "Wallace. Drive-By Truckers are a Rock band based in Athens Georgia, though three out of five members (Mike Cooley Patterson Hood and Shonna Tucker originally hail Southern Rock Opera is a 2001 Double album from the Drive-By Truckers. " Both songs deal heavily with his pro-segregationist views and how the state of Alabama, and the South as a whole, were seen because of his influence.

In the 1972 crossover episode of the U. S. sitcom All in the Family that begins the spin-off series Maude, bigoted Archie Bunker (played by Carroll O'Connor) begrudgingly leaves Maude's house to go back to his motel. All in the Family is an American Situation comedy that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12 1971 to April Maude is an Emmy and Golden Globe -winning half-hour American Television Sitcom that was originally broadcast on the When wife Edith (played Jean Stapleton) tries to stop him, liberal cousin Maude (played by Bea Arthur) discourages her by saying "Don't worry Edith, he can go back to the motel and watch television. Governor Wallace is on the Tonight Show, he'll love it!".

In the Charlie Daniels song "Uneasy Rider," a hippie driving through the South tries to talk his way out of being beaten up by a group of rednecks by accusing one of his would-be attackers of faking his redneck credentials: "Would you believe this man has gone as far as tearing Wallace stickers off the bumpers of cars? And he voted for George McGovern for President. Charlie Daniels (born October 28, 1936 in Wilmington, North Carolina) is an American musician famous for his contributions to George Stanley McGovern "

In its August 1972 issue, National Lampoon magazine ran an article called "Tales from the South," a parody of Tales from the Crypt and a satirical take on Wallace's political career, written by Michael O'Donoghue and illustrated by Don Perlin. Michael O'Donoghue ( January 5, 1940 - November 8, 1994) was a 20th century American writer and performer

The play A Christmas Carol for George Wallace was produced by the Cripple Creek Theatre Company in New Orleans, Louisiana. A grassroots non-profit theatre company in New Orleans LA, Louisiana, United States. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana

Famous comedian Bill Cosby mentions Wallace in his album 200 M.P.H.. William Henry Cosby Jr (born July 12 1937 is an American Comedian, Actor, Author, Television producer and Activist. 200 MPH (1968 is the eighth album by Bill Cosby. It was recorded live at Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Nevada by Warner Bros During most of the title track, he talked about a sports car that he got from Carroll Shelby as a present and a "near death" experience driving the car. Carroll Hall Shelby, (born January 11, 1923 in Leesburg Texas) is an American racing and automotive designer and former racing driver After expressing his fear over the car, he told the man "Take the keys and this car, it's all paid for, and you give it to George Wallace. "

Paula Fox's novel Desperate Characters references Wallace. Paula Fox (born April 22, 1923) is an American author of novels for adults and children and two memoirs On Sophie and Otto's drive through Queens to their house in Flynders, a campaign poster is mentioned: "The face of an Alabama presidential candidate stared with sooty dead eyes from his campaign posters, claiming the territory as his own. His country, warned the poster — vote for him — pathology calling tenderly to pathology. " Fox confirms that it is a reference to Wallace in an interview with Bomb magazine. ^[22]

In the science-fiction novel Yellow Eyes by John Ringo, a UH-60 Black Hawk crew chief, Sergeant Wallace from Alabama, sacrifices himself to allow the black national security advisor to escape the invading Posleen, his parting words being "Alabama is raht proud of you, ma'am. John Ringo (b March 22 1963 is an American Science fiction and military fiction author who writes full time WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout " According to the Black Hawk pilot, "Sergeant Wallace is not 'that' Wallace. 'That' Wallace died years ago. "

Comedian Dan Naturman has a joke in his stand-up act about George Wallace as a weatherman: "Precipitation now, precipitation tomorrow, precipitation forever. Dan Naturman (born October 20, 1969) in Stamford Connecticut is an American stand-up comedian. "

"Sweet Home Alabama" is a song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, Second Helping. " Sweet Home Alabama " is a song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album Second Helping Lynyrd Skynyrd (ˌlɛnɚdˈskɪnɝd is an American Southern rock band Second Helping is a 1974 album by Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was the band's second album and featured their biggest hit single " Sweet Home Alabama The memorable lines "In Birmingham, they love the governor, Boo, boo, boo! Now we all did what we could do" as well as "Sweet home Alabama, Oh sweet home baby, Where the skies are so blue, And the governor's true" are all widely interpreted to be references to Governor Wallace, and his attempt to enforce and defend segregation (which, though a failure, was still in keeping with his earlier promises).

P.J. Proby released a song on his 1969 album Three Week Hero titled "Jim's Blues/George Wallace Is Rollin' In This Mornin'. P J Proby (born James Marcus Smith, 6 November 1938, Houston, Texas, United States) is a Singer, Three Week Hero is an album released by rock singer P J Proby on April 8, 1969 by Liberty Records. " The song is notable for having all four members of Led Zeppelin as the backing group. Led Zeppelin were

Neil Young briefly mentions the attempted assassination of George Wallace in one of his songs entitled "War Song", in which he sings: "They shot George Wallace down, He'll never walk around. Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician "

"Settin' the Woods on Fire" was sung by Joker and Harley Quinn in an episode of The Batman. The Joker is a fictional character appearing in Comic books published by DC Comics. Harley Quinn ( Dr Harleen Quinzel) is a Fictional character, a Supervillainess, in the animated series Batman The Animated Series The Batman was an Emmy Award -winning American Animated Television series produced by Warner Bros

Peter Gabriels song, Family Snapshot is about Arthur Bremmer planning and performing his plan of assassination. The song shows clearly that Bremmer timed the shooting to get as much publicity as possible, making sure he did it in time for the early news.

References

Further reading

• Carter, Dan T. The Politics of Rage: George Wallace, the Origins of the New Conservatism, and the Transformation of American Politics. (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1995, 2000) ISBN: 0-8071-2597-0

External links

• Governor Wallace`s Schoolhouse Door speech archived at the University of Alabama
• George Wallace: Settin' the Woods on Fire (web site). Web site for the PBS American Experience documentary, including a complete transcript, references to other Wallace information, and tools for teachers. The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the American Experience (sometimes abbreviated AmEx) is a Television program airing on the PBS network in the United States ^[1]
• George Wallace: Settin' the Woods on Fire (2000) Internet Movie Database entry.
• Oral history interview by Jack Bass and Walter DeVries, July 1974 (Southern Oral History Program, UNC-Chapel Hill)
• Caught on Tape: The White House Reaction to the Shooting of Alabama Governor and Democratic Presidential Candidate George Wallace from History's News Network: http://hnn.us/articles/45104.html