23 Facts About Herman Talmadge

Herman Talmadge'sman Talmadgerman Eugene Talmadge was an American politician who served as governor of Georgia in 1947 and from 1948 to 1955 and as a U S Senator from Georgia from 1957 to 1981.

Herman Talmadge began his career as a staunch segregationist and was known for his opposition to civil rights, ordering schools to be closed rather than desegregated.

When his father, Eugene Talmadge, won the 1946 Georgia gubernatorial election but died before taking office, Herman Talmadge asserted claims to be the 70th governor of Georgia, in what is known as the Three governors controversy.

Herman Talmadge, who became governor as a political novice at just age 33, supported the passage of a statewide sales tax and the construction of new schools.

Herman Talmadge was later denounced by the Senate for financial irregularities revealed during a bitter divorce from his second wife; this, along with Georgia's changing demographics, led to his defeat by Republican Mack Mattingly in his 1980 re-election campaign.

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Herman Talmadge'sman Talmadge was the only son of Eugene Talmadge and his wife, Mattie and through his mother, he was a second cousin of South Carolina Senator and 1948 Dixiecrat Presidential Candidate Strom Thurmond.

Herman Talmadge received his law degree in 1936 and joined his father's law practice.

Herman Talmadge served as an ensign with the Sixth Naval District at Charleston, SC and with the Third Naval District in New York after graduating from midshipman's school at Northwestern University.

In 1942, Herman Talmadge participated in the invasion of Guadalcanal aboard the USS Tyron.

Herman Talmadge participated in the battle of Okinawa and he was present in Tokyo Bay for the Japanese surrender.

Eugene Herman Talmadge had been ill, and his supporters were worried about his surviving long enough to be sworn in.

Herman Talmadge prepared to run for the special gubernatorial election in 1948, and defeated incumbent Governor Thompson.

Herman Talmadge was barred by law from seeking another full term as governor in 1954.

Herman Talmadge worked to expand support for both farmers and children and families in hunger through his work on the passage Child Nutrition Act of 1966, but most significantly in 1969 and 1970 as part of the re-authorization and expansion of the 1946 School Lunch Act which Russell had authored and considered to be his greatest legislative achievement.

Herman Talmadge was a great admirer of the work Russell had done on the 1946 act but recognized that significant improvements were needed.

Herman Talmadge, after noting that only one-third of American children living in families making less than $2000 a year were able to participate in the program said “We must use food as a tool of education.

Allen Ellender of Louisiana assumed chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee following Richard Russell's death in January 1971, Herman Talmadge became chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, a position he held until leaving office in 1981.

In 1968, Herman Talmadge faced the first of his three Republican challengers for his Senate seat.

Herman Talmadge'sman Talmadge was a sign of the shifting white electorate in the South, where white suburbanites moved into the Republican Party.

Herman Talmadge ran a disciplined office, requiring his staff to respond to every constituent letter within 24 hours of receipt.

In 1969, Herman Talmadge hired Curtis Lee Atkinson onto his senate staff as an administrative aide, making Atkinson the first African-American hired to work on a Southern senator's personal staff since the Reconstruction Era.

In early 1973, Herman Talmadge was appointed to the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities which investigated the activities of members of the Nixon administration.

Herman Talmadge filed for divorce from his wife, Betty, in 1977 following a long period of personal troubles for Herman Talmadge, including self-admitted alcoholism, which spiraled out of control after his son, Bobby, drowned in 1975.