George T. Smith oral history interviews, August 19-20, 1992

Interviewed by Tom Chaffin. Among topics discussed: Reapportionment; political ties; committee appointments; constituency; school desegregation issue; Sibley Commission; Charlayne Hunter; political reaction to 1954 Brown decision; political survival; why Smith got into politics; 1958 campaign strategy; 1961 appropriation fight; Jack Ray; reapportionment; mixed drink bill; Denmark Groover; 1966 Julian Bond case; campaign against Peter Zack Geer; Mrs. Smith appearance on TV to campaign for husband; liquor bill; Sloppy Floyd; Mills Lane; campaign financing; Maddox/Calloway vote; position on Arnall as governor; Smith urged to run for governor in 1966; relationship with Lester Maddox; Governor Sanders' appointments; handling Maddox; 1968 Chicago Democratic National Convention seating controversy; Industry and Trade Department promise. Governor Maddox calls special legislative session; mistakes in politics (example from 1974); Maddox retirement maneuvering; obtaining appellate court position; campaign for Supreme Court seat; Bill Shipp editorial; family background; education; entering the military; naval experiences; hostility to unions; philosophy while on court; experience as a poor white boy; 1963 desegregation of House gallery; Capitol City Club serving policy; values; honesty in government; protecting individual rights; relationship with other Supreme Court justices; Harold Hill; Uniform Court Rules; the "Green Door" (budget) committee; ghost writing of court opinions and bribery accusations; Irving Stolz; insurance double recovery; Judicial Qualifications Commission; Attorney General Mike Bowers; Mac Barber; Joe Frank Harris; events leading to Smith's retirement; Jimmy Carter sets judicial age limitations; Pierre Howard; Zell Miller; changing relationship between the press and politicians; southern politicians eye national politics; relationship with Jimmy Carter; Carl Sanders as governor; Lyndon Johnson.