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Ellis Arnall oral history interviews, July 24 and September 16, 1971

 Item — othertype: Oral History
Identifier: Series M:

Scope and Contents

Interviewed by Jane Herndon. Among topics discussed: Arnall's support of Carmichael in the 1946 governor's race; politics; Roy Harris; the nomination of Harry S Truman for Vice President in 1944; Franklin D. Roosevelt's political philosophy; diplomacy (the U‑2 incident); John F. Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs; E. D. Rivers's administration; Arnall's destruction of records when leaving office; three‑governor controversy; James Cox and Rivers; 1938 governor’s race; Jimmy Carter; Rivers and the highway department; Jim Gillis; Lint Miller; Marvin Griffin. Political loyalty; egotism in politics; the waning power of the Ku Klux Klan in politics; George Hamilton and E. D. Rivers in the Klan; Hiram Evans; the rights of states to receive anti‑trust settlements; Rivers's racist attitudes; blacks' place in society. Gallogly pardon case; extradition of Gallogly; Rivers and Governor Cox; newspaper's attempts to smear Rivers; political power of newspapers; political accountability of the Rivers administration; 1945 constitution; political break between Arnall and Rivers; New Deal; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Rivers's base of financial support; costs of campaigns; racial attitudes in the 1942 governor’s race; white primary; financing political campaigns; Coca‑Cola; Arnall's financial support; primary political supporters; newspaper advertising; rising costs of political advertising; freight rates; northern colonialism; prejudice; Georgia v. Pennsylvania; the South and industrialization; Rivers support; Rivers as a politician; Franklin D. Roosevelt. E.D. Rivers in the Georgia Assembly; Woodmen of the World; Rivers's family; Young Harris College; Arnall in the assembly; Rivers as speaker of the House; formation of the Rivers faction in the Democratic Party; Eugene Talmadge; Charlie Redwine; Rivers and the New Deal; the New Deal in Georgia; Arnall as President of the Senate; accomplishments of the Rivers administration; sales tax; highway department; Fred Scott and highway department bids; Rivers' relationship with Roy Harris and Arnall; New Deal special session; the fight to repeal prohibition; Franklin D. Roosevelt; abolishing prohibition as part of the New Deal; "little New Deal"; Harry Hopkins; financing for the prison at Reidsville; the Depression; Franklin D. Roosevelt at Warm Springs, Georgia; Rivers and the election of 1938; Talmadge as a New Deal foe; Franklin D. Roosevelt and Walter George; Franklin D. Roosevelt and the federal highway funds; Roosevelt's mistakes; sales tax; homestead exemptions; Rivers and the highway department; Lint Miller; Jim Gillis; Fred Scott; Rivers as governor; pardons; Marvin Griffin; pardon racket; parole cases; Pat Avery as a parole lawyer; political corruption in Rivers administration; rumors of Rivers's drinking; assessment of Rivers administration; Rivers's early career; Rivers's break with Talmadge; Rivers's home life; Rivers's early life; Rivers after leaving office; Roy Harris; Arnall's legal career; Roy Harris; Rivers as speaker of the House; Woodmen of the World; Rivers after politics; Arnall's relationship with Rivers; Carl Sanders; Doctor Evans; Henry Grady Hotel; federal and state investigations of the highway department; Fred Scott.

Dates

  • Creation: July 24 and September 16, 1971

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Oral history available for research.

Biographical Note

Ellis Arnall (1907-1992) served as state representative from Coweta County from 1933‑1937, attorney general from 1939‑1943, and governor of Georgia from 1943 through 1947.

Extent

1 item(s) (audio (1:49:10 duration))

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

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