Ernest Vandiver
Encyclopedia
Samuel Ernest Vandiver Jr. (July 3, 1918 – February 21, 2005) was an American politician who was the 73rd Governor of the US state of Georgia
from 1959 to 1963.
and graduated from the University of Georgia
. After serving stateside as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, he was elected mayor of Lavonia, Georgia
in 1946 and supported Eugene Talmadge
's candidacy for Governor, and Herman Talmadge
's claim to the governorship after Eugene's death.
In 1948, Talmadge appointed Vandiver to be the state's adjutant general. Vandiver was elected lieutenant governor in 1954.
Vandiver ran for governor in 1958 and promised to restore the state's image, which was tarnished by the scandals of Governor Marvin Griffin
's administration; he was overwhelmingly elected.
, and in March 1960 called "An Appeal for Human Rights" published in the Atlanta Constitution by black students at Spelman College
"an anti-American document" that "does not sound like it was written in this country" (Howard Zinn, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train [Boston: Beacon Press, 1994, 2002], p. 28).
But when a federal district court ordered the admission of two African-American students to the University of Georgia, although some have believed that top state officials did all they could to preserve segregation under cover, unlike Governors George Wallace
in Alabama and Ross Barnett
in Mississippi who were also faced with federal court orders to integrate their states' universities, Governor Vandiver did not resist the court order and thus played a huge role in sparing the University of Georgia the negative racial stigma that still lingers to some degree with the Universities of Alabama and Mississippi.
In fact, shortly after UGA's integration, Vandiver urged the state legislature to repeal a recently-passed state law barring funding to integrated schools. With the aid of a local-option closure provision in the possible case of desegregation, this was achieved. Atlanta's public schools were peacefully desegregated
. Vandiver also presided over the end of the state's County Unit System
: when the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional, he ordered the Democratic Party to return to using the popular vote in primaries.
He also ran for the United States Senate
in 1972, in the race for a full term to replace his wife's uncle, Richard Russell, Jr.
, who had died in office in 1971. Vandiver finished third behind Sam Nunn
and Senator David H. Gambrell
in the Democratic party primary election.
, who also served as Governor of Georgia, and also later served as a United States Senator. Russell was very popular and powerful in Georgia, and helped to promote Vandiver's career and his election as Lt. Governor and Governor.
Vandiver was also a nephew by marriage of Judge Robert Lee Russell
, and grandson-in-law of Judge Richard Russell, Sr.
. For information, see Russell family
.
, is named "Ernest Vandiver Highway" in memory of Vandiver. Vandiver was the person responsible in changing the path of the planned interstate to go through Franklin County instead of farther south, as it was originally planned to do.
Additionally, the University of Georgia dedicated a residence hall in the East Campus Village to Governor Vandiver on September 26, 2008.
.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
from 1959 to 1963.
Early life and career
Vandiver was born in Canon, GeorgiaCanon, Georgia
Canon is a city in Franklin County, Georgia, United States. The population was 755 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Canon is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
and graduated from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. After serving stateside as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, he was elected mayor of Lavonia, Georgia
Lavonia, Georgia
Lavonia is a city in Franklin County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,827 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lavonia is located at ....
in 1946 and supported Eugene Talmadge
Eugene Talmadge
Eugene Talmadge was a Democratic politician who served two terms as the 67th Governor of Georgia from 1933 to 1937, and a third term from 1941 to 1943. Elected to a fourth term in 1946, he died before taking office...
's candidacy for Governor, and Herman Talmadge
Herman Talmadge
Herman Eugene Talmadge was an American politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. He served as governor of Georgia briefly in 1947 and again from 1948 to 1955. His term was marked by his segregationist policies. After leaving office Talmadge was elected to the U.S...
's claim to the governorship after Eugene's death.
In 1948, Talmadge appointed Vandiver to be the state's adjutant general. Vandiver was elected lieutenant governor in 1954.
Vandiver ran for governor in 1958 and promised to restore the state's image, which was tarnished by the scandals of Governor Marvin Griffin
Marvin Griffin
Samuel Marvin Griffin, Sr. was a politician from the US state of Georgia. He served as the 72nd Governor of Georgia from 1955 to 1959.-Early life:...
's administration; he was overwhelmingly elected.
Governor of Georgia
As governor, Vandiver cleaned up the corruption associated with the Griffin administration. He pledged to defend segregationRacial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
, and in March 1960 called "An Appeal for Human Rights" published in the Atlanta Constitution by black students at Spelman College
Spelman College
Spelman College is a four-year liberal arts women's college located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The college is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman was the first historically black female...
"an anti-American document" that "does not sound like it was written in this country" (Howard Zinn, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train [Boston: Beacon Press, 1994, 2002], p. 28).
But when a federal district court ordered the admission of two African-American students to the University of Georgia, although some have believed that top state officials did all they could to preserve segregation under cover, unlike Governors George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
in Alabama and Ross Barnett
Ross Barnett
Ross Robert Barnett was the governor of Mississippi from 1960 to 1964. He was a States' Rights Democrat.- Early life :...
in Mississippi who were also faced with federal court orders to integrate their states' universities, Governor Vandiver did not resist the court order and thus played a huge role in sparing the University of Georgia the negative racial stigma that still lingers to some degree with the Universities of Alabama and Mississippi.
In fact, shortly after UGA's integration, Vandiver urged the state legislature to repeal a recently-passed state law barring funding to integrated schools. With the aid of a local-option closure provision in the possible case of desegregation, this was achieved. Atlanta's public schools were peacefully desegregated
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
. Vandiver also presided over the end of the state's County Unit System
County Unit System
The County Unit System was used by the U.S. state of Georgia to determine a victor in its primary elections.Each county was given a certain number of votes and the candidate who received the highest number of votes in that county won all their 'unit votes', under a form of block voting...
: when the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional, he ordered the Democratic Party to return to using the popular vote in primaries.
Later career
Vandiver was initially a candidate for Governor in 1966 but he withdrew for health reasons.He also ran for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1972, in the race for a full term to replace his wife's uncle, Richard Russell, Jr.
Richard Russell, Jr.
Richard Brevard Russell, Jr. was a Democratic Party politician from the southeastern state of Georgia. He served as state governor from 1931 to 1933 and United States senator from 1933 to 1971....
, who had died in office in 1971. Vandiver finished third behind Sam Nunn
Sam Nunn
Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr. is an American lawyer and politician. Currently the co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative , a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, Nunn served for 24 years as a...
and Senator David H. Gambrell
David H. Gambrell
David Henry Gambrell is a Georgia attorney who represented his state in the United States Senate from 1971 through 1972.-Education and legal career:Gambrell was born in Atlanta, GA, on December 20, 1929....
in the Democratic party primary election.
Marriage and The Russell Family
Vandiver was married to Betty Russell, a niece of Richard Russell, Jr.Richard Russell, Jr.
Richard Brevard Russell, Jr. was a Democratic Party politician from the southeastern state of Georgia. He served as state governor from 1931 to 1933 and United States senator from 1933 to 1971....
, who also served as Governor of Georgia, and also later served as a United States Senator. Russell was very popular and powerful in Georgia, and helped to promote Vandiver's career and his election as Lt. Governor and Governor.
Vandiver was also a nephew by marriage of Judge Robert Lee Russell
Robert Lee Russell
Robert E. Lee Russell was a United States federal judge. His father, Richard Russell, Sr., was the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, and his brother, Richard Russell, Jr., served as Governor of Georgia and a United States Senator. He was named in honor of Confederate Army General,...
, and grandson-in-law of Judge Richard Russell, Sr.
Richard Russell, Sr.
Richard Brevard Russell, Sr. was and American lawyer, legislator, jurist, and candidate for political office.-Early life, education and family:Russell was born in Marietta, Georgia in 1861...
. For information, see Russell family
Russell family (American political family)
The Russell family is an American family from Georgia that has held prominent positions both in the United States government and the Georgia government. The family was a wealthy land-owning family until the end of the American Civil War, when they lost a large amount of their assests, like many...
.
Memorials
The stretch of I-85 through Franklin County, GeorgiaFranklin County, Georgia
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It became Georgia's ninth county, incorporating on February 25, 1784, and was named in honor of patriot Benjamin Franklin...
, is named "Ernest Vandiver Highway" in memory of Vandiver. Vandiver was the person responsible in changing the path of the planned interstate to go through Franklin County instead of farther south, as it was originally planned to do.
Additionally, the University of Georgia dedicated a residence hall in the East Campus Village to Governor Vandiver on September 26, 2008.
Death
Ernest Vandiver died on February 21, 2005, at the age of 86 in his home in Lavonia, GeorgiaLavonia, Georgia
Lavonia is a city in Franklin County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,827 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lavonia is located at ....
.
External links
- New Georgia Encyclopedia: Ernest Vandiver
- Ernest Vandiver
- Governor Ernest Vandiver's Public Education Address in response to federal desegration of the University of Georgia, January 18, 1961. From the collection of the Georgia Archives.