Fletcher Thompson
Encyclopedia
Standish Fletcher Thompson (born February 5, 1925) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a representative in Congress
for the 5th Congressional District
of Georgia
.
in Fulton County, Georgia
. He went to public schools, followed by Russell High School in East Point
. In 1943 he served in the United States Army Medical Corps
, transferring the next year to the United States Army Air Corps
where he was a navigator with the Air Rescue Service. On demobilization he attended Emory University
from which he graduated in 1949. During the Korean War
, Thompson re-enlisted in the United States Air Force
as a pilot.
Two years later Thompson became the first Republican since reconstruction to represent Atlanta and the 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.
On October 3, 1966, about a month before the November general election the then Congressman Charles Weltner
, a Democrat, after months of campaigning for reelection, withdrew from the race. Weltner gave as his reason for quitting that he could not pledge to support Lester Maddox
, a segregationist, and the Democratic candidate for Governor. The Democratic Executive Committee then chose Archie Lindsey, Chairman of the Fulton County Commission, to take Weltner’s place. Lindsey had only three weeks to mount a campaign. Thompson received about thirty per cent of the black vote and easily won the election. Even so, Thompson benefited mainly from white backlash against the Civil Rights
movement and administration of Lyndon B. Johnson
, the latter of whom was highly unpopular among segregationist, blue-collar whites who lived in Atlanta's southern and western neighborhoods.
Thompson was re-elected in 1968, by defeating Weltner. He was again reelected in 1970, by defeating Democrat Andrew Young. Young would go on to succeed Thompson, however, in 1972.
During his various campaigns, Thompson campaigned not only in majority white precincts, but also in majority black precincts. He also was the principal speaker at the annual convention of The United States Postal Alliance, a union of African-American Post Office employees.
Thompson's success in being elected in a traditionally Democratic district that was by then 40% non-white was noted in Time magazine.
Time magazine described him as an "unreconstructed conservative who opposes busing, liberal judges, Jane Fonda
in Hanoi, Black Power
and gun control
s". In line with this Fletcher Thompson helped create a rift between the Black community and Black Panther Party in Atlanta. Thompson was quoted by journalist J. Lowell Ware (September 18, 1971), "the Black Panthers should stay in California," and "neither they nor their philosophy are welcome in Atlanta."
Thompson was editorially endorsed by C. A. Scott, owner of the Atlanta Daily World, the only daily African-American newspaper in Georgia. He was the first member of Congress from Georgia to ever appoint an African-Americans to West Point
and the other service academies. He also was the first 5th District Congressman to employ an African-American in his 5th District Congressional office in Atlanta.
In 1972, Thompson ran for the U.S. Senate; he won the Republican primary with little opposition. Sam Nunn
defeated David Gambrell in the Democratic primary; Gambrell was an appointee to succeed the late Richard B. Russell
. When President Richard Nixon
, a Republican, visited Atlanta a month before the general election he did not endorse Thompson, in keeping with his strategy at the time to maintain alliances with conservative Southern Democrats. Governor Jimmy Carter
, a Democrat, took note of this fact and stated President Nixon would just as soon have Nunn in the United States Senate as Thompson. Nunn, a Democrat, endorsed Nixon over Democratic nominee George McGovern
. "Nixon/Nunn" signs were posted all over Georgia [as well as "McGovern/Nunn" and "Wallace/Nunn"]. Under this scenario of little or no national Republican support, Thompson had little chance to become Georgia's first GOP senator since Reconstruction. In the general election, Nunn defeated Thompson and went on to become one of the most influential U.S. Senators.
. Thompson lives in Marietta, Georgia
.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
for the 5th Congressional District
Georgia's 5th congressional district
Georgia's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. Based in central Fulton and parts of Dekalb and Clayton counties, the heavily African American district includes the state capital and largest city of Atlanta as well as many of the surrounding suburbs...
of Georgia
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...
.
Early life
Thompson was born in College ParkCollege Park, Georgia
College Park is a city located partly in Fulton County, Georgia and partially in Clayton County, Georgia, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,942...
in Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat is Atlanta, the state capital since 1868 and the principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
. He went to public schools, followed by Russell High School in East Point
East Point, Georgia
The city of East Point is southwest of the neighborhoods of Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,712...
. In 1943 he served in the United States Army Medical Corps
Army Medical Department (United States)
The Army Medical Department of the U.S. Army – known as the AMEDD – comprises the Army's six medical Special Branches of officers and medical enlisted soldiers. It was established as the "Army Hospital" in July 1775 to coordinate the medical care required by the Continental Army during the...
, transferring the next year to the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
where he was a navigator with the Air Rescue Service. On demobilization he attended Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
from which he graduated in 1949. During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Thompson re-enlisted in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
as a pilot.
Professional life
On returning from Korea, Thompson went to the now defunct Woodrow Wilson College of Law from which he graduated in 1957. The following year he was admitted to the Georgia bar and set up a law firm in East Point. He was also president of an insurance firm.Politics
In November 1964 Fletcher Thompson, a life-long Republican, defeated the then Senior Democrat Georgia State Senator Charlie Brown and was elected to the Georgia State Senate from the thirty-fourth senatorial district. Thompson was one of only four Republican members of the State Senate. He was selected by the Democratic majority to represent Fulton County in the drafting of the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) act, and was cosponsor of that act.Two years later Thompson became the first Republican since reconstruction to represent Atlanta and the 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.
On October 3, 1966, about a month before the November general election the then Congressman Charles Weltner
Charles Weltner
Charles Weltner was a politician from the U.S. state of Georgia.Weltner was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He received a bachelor's degree from Oglethorpe University in 1948. Then, in 1950, he received a law degree from Columbia Law School...
, a Democrat, after months of campaigning for reelection, withdrew from the race. Weltner gave as his reason for quitting that he could not pledge to support Lester Maddox
Lester Maddox
Lester Garfield Maddox was an American politician who was the 75th Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1967 to 1971....
, a segregationist, and the Democratic candidate for Governor. The Democratic Executive Committee then chose Archie Lindsey, Chairman of the Fulton County Commission, to take Weltner’s place. Lindsey had only three weeks to mount a campaign. Thompson received about thirty per cent of the black vote and easily won the election. Even so, Thompson benefited mainly from white backlash against the Civil Rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
movement and administration of Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
, the latter of whom was highly unpopular among segregationist, blue-collar whites who lived in Atlanta's southern and western neighborhoods.
Thompson was re-elected in 1968, by defeating Weltner. He was again reelected in 1970, by defeating Democrat Andrew Young. Young would go on to succeed Thompson, however, in 1972.
During his various campaigns, Thompson campaigned not only in majority white precincts, but also in majority black precincts. He also was the principal speaker at the annual convention of The United States Postal Alliance, a union of African-American Post Office employees.
Thompson's success in being elected in a traditionally Democratic district that was by then 40% non-white was noted in Time magazine.
Time magazine described him as an "unreconstructed conservative who opposes busing, liberal judges, Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda is an American actress, writer, political activist, former fashion model, and fitness guru. She rose to fame in the 1960s with films such as Barbarella and Cat Ballou. She has won two Academy Awards and received several other movie awards and nominations during more than 50 years as an...
in Hanoi, Black Power
Black Power
Black Power is a political slogan and a name for various associated ideologies. It is used in the movement among people of Black African descent throughout the world, though primarily by African Americans in the United States...
and gun control
Gun control
Gun control is any law, policy, practice, or proposal designed to restrict or limit the possession, production, importation, shipment, sale, and/or use of guns or other firearms by private citizens...
s". In line with this Fletcher Thompson helped create a rift between the Black community and Black Panther Party in Atlanta. Thompson was quoted by journalist J. Lowell Ware (September 18, 1971), "the Black Panthers should stay in California," and "neither they nor their philosophy are welcome in Atlanta."
Thompson was editorially endorsed by C. A. Scott, owner of the Atlanta Daily World, the only daily African-American newspaper in Georgia. He was the first member of Congress from Georgia to ever appoint an African-Americans to West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
and the other service academies. He also was the first 5th District Congressman to employ an African-American in his 5th District Congressional office in Atlanta.
In 1972, Thompson ran for the U.S. Senate; he won the Republican primary with little opposition. 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...
defeated David Gambrell in the Democratic primary; Gambrell was an appointee to succeed the late Richard B. Russell
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....
. When President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, a Republican, visited Atlanta a month before the general election he did not endorse Thompson, in keeping with his strategy at the time to maintain alliances with conservative Southern Democrats. Governor Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, a Democrat, took note of this fact and stated President Nixon would just as soon have Nunn in the United States Senate as Thompson. Nunn, a Democrat, endorsed Nixon over Democratic nominee George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
. "Nixon/Nunn" signs were posted all over Georgia [as well as "McGovern/Nunn" and "Wallace/Nunn"]. Under this scenario of little or no national Republican support, Thompson had little chance to become Georgia's first GOP senator since Reconstruction. In the general election, Nunn defeated Thompson and went on to become one of the most influential U.S. Senators.
Post-political career
After leaving Congress, Thompson went back to his law firm in Atlanta. In 1985 he was made a member of the Atlanta Regional CommissionAtlanta Regional Commission
The Atlanta Regional Commission is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency for the metro Atlanta, Georgia region, as defined as a 10-county area including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties, including the city of...
. Thompson lives in Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
.