Jim Folsom
Encyclopedia
James Elisha Folsom, Sr. (October 9, 1908 – November 21, 1987), commonly known as Jim Folsom or "Big Jim", was the 42nd Governor of the U.S. state
of Alabama
from 1947 to 1951, and again from 1955 to 1959. Born in Coffee County, Alabama
, Folsom is perhaps best remembered as being among the first Southern
governor
s to embrace integration
and civil rights
for African American
s. In his Christmas
message on December 25, 1949 he said that "As long as the Negroes are held down by deprivation and lack of opportunity, the other poor people will be held down alongside them".
Folsom started out as an insurance
sales
man after serving in the United States Merchant Marine
in the early 1930s. He attended the University of Alabama
, Howard College
, and George Washington University
, however he never obtained a college degree.
Before his gubernatorial campaigns he won a race only once: to be a delegate to the 1944 Democratic National Convention
, during which he was a strong supporter of keeping Vice President Henry A. Wallace
on the ticket.
He was first elected governor of Alabama in 1946 after waging a colorful campaign that included entertaining voters with a hillbilly
band and brandishing a mop and bucket which he said would "clean out" the Capitol
. Despite some scandal
in his administration, he was easily reelected in 1954 (the constitution of Alabama
at that time forbade a governor from succeeding himself, which at the time was a common provision in the constitutions of many Southern states). Folsom stood six feet eight inches tall and used the slogan "the little man's big friend." On December 1, 1955, during Folsom's second term, Rosa Parks
refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery city bus. Her actions sparked the modern Civil Rights Movement. In 1962, Folsom again ran for governor against his one-time protege George Wallace
but was defeated. A sardonic slogan emerged during that campaign, referring to Folsom's reputation for taking graft: "Something for everyone and a little bit for Big Jim." Folsom sometimes referred to "the emoluments of office," and once told a campaign crowd, "I plead guilty to stealing. That crowd I got it from, you had to steal it to get it... I stole for you, and you, and you." Folsom's campaign was also damaged by a television
appearance where he appeared to be seriously intoxicated, and was unable to remember his own children's names. Both the appearance and the supposed "slogan" hurt him with the image-conscious middle class. Folsom was never again elected to public office and died in Cullman, Alabama
in 1987. His niece, Cornelia Ellis Sniveley
, was married to George Wallace from 1971 to 1978.
In 1958 Governor Folsom commuted a death sentence imposed on James E. Wilson
, an African-American sentenced to death for a $1.95 robbery. The Wilson case sparked international protests, but some segregationists called for Folsom not to commute the sentence. On the other hand, Folsom did not intervene in another controversial case, that of Jeremiah Reeves
, who was electrocuted
the same year, also sparking protests.
A documentary film about Big Jim Folsom entitled "Big Jim Folsom: The Two Faces of Populism" was produced in 1996 by Alabama filmmaker Robert Clem, and won the 1997 International Documentary Association/ABCNews VideoSource Award and the Southeastern Filmmaker Award at the 1997 Atlanta Film Festival.
In the 1997 TNT movie George Wallace, directed by John Frankenheimer, Jim Folsom is played by Joe Don Baker, who was nominated for a CableACE award for his performance.
(dubbed Little Jim because of his father's nickname) is also a noted Alabama politician. He served as Alabama lieutenant governor from 1986 to 1993. He assumed the office of governor when Gov. H. Guy Hunt
was removed from office after being convicted of state ethics law violations. Folsom, Jr. ran for governor in 1994, but was defeated by Fob James
. He decided to re-enter state politics in 2006, qualifying for and eventually winning the lieutenant governor's race.
Jim Folsom had nine legitimate children. Two by his first wife, and seven by his second wife. A number of extra-marital paternity claims have been alleged during the years.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
from 1947 to 1951, and again from 1955 to 1959. Born in Coffee County, Alabama
Coffee County, Alabama
Coffee County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General John Coffee. As of 2010 the population was 49,948. Its county seats are Elba and Enterprise....
, Folsom is perhaps best remembered as being among the first Southern
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
s to embrace integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
and 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...
for African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s. In his Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
message on December 25, 1949 he said that "As long as the Negroes are held down by deprivation and lack of opportunity, the other poor people will be held down alongside them".
Folsom started out as an insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
man after serving in the United States Merchant Marine
United States Merchant Marine
The United States Merchant Marine refers to the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels, operated by either the government or the private sector, that engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The Merchant Marine is...
in the early 1930s. He attended the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, Howard College
Howard College
Howard College is a community college with its main campus in Big Spring, Texas and branch campuses in San Angelo and Lamesa....
, and George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, however he never obtained a college degree.
Before his gubernatorial campaigns he won a race only once: to be a delegate to the 1944 Democratic National Convention
1944 Democratic National Convention
The 1944 Democratic National Convention was held at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois from July 19 - July 21, 1944. The convention resulted in the re-nomination of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt for an unprecedented fourth term. Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri was nominated for...
, during which he was a strong supporter of keeping Vice President Henry A. Wallace
Henry A. Wallace
Henry Agard Wallace was the 33rd Vice President of the United States , the Secretary of Agriculture , and the Secretary of Commerce . In the 1948 presidential election, Wallace was the nominee of the Progressive Party.-Early life:Henry A...
on the ticket.
He was first elected governor of Alabama in 1946 after waging a colorful campaign that included entertaining voters with a hillbilly
Hillbilly
Hillbilly is a term referring to certain people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas of the United States, primarily Appalachia but also the Ozarks. Owing to its strongly stereotypical connotations, the term is frequently considered derogatory, and so is usually offensive to those Americans of...
band and brandishing a mop and bucket which he said would "clean out" the Capitol
Alabama State Capitol
The Alabama State Capitol, also known as the First Confederate Capitol, is the state capitol building for Alabama. It is located on Capitol Hill, originally Goat Hill, in Montgomery. It was declared a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960....
. Despite some scandal
Scandal
A scandal is a widely publicized allegation or set of allegations that damages the reputation of an institution, individual or creed...
in his administration, he was easily reelected in 1954 (the constitution of Alabama
Alabama Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Alabama is the basic governing document of the U.S. state of Alabama. It was adopted in 1901 and is the sixth constitution that the state has had....
at that time forbade a governor from succeeding himself, which at the time was a common provision in the constitutions of many Southern states). Folsom stood six feet eight inches tall and used the slogan "the little man's big friend." On December 1, 1955, during Folsom's second term, Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....
refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery city bus. Her actions sparked the modern Civil Rights Movement. In 1962, Folsom again ran for governor against his one-time protege 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...
but was defeated. A sardonic slogan emerged during that campaign, referring to Folsom's reputation for taking graft: "Something for everyone and a little bit for Big Jim." Folsom sometimes referred to "the emoluments of office," and once told a campaign crowd, "I plead guilty to stealing. That crowd I got it from, you had to steal it to get it... I stole for you, and you, and you." Folsom's campaign was also damaged by a television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
appearance where he appeared to be seriously intoxicated, and was unable to remember his own children's names. Both the appearance and the supposed "slogan" hurt him with the image-conscious middle class. Folsom was never again elected to public office and died in Cullman, Alabama
Cullman, Alabama
Cullman is a city in Cullman County, State of Alabama. Cullman is located along Interstate 65, about north of Birmingham, and about south of Huntsville. According to the U.S...
in 1987. His niece, Cornelia Ellis Sniveley
Cornelia Wallace
Cornelia Ellis Wallace, previously Cornelia Ellis Snively , was the First Lady of Alabama from 1971–1978 and the second wife of Democratic Governor George C. Wallace . Mrs...
, was married to George Wallace from 1971 to 1978.
In 1958 Governor Folsom commuted a death sentence imposed on James E. Wilson
Jimmy Wilson (handyman)
Jimmy Wilson, born in 1903 or 1904, was an African-American handyman who was convicted of robbery and sentenced to death by an all-White jury in a Marion, Alabama court in 1958 for stealing $1.95 from a White American woman, Esteele Barker. According to the Des Moines Register, "a court official...
, an African-American sentenced to death for a $1.95 robbery. The Wilson case sparked international protests, but some segregationists called for Folsom not to commute the sentence. On the other hand, Folsom did not intervene in another controversial case, that of Jeremiah Reeves
Jeremiah Reeves
Jeremiah Reeves was a 22-year-old African American, former jazz drummer, executed by the state of Alabama by electrocution for two rapes he allegedly committed in 1952. His actual guilt was frequently questioned .Reeves' execution sparked a massive protest, among whose leaders was Rev...
, who was electrocuted
Electric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
the same year, also sparking protests.
A documentary film about Big Jim Folsom entitled "Big Jim Folsom: The Two Faces of Populism" was produced in 1996 by Alabama filmmaker Robert Clem, and won the 1997 International Documentary Association/ABCNews VideoSource Award and the Southeastern Filmmaker Award at the 1997 Atlanta Film Festival.
In the 1997 TNT movie George Wallace, directed by John Frankenheimer, Jim Folsom is played by Joe Don Baker, who was nominated for a CableACE award for his performance.
Son James E Folsom, Jr.
Jim Folsom's son James E. Folsom, Jr.Jim Folsom, Jr.
James Elisha Folsom, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who was the 50th Governor of Alabama from April 22, 1993 to January 16, 1995.-Early life and career:...
(dubbed Little Jim because of his father's nickname) is also a noted Alabama politician. He served as Alabama lieutenant governor from 1986 to 1993. He assumed the office of governor when Gov. H. Guy Hunt
H. Guy Hunt
Harold Guy Hunt was an American politician who served as the 49th Governor of Alabama from 1987 to 1993. He was the first Republican to serve as governor of the state since Reconstruction.- Early life :...
was removed from office after being convicted of state ethics law violations. Folsom, Jr. ran for governor in 1994, but was defeated by Fob James
Fob James
Forrest Hood James, Jr., known as Fob James , is an American politician, a civil engineer, and an all-American half-back...
. He decided to re-enter state politics in 2006, qualifying for and eventually winning the lieutenant governor's race.
Jim Folsom had nine legitimate children. Two by his first wife, and seven by his second wife. A number of extra-marital paternity claims have been alleged during the years.