William Allain
Encyclopedia
William A. "Bill" Allain (born February 14, 1928) is a Mississippi
politician who served as the 59th Governor of that state as a Democrat from 1984 to 1988.
. He attended the University of Notre Dame
and received his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law
. Allain served in the United States infantry in the Korean War
. He was a member of the American Legion
and Veterans of Foreign Wars
. After the war, he practiced law in Natchez, Mississippi
, until his appointment as assistant state attorney general in 1962.
Allain was elected state attorney general in 1979 and earned a reputation as a consumer advocate, fighting utility rate increases and stopping the storage of nuclear waste in Mississippi. He also fought the powerful Mississippi Legislature, which for decades had diluted executive branch power by appointing legislators to executive department boards and commissions. The Mississippi Supreme Court, at Allain's insistence, struck the practice as a violation of the constitutional principle of Separation of Powers. The resulting decision, Allain v. Alexander, is sometimes referred to as "Mississippi's Marbury vs. Madison," after the landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court which delineated the powers of the three branches of the federal government. Allain's efforts strengthened the Mississippi executive and streamlined Mississippi's political processes.
In 1983, while running for the post of Governor against Republican candidate Leon Bramlett, Rex Armistead
helped spread rumors that Allain had sexual intercourse with two African-American male transvestites. Although he had divorced from his wife, he denied the charges. Both men went on the record with a lie detector
; however, when he did too, his rebuttal was still adamant. Then in 1984 the men claimed they had never met Allain and were paid for their testimony.
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
politician who served as the 59th Governor of that state as a Democrat from 1984 to 1988.
Biography
Allain was born in Washington, MississippiWashington, Mississippi
Washington is a small unincorporated town in Adams County, Mississippi, United States, close to Natchez.-History:The town of Washington's namesake is George Washington...
. He attended the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and received his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law
University of Mississippi School of Law
The University of Mississippi School of Law, also known as Ole Miss Law, is an ABA-accredited law school located on the campus of the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. The School of Law opened in 1854 and is the fourth-oldest state-supported law school in the country...
. Allain served in the United States infantry in 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...
. He was a member of the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
and Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
. After the war, he practiced law in Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
, until his appointment as assistant state attorney general in 1962.
Allain was elected state attorney general in 1979 and earned a reputation as a consumer advocate, fighting utility rate increases and stopping the storage of nuclear waste in Mississippi. He also fought the powerful Mississippi Legislature, which for decades had diluted executive branch power by appointing legislators to executive department boards and commissions. The Mississippi Supreme Court, at Allain's insistence, struck the practice as a violation of the constitutional principle of Separation of Powers. The resulting decision, Allain v. Alexander, is sometimes referred to as "Mississippi's Marbury vs. Madison," after the landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court which delineated the powers of the three branches of the federal government. Allain's efforts strengthened the Mississippi executive and streamlined Mississippi's political processes.
In 1983, while running for the post of Governor against Republican candidate Leon Bramlett, Rex Armistead
Rex Armistead
Rex Armistead, born 1930 in Lula, Mississippi is a private detective and former Mississippi state police officer and leading operative for the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, who was heavily involved in the Arkansas Project, a co-ordinated attempt in the 1990s to investigate former U.S...
helped spread rumors that Allain had sexual intercourse with two African-American male transvestites. Although he had divorced from his wife, he denied the charges. Both men went on the record with a lie detector
Lie Detector
"Lie Detector" is a CD single by The Reverend Horton Heat. It was released in October 1998 on Sub Pop.-Personnel:*Jim "Reverend Horton" Heath - lead vocals, guitar*Jimbo Wallace - upright bass, vocals*Scott Churilla - drums, vocals...
; however, when he did too, his rebuttal was still adamant. Then in 1984 the men claimed they had never met Allain and were paid for their testimony.