originally posted to PRFORUM.
I spent Monday afternoon in the presence of current GA Governor Roy
Barnes and former senator Sam Nunn -- as they spoke at the funeral of
former Gov and former US Senator Herman Talmadge. There were lots of
politicos there, including President Carter. Talmadge died Thursday
after extended illness. He was 88.
Was home for my own family reunion -- and fate had our return tickets
for Monday evening instead of Monday morning (initial plan was AM,
but Delta sold out the cheap seats before I booked). I decided (with
some nudging from friends) that I was supposed to attend - even if
neither of us had "funeral clothes."
I worked for the Senator in 1976, as part of the summer intern staff;
I was assigned to the press office. Gordon Roberts (press secretary)
had me doing real work -- I researched and wrote a white paper -- I
got to work on the weekly recording which was sent to all Georgia
radio stations -- I wrote press releases. In the process, I developed
a few long term friendships -- including the Senator's AA (right hand
man) at that time, Rogers Wade.
I had known of the Senator's illness -- and had thought about sending
him a note along with a current picture of me and the Ducati. :) But
my own personal issues intervened; let this be a lesson to me (and to
others) -- I think it would have brought a smile to his face.
Reading the news reports and comments -- I learned much about this
complex man that, had I known it in my 20s, it didn't stay easily
accessed in my grey matter. Known around the country for his role in
the Watergate Hearings ... known throughout rural America for
championing farmer issues (former chair, Ag & Forestry Committee) ...
unknown (probably) by one of the largest groups of beneficiaries of
his vision -- school lunch recipients.
As governor, he recognized the need for infrastructure and launched
program to pave 13K miles of roads and implemented a 3% sales tax (in
the 50s!) to fund education -- at that time, there were more than 1K
one-room school houses in the state. He did this after pledging "no
new taxes" -- and "the people" loved him anyway.
He lost reelection in 1980 by 25K votes (think punch card mishaps
then - he was a D and ATL is still using version one punch card
machines in the inner city - with about a 10% error rate, IIRC) --
the tide had turned and Atlanta asserted her "independence" from the
rest of the state in that election -- to a yankee-born typewriter
salesman (Mack Mattingly) who traveled to DC on Reagan's coattails.
"Of more than 8 million people who live in Georgia today, only half
were here when Talmadge disappeared from the public scene after
losing his bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate in 1980."
It's hard to believe that he was in office only four more years after
I worked for him. It seems so much longer. It's also hard for me to
believe that Sam Nunn is no longer "my" senior senator (I own
property in Georgia).
I have found reading the ATL papers an interesting exercise. The
discussions about "another era" -- and the application of today's
mores to yesterday's actions -- remind me of children who haven't
grown up enough to accept their parents for who they are. That "other
era" is just as much a part of the state as "this one" and should not
be looked upon with disdain. (I suppose we could spin this into a PR
thread *g*)
I am glad that I went to yesterday's service. I am even more grateful
to have had the opportunity to work with him for a short while. That
experience cemented my love for public affairs and issues; I wasn't a
fan of "politics" then and am less so today. I long for statesmen who
have vision and courage and don't "govern by poll." That's where my
idealism remains alive.
** links to news stories follow **
Kathy
============================================================
Kathy E. Gill, mailto:kathy@cyberwriter.com
WWW writing - training - design
http://www.cyberwriter.com/TFM/
"In times of profound change, the learners inherit the earth,
while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal
with a world that no longer exists." --Al Rogers
============================================================
Some links:
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/talmadge/0326main.html
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/talmadge/pic7.html
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/friday/news_c3a9aec0b015e01f0055.html
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/opinion/0302/0322react.html
career
legacy
Political symbol of a bygone era
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/opinion/0302/0324talmadge.html
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/sunday/issue_c3d9467974a4124a00c9.html
