Maddox, Lester, 1915-2003
- Authoritative Name:
- Maddox, Lester, 1915-2003
- Biography:
- "Born in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 30, 1915. He was educated in Atlanta public schools but dropped out of high school to pursue odd jobs. Maddox engaged in industrial manufacturing management; and he was owner and operator of restaurant, grocery, and furniture stores. In 1944, Maddox opened a short-order grill in Atlanta that was sold a year later for profit. He continued to hold odd jobs in groceries and real estate until 1947 when he once again opened a restaurant, the Pickrick. This cafeteria-style establishment fared so well that it would expand 9 times within the next 15 years. The restaurant also served as a launching pad for Maddox's political career. Beginning in 1949, its weekly newspaper advertisements entitled "Pickrick Says" provided Maddox with an outlet for his political beliefs. These advertisements became more political after the 1954 school desegregation decision, putting Maddox in the public eye. Maddox's outspoken response to integration continued to be a catalyst for his political career, as evidenced by his 1957 campaign for mayor of Atlanta. Running as an independent, anti-integrationist candidate, Maddox was defeated. Four years later, in 1961, he once again lost his bid for the mayor's office. Maddox faced his third defeat in 1962, after running for lieutenant governor. Although it was not successful, the campaign made him a well known figure in Georgia. He achieved national notoriety in 1964 when he drove African-Americans from his restaurant in defiance of federal civil-rights legislation and then closed the establishment rather than desegregate it. In October 1965, he announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for governor. Maddox ran a grassroots campaign with a platform based on segregation and federal encroachment on state and individual rights. This proved effective, for Maddox came in second to Ellis Arnall in the Democratic primary and defeated Arnall in the runoff. In the General Election, the Republican, Howard "Bo" Callaway received more votes but fell short of the majority due to a write in campaign for Arnall. The election was, therefore, sent to the General Assembly which elected Maddox on the first ballot. The new governor was sworn in on January 10, 1967. During his tenure, Maddox increased funding for the university system as well as state teachers' salaries. He attempted to raise money for state education, welfare and mental health with a one cent sales tax, but could not push it through the state legislature. In 1970, Maddox succeeded in passing funding for the women's prison as well as a work release center. While Maddox appointed many blacks during his term, none were given positions of great power or responsibility. He continued to be an outspoken opponent of school desegregation as well as busing. Eventually, he encouraged private segregated schools and favored freedom of choice in schools rather than strict segregation. Maddox also urged full victory in Vietnam and warned Georgians of ever-present communist and socialist influences.
Since the Georgia Constitution barred him from consecutive terms, Maddox was unable to succeed himself. He attempted to have the law overturned but was unsuccessful. Maddox ran for lieutenant governor and won in 1970, making him the first former governor to become lieutenant governor. His term was filled with conflict between himself and Governor Jimmy Carter. In 1974, he attempted to regain the office of governor but lost to George Busbee. Maddox did not fade out of political life, however, and in 1976 the former governor ran for president as the American Independent Party candidate. His campaign was seen by many as an act of revenge aimed at his political rival, Jimmy Carter. He lost that election as well, receiving only 170,000 votes. After this campaign, Maddox remained out of politics until 1990, when he made his last attempt at political office. On January 25, he made a formal announcement from the state capitol that he would once again run for governor of Georgia. Maddox ran a small, grass-roots campaign and lost the election. Governor Maddox passed away on June 25, 2003."--National Governors Association, WWW site, retrieved February 13, 2008. - Associated Subjects:
- Maddox, Lester, 1915-2003
Maddox, Lester, 1915-2003--Interviews
Maddox, Lester, 1915-2003--Public opinion
Maddox, Lester, 1915-2003--Resignation from office
Maddox, Lester, 1915-2003--Trials, litigation, etc. - Archival Collections And Reference Resources:
-
232 items in 18 collections (expand all)
Episcopal Society for Cultural and Racial Unity, correspondence, 1966
- Creator:
- AFL-CIO. Civil Rights Department
Morris, John B., 1930-2010
Episcopal Society for Cultural and Racial Unity - Date of Original:
- 1966
- Collection:
- AFL-CIO Southeast Division Civil Rights Department Records
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Georgia AFL-CIO, correspondence, 1965-1969
- Creator:
- AFL-CIO. Civil Rights Department
Kehrer, E.T., 1921-1996
Georgia State AFL-CIO
Montague, W.H., Jr.
Moore, J.O.
Giles, J.W. (James William) - Date of Original:
- 1965
1966
1967
1968
1969 - Collection:
- AFL-CIO Southeast Division Civil Rights Department Records
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Negro Georgia Voters League
- Creator:
- AFL-CIO. Civil Rights Department
Georgia Voters League
Williams, Hosea, 1926-2000 - Date of Original:
- 1966
1970 - Collection:
- AFL-CIO Southeast Division Civil Rights Department Records
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Wallace, George and Lurleen, correspondence, 1966-1967
- Creator:
- AFL-CIO. Civil Rights Department
Kehrer, E.T., 1921-1996 - Date of Original:
- 1966
1967 - Collection:
- AFL-CIO Southeast Division Civil Rights Department Records
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Crowd forms around segregationist Lester Maddox's restaurant The Pickrick to keep African-Americans from entering the eatery, 1964
- Creator:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Date of Original:
- 1964-08-12
- Collection:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photographs
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Crowd forms around segregationist Lester Maddox's restaurant The Pickrick to keep African-Americans from entering the eatery, 1964
- Creator:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Date of Original:
- 1964-08-12
- Collection:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photographs
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Crowd forms around segregationist Lester Maddox's restaurant The Pickrick to keep African-Americans from entering the eatery, 1964
- Creator:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Date of Original:
- 1964-08-12
- Collection:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photographs
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Crowd forms around segregationist Lester Maddox's restaurant The Pickrick to keep African-Americans from entering the eatery, 1964
- Creator:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Date of Original:
- 1964-08-12
- Collection:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photographs
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Crowd forms around segregationist Lester Maddox's restaurant The Pickrick to keep African-Americans from entering the eatery, 1964
- Creator:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Date of Original:
- 1964-08-12
- Collection:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photographs
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Crowd forms around segregationist Lester Maddox's restaurant The Pickrick to keep African-Americans from entering the eatery, 1964
- Creator:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Date of Original:
- 1964-08-12
- Collection:
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photographs
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
--A real fightin' Force you understand, with you as Buck Private and me as Nine Star Commanding General! Watcha think? / Baldy, [ca. 1967]
- Creator:
- Baldowski, Clifford H., 1917-1999
- Date of Original:
- 1967
- Collection:
- Baldy Editorial Cartoons, 1946-1982, 1997: Clifford H. Baldowski Editorial Cartoons at the Richard B. Russell Library.
- Contributing Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
--And if I see any snooping on my side, I'll hunch you! / Baldy 1971 Feb. 27.
- Creator:
- Baldowski, Clifford H., 1917-1999
- Date of Original:
- 1971-02-27
- Collection:
- Baldy Editorial Cartoons, 1946-1982, 1997: Clifford H. Baldowski Editorial Cartoons at the Richard B. Russell Library.
- Contributing Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
--Another pot-o-gold at the end of the rainbow, Lester? / Baldy, [ca. 1971]
- Creator:
- Baldowski, Clifford H., 1917-1999
- Date of Original:
- 1971
- Collection:
- Baldy Editorial Cartoons, 1946-1982, 1997: Clifford H. Baldowski Editorial Cartoons at the Richard B. Russell Library.
- Contributing Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
--Anybody up there is either stupid, a communist, a coward, or a traitor! / Baldy, [ca. 1970]
- Creator:
- Baldowski, Clifford H., 1917-1999
- Date of Original:
- 1970
- Collection:
- Baldy Editorial Cartoons, 1946-1982, 1997: Clifford H. Baldowski Editorial Cartoons at the Richard B. Russell Library.
- Contributing Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
--Besides, who else is here by popular vote? / Baldy, [1969 Sept. 14]
- Creator:
- Baldowski, Clifford H., 1917-1999
- Date of Original:
- 1969-09-14
- Collection:
- Baldy Editorial Cartoons, 1946-1982, 1997: Clifford H. Baldowski Editorial Cartoons at the Richard B. Russell Library.
- Contributing Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
--But I am insisting on a good, clean, progressive administration friends! / Baldy, 1967
- Creator:
- Baldowski, Clifford H., 1917-1999
- Date of Original:
- 1967
- Collection:
- Baldy Editorial Cartoons, 1946-1982, 1997: Clifford H. Baldowski Editorial Cartoons at the Richard B. Russell Library.
- Contributing Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Opinion from George Willis, Jr., et al. vs. the Pickrick Restaurant and Lester Maddox
- Creator:
- United States. District Court (Georgia : Northern District : Atlanta Division)
- Date of Original:
- 1964
- Collection:
- Civil Case Files, 1938-1995, Records of the District Courts of the United States
- Contributing Institution:
- United States. National Archives and Records Administration. Atlanta Branch
Oral history interview with Charles Person, 2001
- Creator:
- Person, Charles
- Date of Original:
- 2001
- Collection:
- Freedom Riders' 40th Anniversary Oral History Project, 2001
- Contributing Institution:
- John Davis Williams Library. Department of Archives and Special Collections
DeMuth--Jerry DeMuth papers, 1962-1987 (Archives Main Stacks, SC3065)
- Creator:
- DeMuth, Jerry, 1937-
- Date of Original:
- 1964/1979
- Collection:
- Freedom Summer Digital Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Wisconsin Historical Society
Dunlap--Mississippi Freedom Project, 1964-1965 (Papers, 1964-1972, 1994; Z: Accessions, M2000-007, Box 2, Folder 5)
- Creator:
- Dunlap, Bryan R.
- Date of Original:
- 1964/1967
- Collection:
- Freedom Summer Digital Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Wisconsin Historical Society
Goodman--National clippings and loose clippings (Carolyn Goodman papers, 1964-2000; Historical Society Library Microforms Room, Micro 833, Reel 1b)
- Creator:
- Goodman, Carolyn
- Date of Original:
- 1964/1967
- Collection:
- Freedom Summer Digital Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Wisconsin Historical Society
Goodman--New York newspaper clippings (Carolyn Goodman papers, 1964-2000; Historical Society Library Microforms Room, Micro 833, Reel 1a)
- Creator:
- Goodman, Carolyn
- Date of Original:
- 1964/1967
- Collection:
- Freedom Summer Digital Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Wisconsin Historical Society
Kaplow--Friends of SNCC - General, 1964-1967, undated (Alicia Kaplow papers, 1964-1968; Archives Main Stacks, Mss 507, Box 1, Folder 7)
- Creator:
- Kaplow, Alicia, 1945-
- Date of Original:
- 1965
- Collection:
- Freedom Summer Digital Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Wisconsin Historical Society
Lynd--Missississippi Freedom Schools, 1964 -1965 (Staughton and Alice Lynd papers 1938-2008; Archives Main Stacks, Mss 395, Box 4, Folder 13)
- Creator:
- Lynd, Staughton
- Date of Original:
- 1964
1965 - Collection:
- Freedom Summer Digital Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Wisconsin Historical Society
Benjamin Brown oral history interview, 1996 October 31
- Creator:
- Brown, Benjamin, 1939-1999
- Date of Original:
- 1996-10-31
- Collection:
- Georgia Government Documentation Project
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Bill Shipp oral history interview, 1987 April 22
- Creator:
- Shipp, Bill
- Date of Original:
- 1987-04-22
- Collection:
- Georgia Government Documentation Project
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Elbert Tuttle Oral History Interview 1992 April 10
- Creator:
- Tuttle, Elbert P. (Elbert Parr), 1897-1996
- Date of Original:
- 1992-04-10
- Collection:
- Georgia Government Documentation Project
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
George T. Smith oral history interview, 1992 August 19-20
- Creator:
- Smith, George T. (George Thornewell), 1916-2010
- Date of Original:
- 1992-08-19
1992-08-20 - Collection:
- Georgia Government Documentation Project
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Jimmy Carter oral history interview, 1987 February 17
- Creator:
- Carter, Jimmy, 1924-
- Date of Original:
- 1987-02-17
- Collection:
- Georgia Government Documentation Project
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Julius McCurdy oral history interview, 1988 November 21
- Creator:
- McCurdy, Julius Augustus, 1903-
- Date of Original:
- 1988-11-21
- Collection:
- Georgia Government Documentation Project
- Contributing Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
Oral history interview with Bill Lee, 1997 June 3
- Creator:
- Lee, Bill, 1925-
- Date of Original:
- 1997-06-03
- Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
- Contributing Institution:
- University of West Georgia. Special Collections
Oral history interview with Cecil Alexander, 2009 July 8
- Creator:
- Alexander, Cecil
- Date of Original:
- 2009-07-08
- Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
- Contributing Institution:
- University of West Georgia. Special Collections
Oral history interview with David Gambrell, 1992 September 21
- Creator:
- Gambrell, David Henry, 1929-
- Date of Original:
- 1992-09-21
- Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
- Contributing Institution:
- University of West Georgia. Special Collections
Oral history interview with Doug Barnard, 1997 December 1
- Creator:
- Barnard, Douglas
- Date of Original:
- 1997-12-01
- Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
- Contributing Institution:
- University of West Georgia. Special Collections
Oral history interview with Governor Lester Maddox, 1986 April 17
- Creator:
- Maddox, Lester, 1915-2003
- Date of Original:
- 1986-04-17
- Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
- Contributing Institution:
- University of West Georgia. Special Collections
Charles Guptil interview with Warren Kirbo, “Homer Thigpen,” and Randy Walls (part one)
- Creator:
- Guptil, Charles
Kirbo, Warren, 1946-
Anonymous
Walls, Randy, 1949- - Date of Original:
- 1974
- Collection:
- John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archives Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Atlanta History Center
If I Go To Jail, 1964
- Creator:
- Maddox, Lester, 1915-2003
- Date of Original:
- 1964
- Collection:
- Lester Maddox Papers
- Contributing Institution:
- Atlanta History Center
Bob Cohn, 30 June 2010.
- Creator:
- Short, Bob, 1932
Cohn, Bob - Date of Original:
- 2010-06-30
- Collection:
- Reflections on Georgia Politics oral history collection, 2006-2010
- Contributing Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Glenn Anthony, 29 January 2009.
- Creator:
- Short, Bob, 1932
Anthony, Glenn, 1924 - Date of Original:
- 2009-01-29
- Collection:
- Reflections on Georgia Politics oral history collection, 2006-2010
- Contributing Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Hugh Gillis, 25 July 2008.
- Creator:
- Gillis, Hugh M.(Hugh Marion), 1918-2013
Short, Bob, 1932 - Date of Original:
- 2008-07-25
- Collection:
- Reflections on Georgia Politics oral history collection, 2006-2010
- Contributing Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Matt Towery, 16 October 2009.
- Creator:
- Towery, Matt A., 1959
Short, Bob, 1932 - Date of Original:
- 2009-10-16
- Collection:
- Reflections on Georgia Politics oral history collection, 2006-2010
- Contributing Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Tommy Irvin, 17 April 2008.
- Creator:
- Irvin, Thomas T., 1929
Short, Bob, 1932 - Date of Original:
- 2008-04-17
- Collection:
- Reflections on Georgia Politics oral history collection, 2006-2010
- Contributing Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Southern school news
- Creator:
- Southern Education Reporting Service
- Date of Original:
- 1961-08-01
- Collection:
- Southern school news
- Contributing Institution:
- University of Georgia. Libraries
Southern school news
- Creator:
- Southern Education Reporting Service
- Date of Original:
- 1962-09-01
- Collection:
- Southern school news
- Contributing Institution:
- University of Georgia. Libraries
Southern school news
- Creator:
- Southern Education Reporting Service
- Date of Original:
- 1962-04-01
- Collection:
- Southern school news
- Contributing Institution:
- University of Georgia. Libraries
Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission photograph of a man carrying a protest sign that reads "Maddox and the Legislature are Geo. Wallace's lackies" on the sidewalk in front of the Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia, 1960s
- Creator:
- Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission
- Date of Original:
- 1960/1969
- Collection:
- Sovereignty Commission Online
- Contributing Institution:
- Mississippi. Department of Archives and History
Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission photograph of three men talking to a protester standing on a sidewalk near the Georgia State Capitol during a demonstration, Atlanta, Georgia, 1960s
- Creator:
- Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission
- Date of Original:
- 1960/1969
- Collection:
- Sovereignty Commission Online
- Contributing Institution:
- Mississippi. Department of Archives and History
Civil Rights Movement scrapbooks. National events volume 10
- Date of Original:
- 1964/1966
- Collection:
- The Scrapbooks
- Contributing Institution:
- Birmingham Public Library (Ala.)
Lester Maddox and Maurice Bessinger
- Creator:
- Underwood, Dave
The State Media Company (Columbia, S.C.) - Date of Original:
- 1965-05-12
- Collection:
- The State Newspaper Photograph Archive
- Contributing Institution:
- Richland Library
Lester Maddox at South Carolina Independents convention
- Creator:
- Underwood, Dave
The State Media Company (Columbia, S.C.) - Date of Original:
- 1965-05-12
- Collection:
- The State Newspaper Photograph Archive
- Contributing Institution:
- Richland Library
Oral history interview of J. O. Partain, Jr. part two
- Creator:
- Kyle, Glen
Partain, J. O., Jr., 1918-2014 - Date of Original:
- 2005-08-05
- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Contributing Institution:
- Atlanta History Center
CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR, MAYNARD JACKSON, CRITICIZES PRESENT GOVERNOR MADDOX ON GROUNDS OF TYRANNY AND RACISM
- Creator:
- WSB-TV (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)
- Date of Original:
- 1970-09-30
- Collection:
- WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection
GOVERNOR MADDOX AND RICHMOND COUNTY COMMISSIONER COMMENT ON AUGUSTA RIOT; DAMAGES IN AUGUSTA
- Creator:
- WSB-TV (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)
- Date of Original:
- 1970-05-12
- Collection:
- WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection
GOVERNOR MADDOX ARRIVES AT DANIEL FIELD AIRPORT AND COMMENTS ON AUGUSTA RIOT; BLACK AUGUSTANS COMMENT
- Creator:
- WSB-TV (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)
- Date of Original:
- 1970-05-12
- Collection:
- WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection
Georgia Governor Lester Maddox comments on the Vietnam War and on George Wallace's race for president.
- Creator:
- WSB-TV (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)
- Date of Original:
- 1968-08-20
- Collection:
- WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection
MADDOX COMMENTS ON WELTNER AND ON POLITICAL GOALS
- Creator:
- WSB-TV (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)
- Date of Original:
- 1966-10-05
- Collection:
- WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection
MADDOX EXPRESSES CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM AT POLICY CHANGES IN HEW
- Creator:
- WSB-TV (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)
- Date of Original:
- 1967-05-10
- Collection:
- WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection
WSFA audiovisual item D150.0002
- Date of Original:
- 1967/1975
- Collection:
- WSFA Collection
- Contributing Institution:
- Alabama. Department of Archives and History