- Collection:
- Reflections on Georgia Politics oral history collection, 2006-2010
- Title:
- Bill Lee, 05 June 2009.
- Creator:
- Lee, William J., 1925
Short, Bob, 1932 - Contributor to Resource:
- Short, Bob, 1932-
- Date of Original:
- 2009-06-05
- Subject:
- Georgia--General Assembly--House of Representatives
Democratic Party (Ga.)
Apportionment (Election law)--Georgia
Segregation--Georgia
Elections--Georgia
Governors--Georgia
Legislators--Georgia
Political campaigns--Georgia
Apportionment (Election law)
Elections
Governors
Legislators
Political campaigns
Segregation
Georgia - People:
- Bond, Julian, 1940-2015
Lee, William J., 1925-
Vandiver, S. Ernest (Samuel Ernest), 1918-2005
Miller, Zell, 1932-2018
Griffin, Marvin, 1907-1982
Murphy, Thomas Bailey, 1924-2007 - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
interviews - Type:
- MovingImage
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- Bill Lee discusses growing up in Clayton County and being drafted into the Navy after graduation. He describes how he became interested in politics while serving as a page for the General Assembly. Lee discusses his decision to run for legislature as a 19-year old and his election in 1956. He recalls the experience of being a freshman in state legislature and disagreements betwen Governor Griffin and Lieutenant Governor Vandiver. Lee discusses the legislative appointment of Governor Maddox, the move for legislative independence from the governor, and his friendship with Tom Murphy. Lee elaborates on Tom Murphy's time in legislature. He mentions Murphy's disagreements with Zell Miller. Lee recalls working on the Industrial Relations Committee, the Parks and Recreation Committee, and the House Rules Committee. He describes the purpose of the Rules Committee. Lee comments on desegregation, the Sibley Commission, and the county unit system. He also discusses the prevalence of caucuses in legislature. Lee reflects on his 42 year record in the legislature and on how the path to Governorship passes through the legislature. He also comments on party politics in Georgia, reapportionment, and drafting the state budget. Lee recalls the green door budgetary drafting committee, Zell Miller's flag controversey, and the Julian Bond controversy. Lee discusses his constitutents' reactions to integration and his work with bringing Clayton State University to his county.
Finding aid available in repository.
William J. "Bill" Lee was born in Forest Park, Georgia, on December 15, 1925. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. In 1960, he earned his law degree from Atlanta Law School. In 1956, he was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia House of Representatives. He continued to serve for forty-two years, making his the longest uninterrupted run in the house by any representative. As a state representative, he served as chairman of the Rules Committee and of the House Democratic Caucus. In 1965, the Board of Regents authorized the establishment of three junior colleges, and Lee secured one for Clayton County in 1969. This eventually became the four-year Clayton State University. In 1998, he declined to run again, and worked as an aide to Georgia Speaker of the House Tom Murphy. In 2002, Murphy was defeated, and Lee retired from politics.
Interviewed by Bob Short. - Metadata URL:
- http://purl.libs.uga.edu/russell/RBRL220ROGP-082/ohms
- Language:
- eng
- Additional Rights Information:
- Resources may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection, ROGP 082, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.
- Extent:
- 1 interview (57 min.) : sd., col.
- Original Collection:
- Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection
http://sclfind.libs.uga.edu/sclfind/view?docId=ead/RBRL220ROGP.xml - Contributing Institution:
- Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
- Rights:
-
