- Collection:
- Reflections on Georgia Politics oral history collection, 2006-2010
- Title:
- Tom Houck, 28 September 2009.
- Creator:
- Houck, Thomas, 1947
Short, Bob, 1932 - Contributor to Resource:
- Short, Bob, 1932-
- Date of Original:
- 2009-09-28
- Subject:
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Civil rights demonstrations--Georgia
Civil rights movements--Georgia
Civil rights--Georgia
Political campaigns--Georgia
Civil rights
Civil rights demonstrations
Civil rights movements
Political campaigns
Georgia - People:
- Houck, Thomas, 1947-
Jackson, Maynard, 1938-2003
Shipp, Bill, 1933-
King, Coretta Scott, 1927-2006
Miller, Zell, 1932-2018
King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968 - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
interviews - Type:
- MovingImage
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- Tom Houck discusses growing up in Boston before moving to Atlanta to work in the Civil Rights Movement and in television. He recalls meeting Martin Luther King, Jr., at the Selma to Montgomery March. Houck recalls his work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and explains the organization's purpose and people. He discusses answering Martin Luther King's mail for the SCLC, having dinner at the King house, and becoming the Kings' driver. Houck recalls several personal stories relating to the King family. Houck recalls Dr. Martin Luther King loving to read, swim, and play the lottery. He discusses Coretta King's involvement with the civil rights movement and mentions her fundraising work for the SCLC. Houck discusses demonstrations such as open housing demonstrations, the Poor People's campaign, and store picketing. He recalls that Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr., did not participate in politics but was friendly with Georgia governors. Houck explains how Maddox's election made many activists uncomfortable. He recalls being arrested 18 to 20 times in the course of his activism. Houck discusses Zell Miller's involvement with civil rights and his recollections of Maynard Jackson and Andrew Young. Thid interview takes place at Manuel's Tavern and Houck explains who Manuel Malouf was and the history of the tavern. Houck recalls Zell Miller's campaign for lieutenant governor and comments on his friendship with both candidates. He weighs in on whether the civil rights movement is dead. Houck describes how he got into talk radio and television as a political commentator and comments on the state of party politics in Georgia.
Thomas Houck was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on August 21, 1947. He dropped out of high school at age 15 and joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to work under Hosea Williams. In 1965, he met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at a meeting of the SCLC, and in 1966 he came to Atlanta and became the King family's personal driver. Later, he became an organizer for the SCLC, and was active in numerous demonstrations and marches. He filed a court case, Houck and Williams vs. Birmingham-Jefferson County, which led to the desegregation of Southern jails. Houck went on to help campaign for various Atlanta mayors and governors, including Maynard Jackson and Zell Miller, and started doing commentary for WGST Radio. He then went on to host various politically-oriented radio and television shows, retiring from full time broadcasting in 2001.
Finding aid available in repository.
Interviewed by Bob Short. - Metadata URL:
- http://purl.libs.uga.edu/russell/RBRL220ROGP-087/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 087, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.
- Extent:
- 1 interview (87 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:
-
