George Wallace

A detailed Summary of George Wallace

The 1960's were characterized as an era full of turmoil. During this era, one of the most controversial topics was the fight over civil rights. One of the key political figures against civil rights movement and pro-segregation was George Wallace. Wallace represented the racist southern view. Many Americans were segregationist, but Wallace was adamant about the topic. Many established political figures were assassinated, during the 1960's. Martin Luther King, JFK, and RFK were all positive visionaries caused controversy throughout that decade. George Wallace was against the modern government, pro-middle class, and against civil rights. Wallace and many other visionaries were cut down to early in life. Wallace was not killed by the assassin's bullet but his political career was changed. The attempt on Wallace's life left him a broken man in a wheelchair. People remembered the George Wallace who smoked his cigar and denounced the State Department as communist. Wallace was a feared politician who lived in a state full of beatings and problems. Racism was the norm and Wallace took full advantage of this ploy to gain political attention.

George Corley Wallace was born on August 25, 1919. While attending Barber County

In 1972, Wallace again entered the presidential primaries, this time under the Democratic Party. The governor was poised to improve on his 1968 run for the presidency. His campaign was running like a Mac truck through the presidential primaries. He started off with a victory in Florida, which left him leading every county in the state. His attacks on busing let conservatives know exactly where he stood. Wallace also began talking less about race because he could afford to. On the Afternoon of May of 1972, at a campaign rally in Laurel, Maryland things turned for the worse. While participating in a final round of hand shaking with the crowd. A frustrated Arthur Bremer, who also tried to assassinate, Nixon set his sights on Wallace. Bremer stalked Wallace for weeks trying to get a chance to shoot him. From a range no more than three feet away, the assassin shot Wallace 3 times, severing his spine and paralyzing him for life. Bremer was a disturbed 21-year-old drifter and now sits in a Maryland prison serving a life sentence. Many knew that his presidential and political career was over. After his hospital stay, Wallace remarkably returned to his duties as governor. In 1974, Wallace easily won the Democratic primaries for an unprecedented third term.

After receiving a medical discharge from the U.S. Air Force, he returned to Alabama. In 1946, Wallace got a job as an assistant to the attorney general for the state of Alabama. Wallace polled to become state representative of Barbour County. During his jaunt as a state representative, he had a number of highlights. They included bills that issued in the industrial era that attracted hundreds of new industries. He was also involved with the GI and Dependents Scholarships Act that provides widows and children access to trade schools and colleges.

Wallace sought meetings with civil rights leaders such as the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and John Lewis. Wallace made appearance at King's old Montgomery church. Sometimes he would even manage to say, "I'm sorry." The leaders accepted his change in heart but they could never fully forgive him.

Wallace had many signature moments throughout his inaugural term as governor the first occurred on January 11, 1963. During his inaugural address, Wallace promised to protect the state's "Anglo-Saxon people"

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Approximate Word count = 1591
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History