Skip to Main Content

Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program

The Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program is comprised of over 3,000 linear feet of archival collections, along with an extensive number of oral history interviews, that document the unique political culture of the state of Georgia.

Douglas Druie Barnard, Jr.

Douglas Druie Barnard, Jr. was born in Augusta, Georgia in 1922, where he went to school before earning an A.B. degree from Mercer University in 1943. He served in the United States Army from 1943-1945, and then returned to Mercer, where he obtained his law degree in 1948. Barnard entered the banking industry after college, and served as executive secretary to Governor Carl E. Sanders from 1963-1966. He was a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention and was elected to represent the 10th district in Congress in 1976. Barnard's major emphasis in Congress was on banking reform and he tried repeatedly to revamp banking laws with little success. He left Congress in 1993 and currently lives in Augusta.; Interviewed by Mel Steely on December 1, 1997 at the University of West Georgia.; Barnard starts the interview by discussing his childhood in Augusta, Georgia, and talks about his parents' professions and his education. He talks about what he remembers about life during the Great Depression when he was a child; he said his family had to scratch and save in order to maintain themselves. He says that he went to Mercer because his parents were against him going to the University of Georgia. After the outbreak of World War II, Barnard went through several hoops only to end up discharged in Fort Benning, when he decided to go straight into law school. Upon graduation, he decided to get employment with the Georgia Railroad Bank and Trust. He brings up the domination of his community by a clique called the "Cracker Party," which he said was not good for them. Barnard then transitions into a discussion on the politically independent party. Barnard then spends a great deal of time discussing his time with Carl Sanders and his tenure as Sanders' executive secretary. He answers questions about his relationships with and opinions on other Georgia politicians, then begins talking about his election for Congress.