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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.

Herman Talmadge

Herman Eugene Talmadge(1913-2002), son of Gov. Eugene Talmadge, was born in 1913 in Telfair County, Georgia. In 1946, Talmadge ran his father's successful Democratic race for governor, though the elder Talmadge died before he could take office.The state legislature elected Herman to take his father's place, but the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled the move unconstitutional.Talmadge came back to win a special election in 1948, and served a full term as governor in 1950.; H. E. Talmadge makes a public appearance, along with a panel of academics, at an event hosted by the Georgia Political Heritage Program on October 9, 1985 at West Georgia College.; After a program introduction by West Georgia College President, Maurice K. Townsend, Dr. Donald R. Wagner provides a brief background of the Georgia Political Heritage Program and introduces Talmadge and the discussion's topic: Watergate. Talmadge provides a brief overview of the Watergate Hearings and his role in the Senate Watergate Committee. Talmadge is asked to assess Nixon's wrongdoing in comparison in relation to other presidents, as well as whom he believed to be the genuine "bad guy" in the affair. He discusses whether he believes something like the scandal could happen again and evaluates presidential power. The topic of American journalism arises, as does executive privilege, national security, the judiciary branch of the government, constitutional issues, Nixon's pardoning, etc.Questions are then opened to the public; questions on motivations, John Mitchell, etc., are addressed.