Augustus Turnbull Collection of Carl Sanders Speech/Press Files, 1963-1967
13 boxes, 6.5 linear feet

Administrative Information

- Access Restrictions
- User Restrictions
- Processing Notes
- Copyright Information
- Preferred Citation

Biographical Note

Scope and Content

Home

Organization and Arrangement

Related Collections

- In Russell Library
- In other repositories


Series Descriptions

Access Points

Folder List


Carl E. Sanders


ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Access Restrictions: None.

User Restrictions: Library acts as “fair use” reproduction agent.

Processing Notes: Newspaper clippings and thermofax papers have been copied onto bond paper for protection of content. Oversized materials and photographs have been separated for preservation.

Copyright Information: Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permission. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Preferred Citation: Augustus Turnbull Collection of Carl Sanders Speech/Press Files, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia.


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BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE:

Augustus Turnbull was the Assistant Press Secretary to Governor Carl Sanders during the last year of his term in office (1966-1967).


Carl E. Sanders was born in Augusta, Georgia on May 15, 1925. He attended the Academy of Richmond County and received the alternate appointment to West Point. He found himself at the University of Georgia, however, where he accepted a football scholarship. In 1943, before he could finish his college education, he enlisted in the Air Force and trained as a B-17 pilot. After World War II he returned to the University, finishing three years of law school in two years and passing the bar in 1947. That same year he married Betty Foy of Statesboro, Georgia.

Sanders entered private practice in Augusta and eventually started the law firm of Sanders, Thurmond, Hester and Jolles. In 1954, he made a successful bid for the Georgia House of Representatives. Two years later, in 1956, he won a seat in the Georgia Senate. At the time, the seat rotated between Richmond, Glascock and Jefferson counties. Sanders was subsequently elected to the same seat by both Jefferson and Glascock counties due to his overwhelming popularity, becoming the only man to serve three consecutive terms in a multi-county district. In 1959, Governor Vandiver named Sanders as Senate Floor Leader. He went on to serve as president pro tempore of the Senate from 1960 to 1962.

Sanders took the next step in his political career by running for governor in 1962 against Marvin Griffin. Shortly after his announcement, federal courts ruled that Georgia's county unit system was unconstitutional. The state would elect its officials by popular vote, giving the urban candidate, Sanders, a greater chance at victory.

As a moderate concerning racial issues, he faced an outspoken opponent of integration in former-Governor Griffin. While agreeing that Georgia should keep its tradition of segregation, Sanders believed it was imperative that the state avoid violence and obey the laws of the country. Unlike Griffin, his campaign issues were not built around race. Instead, Sanders focused on the elimination of corruption in state government and pushed for overall progress for the state. He also wanted to improve education and bring industry to Georgia. With his positive campaign, Sanders emerged victorious, making him the youngest governor in the country at the time. He was 37.

Upon his election, Sanders set about following through on his campaign promises. In order to revitalize Georgia's educational system, the new governor created the Governor's Commission to Improve Education in 1963. Based on the commission's findings and with the General Assembly's approval, Sanders improved education significantly. His program raised teacher salaries, added new teachers to the system, and reorganized the Department of Education. It also built new school buildings, established more junior colleges and vocational schools and created the Governor's Honors Program. Sanders also appointed the Governor's Commission for Efficiency and Improvement which helped to reform many government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and the Highway Department, as well as the prison and state merit systems.

In May, 1963, Sanders sought to draft a new state constitution. With the appointment of the Constitutional Revision Commission, he hoped to condense and clarify Georgia's Constitution. While the General Assembly approved the new constitution, it was never put on the general ballot. The momentum was lost when federal courts declared that the General Assembly was incorrectly apportioned and the constitution was, therefore, invalid. Sanders would later play an integral part in the passage of the reapportionment of congressional districts, but would never succeed in revising the constitution.

Sanders appointed many blacks to state government jobs, but civil rights were never a pressing issue for the governor. He did, however, testify against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, being especially opposed to the section regarding public accommodations. Despite this, he greatly improved Georgia's image, giving the state a more moderate, law-abiding reputation.

Sanders could not succeed himself as governor and, therefore, retired back into private life. Instead of returning to Augusta, he and his family remained in Atlanta where he started a new law firm. On April 25, 1970, Sanders reemerged to announce for what would be his last attempt at public office. His campaign for governor, however, ended in defeat, with Jimmy Carter taking office. Sanders never ran for public office again but worked for many other Democratic candidates such as Zell Miller, Andrew Young, and Sam Nunn. He also went on to serve as Finance Chairman for the Democratic Party of Georgia during George Busbee's term as governor.

Sanders still lives in Atlanta and practices law with Troutman Sanders LLP.

 


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SCOPE AND CONTENT:


The Augustus Turnbull Collection of Carl Sanders Speech/Press Files consists of manuscripts, reports, and news clippings from Sanders's term as governor of Georgia. The years represented are 1963-1967, and the activities documented are political and executive.

 


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ORGANIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT

The collection is divided into five series: I. General, II. State Agencies and Organizations, III. Speeches, and IV. Press Releases. The organization of the collection is chronological; the second series (State Agencies and Organizations) is organized alphabetically by department and then chronologically within each folder. This collection was originally housed in the Hargrett Rare Books and Manuscript Library where the papers were processed. In 2000, alterations were made to the arrangement including the renaming of some series to provide a more clear description and the division and renaming of items at the folder level.

 


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RELATED COLLECTIONS IN THIS REPOSITORY:

Clifford Hodges Brewton Collection of Lester G. Maddox Speech and Press Research Files, 1965-1975
Braswell D. Deen, Jr. Papers, 1925-1997, bulk 1965-1990
Charles L. Gowen Papers, 1946, 1954-1958
George L. Smith Papers 1956 - 1974
Herman E. Talmadge Collection, 1945-1987
S. Ernest Vandiver Papers, 1954-1998
Carl E. Sanders Papers
Documentary Oral History Series
- Griffin Bell
- Carl E. Sanders

 

 

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RELATED COLLECTIONS IN OTHER REPOSITORIES:

Jimmy Carter Gubernatorial Papers, Georgia Archives
Griffin Bell Papers, School of Law, Mercer University



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SERIES DESCRIPTIONS:

I. General
1 box, .5 linear f00t
A. Personal
Christmas cards depicting "Goldwater," the old Governor's mansion in Atlanta, Georgia.
B. Americans for Democratic Action
Consists of reproductions of the liberal magazine's annual congressional scorecards from 1948 to 1965.
C. Democratic Party
Includes speeches, and background information on various Democratic Party platforms, 1960-1964. Arrangement is chronological.

II. State Organization and Agency Files
4 boxes, 2 linear feet
Sanders continued efforts initiated by previous Governor Ernest Vandiver to eliminate corruption and streamline government. These files consist of reports and correspondence which document the activities and progress of various state departments, boards, commissions, and organizations. Organization is alphabetically by agency and chronologically within each folder.

III. Press Releases and Media Activities
8 boxes, 4 linear feet
The Press Releases and Media Activities series consists of those files which document the activity of communicating Sanders's view on various issues through speeches, press releases, and reports. As Sanders's Assistant Press Secretary, Augustus Turnbull accumulated these files, many of which concern Sanders' efforts to make the state government and its departments more efficient.

A. Speeches
5 boxes, 2.5 linear feet
These are the final versions of speeches that Sanders delivered to various government assemblies, civic organizations, business associations, church groups and school organizations in Georgia and elsewhere. At the beginning of each month's folder is a list detailing that month's speaking engagements. Arrangement is chronological.

B. Press Releases
2 boxes, 1 linear foot
These are files of press documents originating from Governor Sanders's office. Press Releases consist chiefly of announcements of appointments, reports of the progress of state and local departments and committees, and details of Sanders's many speaking engagements. Of note to researchers are the Sanders's 1963 efforts to draft a new state constitution as well as his term-long interest in improving education in Georgia. Arrangement is chronological.

C. Scripts
1 box, .25 linear foot
Includes the script to "Georgia on the Move" narrated by Sanders and produced by the Georgia Forrestry Commission as well as the "Challenge for Change" script produced by the Department of Revenue.

D. 1966 Report to the People Drafts
1 box, .25 linear foot
The 1966 Report to the People was an update on government improvement and efficiency during the Sanders administration. Included in this subseries are several drafts of the report.

E. Photographs
1 image
Contains an 8"x10" black and white photograph of Carl E. Sanders and John McDonough in 1965.

 


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ACCESS POINTS

Sanders, Carl Edward, 1925-
Georgia. Office of the Governor.
Governors --Georgia.
Georgia --Politics and government --1951-
Speeches.
Press releases.



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FOLDER LIST

Not available at this time. Please contact Russell Library for more information.


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