Ellis Arnall
Encyclopedia
Ellis Gibbs Arnall was an American
politician
, a progressive Democrat who served as the 69th Governor of the U.S. state
of Georgia
from 1943 to 1947.
, the University of the South, and the University of Georgia School of Law
. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1931.
elected Arnall to the Georgia House of Representatives
in 1932. Arnall was elected 'Speaker Pro Tempore', the second highest officer position in the Georgia house. Governor Eurith D. Rivers
appointed Arnall to a vacancy in the office of state attorney general. At the age of 31, Arnall was named state attorney general.
's actions had caused the state's colleges to lose accreditation. Arnall ran against him in 1942, defeating him and becoming the youngest governor in America.
Arnall repealed the poll tax
, lowered the voting age, revised the state constitution and paid off the state's debt. When young men were drafted into the armed forces during World War II
, Arnall argued that youths old enough to fight for their country were old to vote for their country's leadership, thus making Georgia
the first state to grant 18-year olds to vote. Arnall also removed the prison system under the governor's control. He established a board of corrections to oversee state prisons and a pardon and parole board to handle these requests. He also led efforts to prevent the governor from establishing a dictatorship such as the one that some said existed under Governor Talmadge. Arnall's reforms won him attention from the national press.
's efforts to remain Vice President in 1944. Arnall also refused to defy the Supreme Court ruling banning the all-white Democratic party primary. This enraged Talmadge and his supporters, who used the issue to brand Arnall a 'race-traitor'.
Eugene Talmadge was elected governor in 1946, but he died in December, before he was due to take office in January 1947. The state legislature then elected Talmadge's son, Herman Talmadge
, to the office of Governor. Arnall refused to leave office during the controversy, and the younger Talmadge ended up locking Arnall out of his office in the state capitol. Arnall soon renounced his claim and endorsed Melvin E. Thompson
's claim to the Governor's office.
, founding Arnall Golden & Gregory (now Arnall Golden Gregory LLP), which continues to be one of Atlanta's leading law firms. He served in the Truman
administration for a short time as Director of the Office of Price Stabilization. Truman offered Arnall the post of Solicitor General
but he declined, returning to private practice.
. His principal opponent for the nomination was segregationist Lester Maddox
. In the primary election, Arnall won a plurality of the popular vote, but was denied the required majority because a small number of votes went to an obscure state senator named Jimmy Carter
. Arnall barely campaigned in the run-off election, and the result was a surprising victory for Maddox.
Stunned, Arnall announced a write-in candidacy for the general election. In that contest, Republican nominee Howard Callaway
won a plurality and Maddox finished second; under the election rules then in effect, the state legislature was required to select a governor from the two candidates with the highest number of votes. With the legislature overwhelmingly dominated by Democrats, Maddox became Governor.
When Arnall died in 1992, he was buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Newnan
.
Arnall wrote the 1946 book, The Shore Dimly Seen (J. B. Lippincott & Co.), about politics and challenges of the South.
Arnall was also an active Civitan.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, a progressive Democrat who served as the 69th Governor of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
from 1943 to 1947.
Education
Arnall attended Mercer UniversityMercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
, the University of the South, and the University of Georgia School of Law
University of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1931.
Early career
The voters of Coweta County, GeorgiaCoweta County, Georgia
Coweta County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 89,215. The 2009 Census Estimate placed the population at 131,936...
elected Arnall to the Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
in 1932. Arnall was elected 'Speaker Pro Tempore', the second highest officer position in the Georgia house. Governor Eurith D. Rivers
Eurith D. Rivers
Eurith Dickenson Rivers was an American politician from Lanier County, Georgia. He was the 68th Governor of Georgia from 1937 to 1941.-Life and career:Rivers obtained a degree through La Salle Extension University...
appointed Arnall to a vacancy in the office of state attorney general. At the age of 31, Arnall was named state attorney general.
Governor
Governor Eugene TalmadgeEugene Talmadge
Eugene Talmadge was a Democratic politician who served two terms as the 67th Governor of Georgia from 1933 to 1937, and a third term from 1941 to 1943. Elected to a fourth term in 1946, he died before taking office...
's actions had caused the state's colleges to lose accreditation. Arnall ran against him in 1942, defeating him and becoming the youngest governor in America.
Arnall repealed the poll tax
Poll tax
A poll tax is a tax of a portioned, fixed amount per individual in accordance with the census . When a corvée is commuted for cash payment, in effect it becomes a poll tax...
, lowered the voting age, revised the state constitution and paid off the state's debt. When young men were drafted into the armed forces during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Arnall argued that youths old enough to fight for their country were old to vote for their country's leadership, thus making Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
the first state to grant 18-year olds to vote. Arnall also removed the prison system under the governor's control. He established a board of corrections to oversee state prisons and a pardon and parole board to handle these requests. He also led efforts to prevent the governor from establishing a dictatorship such as the one that some said existed under Governor Talmadge. Arnall's reforms won him attention from the national press.
Re-election attempt
But his career declined as he was unable to persuade the State Legislature to allow him to seek re-election. Arnall also stood behind Henry A. WallaceHenry A. Wallace
Henry Agard Wallace was the 33rd Vice President of the United States , the Secretary of Agriculture , and the Secretary of Commerce . In the 1948 presidential election, Wallace was the nominee of the Progressive Party.-Early life:Henry A...
's efforts to remain Vice President in 1944. Arnall also refused to defy the Supreme Court ruling banning the all-white Democratic party primary. This enraged Talmadge and his supporters, who used the issue to brand Arnall a 'race-traitor'.
Eugene Talmadge was elected governor in 1946, but he died in December, before he was due to take office in January 1947. The state legislature then elected Talmadge's son, Herman Talmadge
Herman Talmadge
Herman Eugene Talmadge was an American politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. He served as governor of Georgia briefly in 1947 and again from 1948 to 1955. His term was marked by his segregationist policies. After leaving office Talmadge was elected to the U.S...
, to the office of Governor. Arnall refused to leave office during the controversy, and the younger Talmadge ended up locking Arnall out of his office in the state capitol. Arnall soon renounced his claim and endorsed Melvin E. Thompson
Melvin E. Thompson
Melvin Ernest Thompson was an American educator and politician from Millen in the U.S. state of Georgia.Thompson was born in Millen, Georgia to Henry J. And Eva Thompson. He graduated from Emory University in 1926 and earned a Master of Arts from the University of Georgia in 1935. He also earned...
's claim to the Governor's office.
Later career
After leaving office, Arnall worked as an attorney and a businessman in AtlantaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, founding Arnall Golden & Gregory (now Arnall Golden Gregory LLP), which continues to be one of Atlanta's leading law firms. He served in the Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
administration for a short time as Director of the Office of Price Stabilization. Truman offered Arnall the post of Solicitor General
United States Solicitor General
The United States Solicitor General is the person appointed to represent the federal government of the United States before the Supreme Court of the United States. The current Solicitor General, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 6, 2011 and sworn in on June...
but he declined, returning to private practice.
Second re-election attempt
Arnall's last campaign was for governor of Georgia in 1966Georgia gubernatorial election, 1966
The Georgia gubernatorial election of 1966 was held on November 8. After an election that exposed divisions within the Georgia Democratic Party , segregationist Democrat Lester Maddox was elected Governor of Georgia by the Georgia General Assembly...
. His principal opponent for the nomination was segregationist Lester Maddox
Lester Maddox
Lester Garfield Maddox was an American politician who was the 75th Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1967 to 1971....
. In the primary election, Arnall won a plurality of the popular vote, but was denied the required majority because a small number of votes went to an obscure state senator named Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. Arnall barely campaigned in the run-off election, and the result was a surprising victory for Maddox.
Stunned, Arnall announced a write-in candidacy for the general election. In that contest, Republican nominee Howard Callaway
Howard Callaway
Howard Hollis "Bo" Callaway is a businessman and former politician from the state of Georgia.-Early life and education:Callaway was born in LaGrange, Georgia, west of Atlanta. His grandfather was Fuller Earle Callaway. He attended Georgia Tech and graduated from the United States Military Academy...
won a plurality and Maddox finished second; under the election rules then in effect, the state legislature was required to select a governor from the two candidates with the highest number of votes. With the legislature overwhelmingly dominated by Democrats, Maddox became Governor.
Death and legacy
After the 1966 campaign, Arnall never sought public office again. Harold Paulk Henderson's biography of Arnall, The Politics of Change in Georgia: A Political Biography of Ellis Arnall, was published in 1991.When Arnall died in 1992, he was buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Newnan
Newnan, Georgia
Newnan is a city in Coweta County, Georgia, about 30 miles southwest of Atlanta. The population was 16,242 at the 2000 Census. Newnan is one of the fastest growing cities in Georgia, with an estimated population of 27,097 in 2006 and 33,293 in July 2008...
.
Arnall wrote the 1946 book, The Shore Dimly Seen (J. B. Lippincott & Co.), about politics and challenges of the South.
Arnall was also an active Civitan.
External links
- Obituary in The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
(December 15, 1992) - Profile page for Ellis Gibbs Arnall on the National Governors AssociationNational Governors AssociationThe National Governors Association , founded in 1908 as the National Governors' Conference, is funded primarily by state dues, federal grants and contracts and private contributions. NGA represents the governors of the fifty U.S. states and five U.S. territories The National Governors Association...
web site - Oral History (1985–86), Georgia's Political Heritage Project, Dr. Mel Steely, Director; University of West Georgia http://www.westga.edu