John Bell Williams
Encyclopedia
John Bell Williams was an American Democratic politician who was governor of Mississippi
from 1968 to 1972.
near Jackson
. He graduated from Hinds Junior College in 1938, attended the University of Mississippi
at Oxford
, and graduated from Jackson Law School in 1940. In November 1941, he enlisted with the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as pilot during World War II; however, he retired from active service after losing the lower part of his left arm after a bomber crash in 1944. In 1946, Williams was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
as a Democrat. He was the youngest U.S. Representative to have been elected from Mississippi.
Williams advocated states' rights
and segregation
. He walked out of the 1948 Democratic National Convention
in Philadelphia and supported Strom Thurmond
's presidential campaign, whose primary platform was racial segregation. After the Supreme Court
made its Brown v. Board of Education
ruling in May 1954 which outlawed racial segregation in schools, Williams made a speech on the House floor branding the day 'Black Monday'. Williams supported the Democratic party's presidential campaign in 1952, and supported unpledged Democratic electors in 1956 and 1960. But in 1964, Williams endorsed Republican
Barry Goldwater
for President and helped raise funds for him in Mississippi. Because of his activities for Goldwater, the national Democratic Party stripped Williams of his House seniority.
In 1967, Williams ran for governor. The field of candidates was large, including one former governor (Ross Barnett) and two future Governors (William Winter
and William Waller
). In the primary, Williams claimed that former Governor Ross Barnett made a secret deal with the Kennedys. He finished second to the moderate candidate Winter. In the runoff, Williams defeated Winter by 61,000 votes. In the general election, Williams handily defeated Republican Rubel Phillips
, who made the second of his two losing campaigns for governor.
During Williams's term as governor, Mississippi experienced the desegregation
of its school system through a federal court order. Williams, despite his background as a strong segregationist, refused to defy the court.
After his term, Williams resumed his law practice. He endorsed Gerald Ford
in 1976 and Ronald Reagan
in 1980, rather than the Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter
of Georgia
.
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
from 1968 to 1972.
Biography
Williams was born in RaymondRaymond, Mississippi
Raymond is a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,664. Raymond is one of the two county seats of Hinds County and is the home of the main campus of Hinds Community College....
near Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
. He graduated from Hinds Junior College in 1938, attended the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
at Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
, and graduated from Jackson Law School in 1940. In November 1941, he enlisted with the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as pilot during World War II; however, he retired from active service after losing the lower part of his left arm after a bomber crash in 1944. In 1946, Williams was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Democrat. He was the youngest U.S. Representative to have been elected from Mississippi.
Williams advocated states' rights
States' rights
States' rights in U.S. politics refers to political powers reserved for the U.S. state governments rather than the federal government. It is often considered a loaded term because of its use in opposition to federally mandated racial desegregation...
and segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
. He walked out of the 1948 Democratic National Convention
1948 Democratic National Convention
The 1948 Democratic National Convention was held at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 12 to July 14, and resulted in the nominations of incumbent Harry S Truman for President and U.S. Senator Alben W...
in Philadelphia and supported Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
's presidential campaign, whose primary platform was racial segregation. After the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
made its Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
ruling in May 1954 which outlawed racial segregation in schools, Williams made a speech on the House floor branding the day 'Black Monday'. Williams supported the Democratic party's presidential campaign in 1952, and supported unpledged Democratic electors in 1956 and 1960. But in 1964, Williams endorsed Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
for President and helped raise funds for him in Mississippi. Because of his activities for Goldwater, the national Democratic Party stripped Williams of his House seniority.
In 1967, Williams ran for governor. The field of candidates was large, including one former governor (Ross Barnett) and two future Governors (William Winter
William Winter (politician)
William Forrest Winter is an American politician from Mississippi. He served as the 58th Governor of Mississippi from 1980 to 1984 as a Democrat. He is known for his strong support of public education, racial reconciliation, and historic preservation. Winter is best remembered for the passage of...
and William Waller
Bill Waller
William Lowe "Bill" Waller, Sr. was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as Governor of Mississippi from 1972 to 1976. As a local prosecutor, he unsuccessfully prosecuted Byron De La Beckwith in the murder of civil rights advocate Medgar Evers. Both trials ended in hung juries...
). In the primary, Williams claimed that former Governor Ross Barnett made a secret deal with the Kennedys. He finished second to the moderate candidate Winter. In the runoff, Williams defeated Winter by 61,000 votes. In the general election, Williams handily defeated Republican Rubel Phillips
Rubel Phillips
Rubel Lex Phillips was a politician from the U.S. state of Mississippi.Phillips was a circuit court judge and a Democrat. But in 1963, he ran for Governor of Mississippi as a Republican. Phillips was only the third Republican to run for governor since 1877. Phillips ran on the slogan of "K.O. the...
, who made the second of his two losing campaigns for governor.
During Williams's term as governor, Mississippi experienced the desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
of its school system through a federal court order. Williams, despite his background as a strong segregationist, refused to defy the court.
After his term, Williams resumed his law practice. He endorsed Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
in 1976 and Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in 1980, rather than the Democratic nominee 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...
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...
.
External links
- John Bell Williams' Gravesite at Find-A-Grave