Phillip M. Landrum
Encyclopedia
Phillip Mitchell Landrum (September 10, 1907 - November 19, 1990) was a Democratic
U.S. Representative
from Georgia
.
Born in Martin, Georgia
, Landrum attended the public schools and Mercer University
, in Macon, Georgia
.
He graduated from Piedmont College
, in Demorest, Georgia
(A.B., 1939) and from the Atlanta Law School (LL.B., 1941).
While in college and law school, Landrum worked as Superintendent of Nelson (Georgia) High School (1937–1941). He was admitted to the bar
in 1941 and commenced the practice of law in Canton, Georgia
.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 1942. During the Second World War, Landrum enlisted as a private
in the United States Army Air Corps
on October 2, 1942. He served in Europe and was discharged on June 1, 1945, as a first lieutenant.
After his discharge from the military, Landrum was briefly employed by the Veterans' Administration. He then served as assistant attorney general of the State of Georgia in 1946-1947, and as Executive secretary to the Governor of Georgia in 1947-1948.
He returned to the practice of law in Jasper, Georgia
until he was elected as a Democrat
to the Eighty-third
and to the eleven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1953-January 3, 1977). While he easily won twelve general elections, he faced strong opposition in several primary elections, including from a young Zell Miller
in 1964 and 1966.
Landrum was one of the primary sponsors of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act
, also known as the Landrum-Griffin Act. He was also the author of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
, one of the key pieces of legislation of President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty
.
A staunch segregationist, in 1956, Landrum signed "The Southern Manifesto."
He was not a candidate for re-election in 1976. He was a resident of Jasper until his death on November 19, 1990.
Interstate 575
is named in his honor.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Representative
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...
from 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...
.
Born in Martin, Georgia
Martin, Georgia
Martin is a town in Franklin County and Stephens counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 311 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Martin is located at...
, Landrum attended the public schools and Mercer University
Mercer 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,...
, in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
.
He graduated from Piedmont College
Piedmont College
Piedmont College is a private liberal arts institution founded in 1897 to serve residents of the Appalachian area of northeast Georgia, USA. When the college was first founded, it was established as the J.S. Green Collegiate Institute named after a local banker. In 1899, the name was shortened to...
, in Demorest, Georgia
Demorest, Georgia
Demorest is a city in Habersham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,465 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Demorest is located at ....
(A.B., 1939) and from the Atlanta Law School (LL.B., 1941).
While in college and law school, Landrum worked as Superintendent of Nelson (Georgia) High School (1937–1941). He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1941 and commenced the practice of law in Canton, Georgia
Canton, Georgia
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 22,958.-Geography:Canton is located at ....
.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 1942. During the Second World War, Landrum enlisted as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
on October 2, 1942. He served in Europe and was discharged on June 1, 1945, as a first lieutenant.
After his discharge from the military, Landrum was briefly employed by the Veterans' Administration. He then served as assistant attorney general of the State of Georgia in 1946-1947, and as Executive secretary to the Governor of Georgia in 1947-1948.
He returned to the practice of law in Jasper, Georgia
Jasper, Georgia
Jasper is a city in Pickens County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,684 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Pickens County...
until he was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Eighty-third
83rd United States Congress
The Eighty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1953 to January 3, 1955, during the first two years...
and to the eleven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1953-January 3, 1977). While he easily won twelve general elections, he faced strong opposition in several primary elections, including from a young Zell Miller
Zell Miller
Zell Bryan Miller is an American politician from the US state of Georgia. A Democrat, Miller served as Lieutenant Governor from 1975 to 1991, 79th Governor of Georgia from 1991 to 1999, and as United States Senator from 2000 to 2005....
in 1964 and 1966.
Landrum was one of the primary sponsors of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act
Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act
The Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 , is a United States labor law that regulates labor unions' internal affairs and their officials' relationships with employers.-Background:...
, also known as the Landrum-Griffin Act. He was also the author of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
Signed by Lyndon B. Johnson on August 20, 1964, the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 was central to Johnson's Great Society campaign and its War on Poverty. Implemented by the since disbanded Office of Economic Opportunity, the Act included several social programs to promote the health, education,...
, one of the key pieces of legislation of President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty
War on Poverty
The War on Poverty is the unofficial name for legislation first introduced by United States President Lyndon B. Johnson during his State of the Union address on January 8, 1964. This legislation was proposed by Johnson in response to a national poverty rate of around nineteen percent...
.
A staunch segregationist, in 1956, Landrum signed "The Southern Manifesto."
Southern Manifesto
The Southern Manifesto was a document written February–March 1956 by Adisen and Charles in the United States Congress opposed to racial integration in public places. The manifesto was signed by 101 politicians from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South...
He was not a candidate for re-election in 1976. He was a resident of Jasper until his death on November 19, 1990.
Interstate 575
Interstate 575
Interstate 575 is an Interstate Highway spur route in the United States, which branches off Interstate 75 in Kennesaw and connects the metro Atlanta area with the north Georgia mountains. I-575 is also the unsigned State Route 417 and is cosigned as SR 5...
is named in his honor.