Georgia’s New Deal Governors 398-401

Initially the governor served a two-year term with a consecutive two-term limit. Under the 1945 Georgia Constitution, the governor was limited to one four-year term with the possibility of running for reelection after sitting out for four years. The term of office for the governor is four years, and an individual is limited to two consecutive terms of office. (New Georgia Encyclopedia)

Governor / What notable actions did this politician take during his term? / Time & Terms served
Richard Russell, Jr.
/ ·  Used his experience as a member of the General Assembly to make needed changes in government
·  Combined 102 state offices into 17 agencies (for efficiency and budgeting purposes)
·  Combined boards of trustees of state colleges into one governing agency—the Board of Regents
·  Tried to run state like a successful business
·  Elected to U.S. Senate where he served for 38 years / 1931 Governor
1932 Senate
Eugene Talmadge
/ ·  Dramatic politician & conservative white supremacist
·  Opposed federal government intervention and government debts (disliked relief efforts & public welfare)
·  Tried to rid state of New Deal programs but used federal funds to build highways (not to help the unemployed)
·  Reduced property taxes, utility rates and some license fees
·  Fired opposing officials & replaced with supporters
·  Declared martial law during textile strike in support of owners. / 1933 Governor
1934 Governor
1940 Governor
1946 won election for governor but died before taking 4th term.
Eurith Rivers
/ ·  Former newspaperman & speaker of the Georgia house of representatives
·  Supported New Deal programs
·  Supported passage of constitutional amendments granting health services for all Georgians, old age pensions, teacher pay raises, a seven month school year, homestead exemptions for taxes and expansion of the state highway system.
·  Electrical services were expanded to rural areas
·  Helped create State Bureau of Unemployment Comp.
·  Helped create the Georgia Housing Authority (Techwood Homes and University Homes)
·  Scandal rocked career as staff members did not follow protocols. / 1936 Governor
1938 Governor
Eugene Talmadge
(revisited) / ·  Softened anti-Roosevelt stand
·  Used modified versions of New Deal legislation
·  Convinced Board of Regents to fire two supporters of integration at Teachers College in Statesboro, which caused SACS to remove accreditation of white Georgia colleges / 3rd term
1941-1943
Elected 4th term but died before taking office
Ellis Arnall
/ ·  Served as state’s attorney general
·  First Georgia governor to serve a 4 year term.
·  Helped correct problems with university accreditation.
·  General Assembly passed a constitutional amendment that made the Board of Regents a separate entity no longer under the influence of the governor’s office. (SACS restored accreditation to Georgia’s colleges and universities)
·  Removed the prison system from governor’s control.
·  Established a board of corrections to oversee state prisons and a pardon and parole board to handle those requests.
·  Abolished the poll tax.
·  Under his leadership a new state constitution was adopted in 1945.
·  Helped Georgia become the first state to grant 18 year olds the right to vote. / 1942-1946 Governor

Four purposes of the New Deal

1.  Bring about economic recovery

2.  Help the unemployed

3.  Correct weaknesses in the economy

4.  Tried to improve people’s lives