Politics

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Interview with McKinley Washington - OH 357

McKinley Washington

Rev. McKinley Washington (1936-2022) was a lawmaker having served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1975 through 1990 and in the South Carolina Senate from 1990 through 2000. He also served as pastor of the Edisto Presbyterian Church for 50 years. In this interview. Rev. Washington discusses his up bringing and his career, while focusing on his role as chairman of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus.
Interview with Sam J. Ervin - OH 123

Sam J. Ervin Jr.

In his March 7, 1981 interview with John Cissell, Sam Ervin recounts his work as a U.S. Senator for North Carolina. Ervin explains his defense of Jim Crow Laws and his involvement in an investigative committee that unveiled the Watergate Scandal. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
Interview with Juanita Goggins - OH 074

Juanita W. Goggins

In her April 14, 1981 interview with Shannon Port, Juanita Goggins recalls the details of her political career. In particular, Goggins addresses the obstacles she faced during her career and what she accomplished despite of those obstacles. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.
Interview with Isaac Samuel Leevy Johnson - OH 143

Isaac Samuel Leevy Johnson

The former South Carolina General Assembly member discusses his family background, influences, first experience with racism, philosophies, the federal desegregation plan, work in the South Carolina House of Representatives, absence of African Americans in the South Carolina Senate and problems and solutions concerning African Americans.
Interview with Melvin Ernest "Ernie" Nunnery - OH 136

Melvin Ernest Nunnery

This interview was conducted with South Carolina House Representative Melvin Ernest “Ernie” Nunnery (1951-1991) regarding the mysterious death of eighteen-year-old black man Mickey McClinton which sparked a series of protests in Chester, SC during the fall of 1979. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) organized these protests. Mickey McClinton’s death was initially determined to be the result of a hit-and-run accident, but rumors quickly spread that McClinton was the victim of a racially motivated slaying sparking the protests. Mr. Nunnery was a member of the South Carolina House of Representative from 1975-1982 and discusses the incident and how the events of unfolded during the fall of 1979. Subjects include civil rights in Chester; and social unrest among blacks in Chester. Subject Mr. Golden Frinks and Chester Civil Rights.
Interview with Ernest D. Williams - OH 125

Ernest D. Williams

IN PROCESSING

Subjects include background information, President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and running for political office.
Interview with Charles R. Jonas - OH 113

Charles R. Jonas

IN PROCESSING

Former Representative Jonas discusses his college years, military service, career in Congress and his opinions on issues such as the Abscam scandal and the results of the 1980 elections.
Interview with Charles "Pug" Ravenel - OH 064

Charles Dufort Ravenel

This speech was given by Charles “Pug” Ravenel (1938-2017) while campaigning against Senator Strom Thurmond – R (1902-2003) in the 1978 senatorial race. Ravenel discusses Thurmond’s contradictory statement about the necessity of taxes and inflation. Ravenel argues that inflation needs to be dealt with before tax cuts can be made. He also discusses differences between his approach to tax cuts and inflation reduction and Senator Thurmond’s approach. Ravenel also calls attention to several prominent social issues and states his stance on them. Ravenel also answers several questions from reporters after making his statements. Ravenel became the Democratic nominee, but he lost to Thurmond in the election.
Interview with James H. Scales - OH 055

James H. Scales

IN PROCESSING

A discussion of Scales life and work as a secret service agent for President Harry S. Truman. This interview focuses on Mr. Scales’ life in Tennessee in the early 1900s followed by his duty with the Secret Service.
Interview with Raya Dunayevskaya - OH 033

Raya Dunayevskaya

IN PROCESSING

Feminist, Marxist theoretician and secretary to Leon Trotsky for a short period during Trotsky’s exile in Mexico, Dunayevskaya discusses her upbringing, political philosophy (Marxism), relationship with Trotsky, male chauvinism, views on women’s rights, labor union activities, membership in the Socialist Workers Party, and translations of books on economics.
Interview with Alice Spearman Wright - OH 025

Alice Norwood Spearman Wright

IN PROCESSING

In this interview Mrs. Wright discusses her upbringing, her education at Columbia College and the University of Chicago, her trips to the Philippines and Russia in the 1920s and 1930s, her activities in the civil rights movement, her work with the South Carolina Council on Human Relations and her ideas on women's rights.
Interview with Marion Allan Wright and Alice Spearman Wright - OH 024

Marion Allan Wright and Alice Norwood Spearman Wright

This interview was conducted with Marion Allan Wright (1894-1983) who was a civil rights advocate and served as a member of the American Civil Liberties Union. Also interviewed was his wife Alice Buck Norwood Spearman Wright (1902-1989) who was a Civil Rights advocate and was an ardent supporter of racial equality and desegregation policies. She presided over the first integrated South Carolina Council on Human Relations. The interview with both Marion and Alice discusses their upbringing and influences and delve into the flowing topics: the Civil rights movement, interracial marriage, abolition of death penalty by Supreme Court, the ERA (commented on by Alice Wright also), and interest in education (Alice Wright).*
Interview with Marion Allan Wright - OH 020

Marion Allan Wright

This interview was conducted with Marion Allan Wright (1894-1983) who was a civil rights advocate and served as a member of the American Civil Liberties Union. South Carolina native, Marion Wright discusses his recollections and experiences growing up in Conway,SC, African Americans in Conway, Benjamin Ryan Tillman, influences on his life including August Kohn and Josiah Morse, his law practice in Conway, his student days at the University of South Carolina, Jesse Daniel Ames, Dorothy Tilly, the Commission on Interracial Cooperation and its successor the Southern Regional Council, Judge J. Waties Waring of Charleston, and Mrs. Wright’s experiences. This interview focuses on a discussion about Senator Ben Tillman, Senator “Cotton” Ed Smith, and Governor Cole Blease.
Interview with Carrie T. Pollitzer - OH 032

Carrie T. Pollitzer

IN PROCESSING

Suffragette, teacher, social worker, and sister of Mabel Pollitzer (1885-1979) who was 92 years old at the time of the interview, Carrie T. Pollitzer (1881-1974) describes the suffrage booths she helped set up in Charleston’s city streets, her work as a kindergarten teacher in the city, and her work to have women admitted to the formerly all-male College of Charleston in 1918. She also discusses her childhood, work with kindergarten Children’s Festival and her position as board member for the Charleston Federation of Women’s Club.
Interview with Mabel Pollitzer - OH 031

Mabel Pollitzer

IN PROCESSING

Teacher, civic worker, suffragette from Charleston, and sister of Carrie T. Pollitzer (1881-1974), Mabel Pollitzer (1885-1979) recollects her work as a teacher for fifty years at Memminger High School, her participation on library and museum boards, her and her sister’s involvement and participation in the Women Suffrage Movement and the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and memories of Alice Paul and other suffrage leaders. She also discusses her childhood, efforts to pass legislation for construction of a library in Charleston, Sue Frost and the Charleston Split.