Walter F. George

Walter Franklin George was born in Vienna, Webster County, Georgia on 29th January, 1878. He obtained a law degree from Mercer University and began practicing law in Vienna, Georgia. In 1907, he became a superior court prosecutor, then judge, followed by election to the Georgia Court of Appeals and to the Georgia Supreme Court.

A member of the Democratic Party, George was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1922, where he served six terms. A strong opponent of African American civil rights George told the electors of Georgia in 1935: "We have been very careful to obey the letter of the Federal Constitution but we have been very diligent and astute in violating the spirit of such amendments and statutes as would lead the Negro to believe himself the equal of the white man. And we shall continue to conduct ourselves that way."

In 1957, he was appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower as special representative to NATO as well as foreign policy advisor to the president.

Walter F. George died on 4th August, 1957.

Primary Sources

(1) Senator Walter F. George of Georgia, speech (1936)

Why apologize and evade? We have been very careful to obey the letter of the Federal Constitution but we have been very diligent and astute in violating the spirit of such amendments and statutes as would lead the Negro to believe himself the equal of the white man. And we shall continue to conduct ourselves that way.