Ernest Vandiver
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Samuel Ernest Vandiver Jr. (July 3, 1918–February 21, 2005) was an American politician who was Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1959 to 1963.
Vandiver was born in Canon, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia. After serving stateside as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, he was elected mayor of Lavonia, Georgia in 1946 and supported Eugene Talmadge's candidacy for Governor, and Herman Talmadge's claim to the Governorship after Eugene's death. In 1948, Talmadge appointed Vandiver to be the state's adjutant general. Vandiver was elected lieutenant governor in 1954.
Vandiver ran for Governor in 1958 and promised to restore the state's image, which was tarnished by the scandals of Governor Marvin Griffin's administration; he was overwhelmingly elected.
As Governor, Vandiver cleaned up the corruption associated with the Griffin administration. He had pledged to defend segregation but when a federal district court ordered the admission of two African-American students to the University of Georgia, Vandiver refused to resist the court order. Atlanta's public schools were peacefully desegregated. Vandiver also presided over the end of the state's County Unit System: when the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional, he ordered the Democratic Party to return to using the popular vote in primaries.
Vandiver was initially a candidate for Governor in 1966 but he withdrew for health reasons. He also ran for the United States Senate in 1972, finishing third behind Sam Nunn and Senator David H. Gambrell.
Ernest Vandiver died on February 21, 2005, at the age of 86.
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| Preceded by: Marvin Griffin |
Governor of Georgia 1959–1963 |
Succeeded by: Carl E. Sanders |
| Governors of Georgia |  |
|---|---|
| Walton • Bulloch • Gwinnett • Treutlen • Houstoun • Wereat • Walton • Howly • Heard • Davies • Brownson • Martin • Hall • Houstoun • Elbert • Telfair • Mathews • Handley • Walton • Telfair • Mathews • Irwin • Jackson • Emanuel • Tattnall • Milledge • Irwin • Mitchell • Early • Mitchell • Rabun • Talbot • Clark • Troup • Forsyth • Gilmer • Lumpkin • Schley • Gilmer • McDonald • Crawford • Towns • Cobb • H. Johnson • J.E. Brown • J. Johnson • Jenkins • Ruger • Bullock • Conley • J. Smith • Colquitt • Stephens • Boynton • McDaniel • Gordon • Northen • Atkinson • Candler • Terrell • H. Smith • J.M. Brown • H. Smith • Slaton • J.M. Brown • Slaton • N. Harris • Dorsey • Hardwick • Walker • Hardman • Russell • E. Talmadge • Rivers • E. Talmadge • Arnall • Thompson • H. Talmadge • Griffin • Vandiver • Sanders • Maddox • Carter • Busbee • J.F. Harris • Miller • Barnes • Perdue |
