Impact of Young Democrats and Frank Graham on Sanford's political endeavors
Sanford explains how various tactics he learned from his work with the Young Democrats and Frank Graham's senatorial campaign aided his future political races.
Citing this Excerpt
Oral History Interview with Terry Sanford, May 14, 1976. Interview A-0328-1. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007) in the Southern Oral History Program Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Full Text of the Excerpt
- TERRY SANFORD:
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... In fact, I kept that notebook in a bureau in my bedroom and everytime I'd have a
little thought about how to gig somebody and get around the issue, I'd
make a note of it. When I got in mine, at the beginning of the second
primary, I went back through that book very carefully. I may have had
twenty-five or thirty pages of notes in there. But I learned one thing,
and that is, don't ever let them off the defensive. Frank Graham let
them get off the defensive, he was just so nice and sweet. Well, we
didn't. We gave them blow for blow, except, you know, we'd get on
something else. I accused him, accurately, of supporting the Republican
party national ticket. Well, it took a week for him to explain that.
- BRENT GLASS:
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This is Lake.
- TERRY SANFORD:
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Yes.
- BRENT GLASS:
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Right.
- TERRY SANFORD:
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But you know, that kind of thing, that you've got him on the defensive.
There's no way you can answer the race issue. You had to keep him
bouncing on other subjects.
