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JACK NELSON:

Reese Cleghorn did do one piece on you which I think was in the Atlanta Magazine, if I'm not mistaken, in which he said that you had achieved a personal coalition in your followings between such disparate people as say, Dr. King and the Grand Dragon. He was crediting you with an awful lot, but do you think that you did eventually in your career begin to . . .

SENATOR HERMAN TALMADGE:

I don't think that there is any doubt. Of course, as I stated in my previous conversation with you, after my father died, because I was Eugene Talmadge's son, I inherited the support of roughly one third of the state. I inherited also roughly the opposition of one third of the state. There was a middle ground of about a third that was neither pro nor con. I got the majority of that vote when I was elected governor in 1948. I retained about that same majority when I was reelected in 1950. when I came to the Senate in 1956, I think that at that time I had won over the majority of my former enemies. I carried every county in the state in that election and approximately 80% of the vote. Since that time, I have never received less than 72% plus. Since I have been in the Senate, I have received campaign funds and contributions from virtually ever one of my former cheif political enemies. And since Governor Arnall, as I recall, was my first contributor when I sought reelection to the Senate in 1962. Last year, one of my contributors was former governor, M.E. Thompson whom I had defeated three times, twice for governor and once for the United States Senate. So, I think that I have been extremely fortunate in holding the base that I inherited that was my father's loyal supporters and building on that. I think now, according to the polls that I see, that over 80% of the people in Georgia think that I am doing a good job in the Senate. In fact, I had some polls made in anticipation of my last race and the pollster stated that that was the highest rating that he had ever made on any candidate at any time for any public office. About 86% of the people of Georgia gave me either excellent or good.

JACK NELSON:

Now, you spend a good deal of time going back to Georgia.

SENATOR HERMAN TALMADGE:

Oh yes, I think that I make more speeches in my homes state than probably any member of the United States Senate. I average at least a hundred a year. For instance, we are taking a recess during the month-of August and I have thirteen engagements in the state during that period of time. I usually schedule all my addresses in Georgia either on weekends or known recess periods. I average getting about the state and making a hundred speeches a year and I think that is as many as any Senator makes in his home state. I don't accept many engagements outside the state, maybe half a dozen or a dozen a year. I have to turn down about 90% of all the invitations that I get within the state. I accept as many as my Senatorial duties permit. They are very diverse groups, all types and kinds in character, citizens within the state, business people, working people, black people, white people, college groups, high school groups and so on.