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The Talmadge dynasty began in 1926 when Eugene Talmadge, Herman's father, was first elected
Commissioner of Agriculture in Georgia. Gene would later be elected governor to an unprecedented
four terms. For over fifty years, the Talmadges dominated Georgia politics.
Herman Eugene Talmadge was born on August 9, 1913, on a farm near McRae, Georgia, to Gene and Mattie Talmadge.
Talmadge graduated from the University of Georgia, and by 1936
he earned his law degree and joined his father's law practice. After serving in the United
States Navy during World War II, Talmadge returned to his home in Lovejoy, where he
practiced law and started a ham-curing business. Talmadge's first involvement in politics was
as his father's gubernatorial campaign manager in 1946. The elder Talmadge was elected but
died before being sworn into office. This caused his son to become embroiled in a fight
for the governorship with Ellis Arnall and M. E. Thompson--an episode now known as the
Three Governors Controversy.
Talmadge was ultimately elected governor in a special election in 1948 and served until January 1955.
As governor, Herman Talmadge concentrated on improving educational opportunities for children of all races. He pushed for the state
to adopt its first sales tax, which was used to fund improvements in public education,
roads, and healthcare. When Senator Walter George decided not to
run for United States Senate, Talmadge started campaigning to take his place. In November
1956, Talmadge joined Richard B. Russell as Georgia's junior senator.
In the Senate, Talmadge immediately joined the other Southern Democrats in their fight
against civil rights legislation.
Quickly winning a seat on the Agriculture Committee in 1957, Talmadge wielded his greatest influence on bills that affected American farmers and
agriculture. By 1971, he had become chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition
and Forestry, where he was an advocate for rural America and the farming industry.
Talmadge probably achieved his greatest national prominence through his role on the Senate
Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, which investigated the Watergate scandal.
At the same time he was gaining national recognition, Talmadge was besieged by a series of personal and political tragedies. Following the death
of his son and a bitter divorce, Talmadge was accused of financial misconduct and was
denounced by the Senate Ethics Committee. Despite these problems, Talmadge sought his
fifth term as senator in 1980. He was defeated by Mack Mattingly, the first Republican to
hold the office since Reconstruction. In the years following public service, Talmadge
returned to Henry County, Georgia, and rebuilt his personal life. He settled in the quiet
community of Hamilton and enjoyed days spent reading or fishing and hunting with friends.
He soon married Lynda Cowart, wrote an autobiography, and re-entered society. Before long, he was
considered the elder statesman and again ran the gauntlet of speaking engagements, interviews,
and recognition ceremonies for past contributions to the state and nation.
Herman Talmadge passed away on March 21, 2002.