Albert Brewer

Albert Brewer (February 1970)

Albert Preston Brewer (born October 26, 1928 in Bethel Springs , McNairy County , Tennessee , † January 2, 2017 in Montgomery , Alabama ) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ). He was Governor of Alabama from 1968 to 1971 .

Early years and political advancement

Albert Brewer graduated from the University of Alabama in 1952 . He then held the following public offices: Chairman of the Decatur City Planning Commission from 1956 to 1963, member of Alabama's House of Representatives from 1955 to 1966, as well as its speaker from 1963 to 1966 and Vice-Governor of Alabama from 1967 to 1968.

Governor of Alabama

Albert Brewer in conversation with Wernher von Braun (right). In the background US Senator John Sparkman .

In May 1968, Brewer became acting Governor of Alabama to fill the vacancy created by the death of Governor Lurleen Wallace that effectively ruled her husband George Wallace . As governor, Brewer did not change the state legal philosophy or programs that were initiated during Wallace's tenure, but emancipated himself from him. It worked silently, yet it initiated a great many reforms and programs that were needed. In addition, public school funding received the largest increase in state history and state funding for local school systems was aligned. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education and the Education Study Commission were created. Unlike his predecessor Brewer sat in the election campaign not to the "race question" and advocated the abolition of racial segregation ( desegregation a) in schools and other public institutions as well as for re-registration of black voters, which strengthened the state's self-confidence and public perception improved. As a result, Governor Brewer was recognized by the national institutions as an effective leader.

He was also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Governors' Conference and chaired the Appalachian Regional Commission , an association of governors of the 13 Appalachian states. He was also the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Authority . While presiding over the Authority, it received its first construction funding from Congress.

Another résumé

Brewer ran again for governor in the 1970 Democratic primary. His rival candidate, former governor and presidential candidate George Wallace, led an aggressive and negative campaign; he accused Brewer of being a coward and a puppet of blacks and leftists . Fake photos showing Brewer with the radical black leader Elijah Muhammad were also published from people around Wallace . There were also rumors that Governor Brewer was homosexual and that his wife was a mentally unstable alcoholic . In one of the last openly racist election campaigns in US history, Wallace narrowly prevailed. Historians consider the 1970 Democratic primary election for Alabama governor to be "the dirtiest campaign ever."

Albert Brewer then returned to his practice as a lawyer in his Montgomery practice , which he practiced there until 1979. He then practiced in Decatur until the late 1980s. He ran again in 1978 for the office of governor, but failed again.

Brewer was married to Martha Farmer from 1950 until her death in November 2006 and had two children together. He and his wife shared the same birthday, October 26, 1928.

Web links

Commons : Albert Brewer  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

• Albert Brewer in the National Governors Association (English)
• Albert Brewer at The Political Graveyard

Individual evidence

1. ^ Former Alabama Governor Albert Brewer dies . WTVY, January 2, 2017, accessed January 3, 2017.
2. ↑ Kerwin D. Swint: Mudslingers: The twenty-five dirtiest political campaigns of all time. New York, 2006, p. 223ff.