Clifford Walker

Clifford Mitchell Walker (born July 4, 1877 in Monroe , Walton County , Georgia - † November 9, 1954 in Atlanta , Georgia) was an American lawyer, politician ( Democratic Party ) and governor of the state of Georgia.

Early years and political advancement

The young Walker was educated at the Georgia Military Institute and the University of Georgia , where he studied law. In 1898 he was admitted to the Georgia bar and found employment with a law firm in Monroe. From 1902 to 1904 he was mayor of his hometown. He then became an attorney for the state's western judicial district in 1909. He held this office until 1913. After two years of political hiatus, he became Attorney General of Georgia in 1915 . In 1920 he resigned this office because he wanted to run for governor. Walker was defeated by his inner-party opponent Thomas W. Hardwick , who owed his success primarily to the support of the Ku Klux Klan .

Walker and the Ku Klux Klan

The original Ku Klux Klan had disbanded in the 1870s. In 1915, however, it was re-established and with its conservative-racist program quickly found supporters, especially in the south of the USA. In Georgia, too, the clan was very popular and influential among the white population. For this reason, Hardwick had secured his support in the election campaign and thus defeated Walker. However, after the election, Governor Hardwick distanced himself from the Klan. Walker saw his opportunity in this: He now entered into close relationships with this association and swore loyalty to the clan. That secured him his support in the 1922 gubernatorial election. So it was easy for Walker to win the election and push Thomas Hardwick out of office.

Georgia Governor

The new governor remained loyal to the clan even after he took office. He often discussed political decisions with leading members of the Klan. For this reason, it was not difficult for him to be re-elected in 1924. His four years as governor of Georgia were unspectacular. He did not make far-reaching decisions and largely left the clan free.

Old age and death

After leaving office in early 1927, he retired into private life and became a lawyer again. In 1928 he moved from Monroe to Atlanta and became a partner in a law firm there. Five years later he founded the Woodrow Wilson College of Law (a law school) in Atlanta with Joseph Kilbride. Between 1937 and 1952 he was a consultant for the Georgia Department of Labor. He died in November 1954.

Walker had been married to Rosa Matthewson since 1902, with whom he had three sons.

literature

James F. Cook: The Governors of Georgia, 1954-2004. 3rd edition, Mercer University Press, Macon (Georgia) 2005.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Walker, Clifford
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Walker, Clifford Mitchell (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	4th July 1877
PLACE OF BIRTH	Monroe , Georgia
DATE OF DEATH	November 9, 1954
Place of death	Atlanta , Georgia