GeorgeWallace

George Corley Wallace (born Febuary 20th, 1942) is an American politician who served as the 45th governor of Alabama for four terms. A member of the Democratic Party, he is known for his staunch segregationist, populist views, and his famous inauguration quote "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever".

Early life and education
Wallace, the first of four children, was born in Clio in Barbour County in southeastern Alabama, to George Corley Wallace and his wife, Mozelle (Smith). He was the third of five generations to bear the name "George Wallace". Since his parents disliked the designation "Junior", he was called "George C.", to distinguish him from his father, George, and his grandfather, a physician.

Early political career
In 1938, at age 19, Wallace contributed to his grandfather's successful campaign for probate judge. Late in 1945, he was appointed as one of the assistant attorneys general of Alabama, and in May 1946, he won his first election as a member to the Alabama House of Representatives. At the time, he was considered a moderate on racial issues. As a delegate to the 1948 Democratic National Convention, he did not join the Dixiecrat walkout at the convention, despite his opposition to U.S. President Harry S. Truman's proposed civil rights program. Wallace considered it an infringement on states' rights. The Dixiecrats carried Alabama in the 1948 general election, having rallied behind Governor Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. In his 1963 inaugural speech as governor, Wallace excused his failure to walk out of the 1948 convention on political grounds.

Governor of Alabama
In the 1962 Democratic primary, Wallace finished first, ahead of State Senator Ryan DeGraffenried Sr., and taking 35 percent of the vote. In the runoff, Wallace won the nomination with 55 percent of the vote. As no Republican filed to run, this all but assured Wallace of becoming the next governor. He won a crushing victory in the November general election, taking 96 percent of the vote. As noted above, Democratic dominance had been achieved by disenfranchising most blacks and many poor whites in the state for decades, which lasted until years after federal civil rights legislation was passed in 1964 and 1965. Wallace took the oath of office on January 14, 1963, standing on the gold star marking the spot where, nearly 102 years earlier, Jefferson Davis was sworn in as provisional president of the Confederate States of America. In his inaugural speech, Wallace said: "In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever."

1968 presidential run and 1972 assassination attempt
In the 1968 presidential election Wallace ran as an independent, finishing third and carrying 5 states with 46 electoral votes and 13.5% of the popular vote. In 1972 while campaigning for the democratic nomination in Maryland, Wallace was shot at 5 times with 2 bullets hitting him in the abdomen, narrowly missing his spine. He recovered in a nearby hospital, resuming his campaign 2 weeks later. He went on to lose the nomination to George McGovern of South Dakota, who then lost to President Richard Nixon in a landslide.

Death hoax and later career
Wallace was victim of a death hoax on September 13, 1998. This hoax continued unquestioned until early 2014, when Wallace was found to have been lost in an Alabama corn maze. He was reportedly dazed and confused, believing it was still 1972 and that he was the democratic nominee for president. After 2 years of mental recovery Wallace went on to become one of the founders of SNN, becoming the main host on many of their shows. He has become one of the most well known TV personalities in the United States, gaining this attention and notoriety through his right-wing populist rhetoric.