Wallace by Stephan Lesher

George Wallace was a pivotal figure in the politics of the second half of the twentieth century. Much is made of Barry Goldwater's ill fated fun in 1964 presaging the conservative revolution that came about with Ronald Reagan but what is overlooked is that the voters that streamed to Wallace in 68 and 72 were the voters that when the Wallace train stopped eventually landed in the Republican camp.

Wallace made his name as an anti segregationist. He ended his political life in 1987 after his fifth term ( if one counts the one term his wife Lurleen stood as his proxy) as the Governor of Alabama. In between he shook the Democratic party to it's as he put it " their eye teeth."

Wallace even in the early days dressed up his segregationist policies in the flag of states rights. Was Wallace prejuidiced against Negroes. It would seem that if he was, it was to a much lesser extent than many of his supporters. Still being a product of his times and geography it is very likely that there were some prejuidices in his soul. However much more pertinent was his use of others bigotry to advance his political cause. Realizing that in the state of Alabama success could not come with anything approaching equal treatment of blacks Wallace hopped willingly aboard.

However as the book makes clear as reprehensible as some of his actions were and as terrible as some of the results of his actions it is unlikely that any other politician that was successful in Alabama would have behaved differently. And by in the case of desegregation of schools and colleges in Alabama Wallace was adamant that people stay home and allow him to be the block. He knew he never would be but he truly was trying to avert violence and bloodshed.

More importantly in terms of his national ambitions Wallace was a populist. His views were to help the little man, tax the rich, keep government under local control albeit with largesse from the federal treasury. Wallace ran strong in 1968 and was on his way to controlling a significant number of Democratic delegates when gunned down by an asassins bullet in Maryland in 1972. His career as a national candidate faded as his disability put him in a wheelchair.

Wallace was always colorful, three wives, stormy relations with the courts and the press but through it all he provided a roadmap for the successful campaigns of both Carter and Reagan. Reagan Democrats were certainly Wallace Democrats.

This complicated hard to understand and categorize man was a crucial figure. While not the best biography I have ever read it is not due to the potential subject matter. One wonders how far, how influential Wallace might have been had not he been shot. A better book could illuminate even more brightly this polarizing man.