George Wallace

Date of Birth: August 25, 1919

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: September 13, 1998

Biography

George Corley Wallace Jr. was an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Alabama, holding the office for four terms over three decades. He was born on August 25, 1919, in Clio, Alabama. Wallace is perhaps best known for his staunch segregationist stance during the Civil Rights Movement, which earned him both national notoriety and influence. His infamous “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” in 1963, where he attempted to block the entry of two African American students to the University of Alabama, became a symbol of resistance to desegregation. Wallace’s political career began in the Alabama House of Representatives, and he later served as a judge. He first ran for governor in 1958 but lost, only to win in 1962 on a platform of segregation and states’ rights. He was a prominent figure in the American Independent Party and ran for President of the United States four times, most notably in 1968 when he garnered a significant portion of the vote as a third-party candidate. In 1972, Wallace was the victim of an assassination attempt that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite this, he continued his political career and eventually moderated his views on race, seeking forgiveness from African Americans and advocating for civil rights. Wallace retired from politics in 1987 and spent his final years reflecting on his legacy. He passed away on September 13, 1998.

5 Interesting Facts about George Wallace

1. Wallace was a World War II veteran and served as a staff sergeant in the United States Army Air Forces.

2. He first gained national attention for his “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” incident in 1963.

3. Wallace ran for President of the United States four times: in 1964, 1968, 1972, and 1976.

4. He survived an assassination attempt in 1972, which left him permanently paralyzed from the waist down.

5. Later in his life, Wallace publicly renounced his segregationist views and sought reconciliation with African American communities.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from George Wallace

1. “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!”

2. “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.”

3. “We must never surrender. America must never surrender to the forces of darkness.”

4. “I was wrong. Those days are over, and they ought to be over.”

5. “I’ve learned what suffering means in a way that was impossible. I think I can understand something of the pain that black people have come to endure.”