Governor J. Millard Tawes interview

Description

John Millard Tawes (1894-1979) was a prominent Maryland politician who served as Governor from 1959 to 1967. Throughout his career, he held various key positions including comptroller, Bank Commissioner of Maryland, and secretary of the Department of Natural Resources. In this oral history interview, Tawes reflects on his personal and professional relationship with Governor Theodore R. McKeldin (1900-1974). He discusses McKeldin’s character, his commitment to civil rights, and his impact on the Black community in Maryland. Tawes provides an overview of his own career, detailing the public offices he occupied. He shares insights into his interactions with civil rights leader Lillie May Carroll Jackson (1889-1975), discussing issues within the Black community and different matters within the NAACP. Tawes then delves into Governor McKeldin’s political career, highlighting his excellence in public speaking, his administration’s priorities, his methods of garnering support, and the causes he supported. Tawes recalls his own time as Governor, emphasizing his efforts during the civil rights movement to enforce new civil rights laws and persuade businesses and individuals to comply. He also reflects on the Baltimore riots, their impact, and his memories of the events. Finally, Tawes offers his perspective on other influential civil rights figures and identifies Governor McKeldin’s most significant contributions to civil rights.