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Oral history interview with Wyche Fowler, 2003 September 22

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@ University of West Georgia. Special Collections

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Wyche Fowler, Jr. was born in Atlanta on October 6, 1940, attended public schools and earned a law degree from Emory University in 1969. He served in the U.S. Army from 1963-1964 and worked as chief of staff for Representative Charles Weltner from 1965-1966. After leaving school he worked as an attorney and served on Atlanta's city council from 1970- 1977. In 1977, Fowler won a special election as a Democrat for the U.S. House of Representatives 5th District. He was re-elected four times in the majority African American district, beating civil rights leader John Lewis who would later win the seat. Fowler was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, and became known as a liberal on social issues and a moderate on economic and security concerns. He lost re-election in a close runoff to Paul Coverdell in 1992. Fowler was appointed Ambassador to Saudi Arabia by President Bill Clinton in 1996, and served until 2001. He has since served on various corporate and academic boards including the Carter Center. Fowler currently practices law in Washington, D.C. and in late 2007 joined the University of Georgia's School of Law and began teaching in the 2008 Spring semester.; Interviewed by Mel Steely on September 22, 2003 at the University of West Georgia.; After a discussion about Fowler's childhood and family heritage, the interview dives into his time in college and his decision to join the Army. He says that he put down Vietnam as his first choice for deployment in...
Type:
Video
Contributors:
Steely, MelUniversity of West Georgia. Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
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University of West Georgia. Special Collections

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia