Description

Elliott Harris Levitas was born in Atlanta on December 26, 1930, and attended local schools including Emory University, where he earned a law degree in 1956. He was also a Rhodes Scholar, and obtained a master of law degree from Oxford University in 1954, as well as being a member of the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1958. Levitas served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1964, and was also elected that year to represent DeKalb County in the Georgia House of Representatives, where he served for a decade. In 1974 he was elected as a U.S. Congressman from the 4th District and was re-elected to four subsequent terms, until being defeated by Pat Swindall in 1984. Levitas returned to private practice in Atlanta, where he resides today.; Interviewed by Mel Steely and Ted Fitz-Simons in 1996.; The interview is spread out over four different days in the fall of 1996: August 12, September 10, September 24, and October 7. Levitas begins by discussing his family and background during the Great Depression and into his education. He answers questions about what his life was like during the Great Depression as well as World War II, saying that his family was middle class "in the almost Norman Rockwellian sense." He describes his time in college and law school, juggling marriage and a burgeoning career in law, and the decision to join the Air Force. By the time the conversation shift to politics, Levitas reveals that he...

Record Contributed By

University of West Georgia. Special Collections

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia