GOVERNOR LESTER G. MADDOX - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 09/10/1974 - HFSID 216338

LESTER G. MADDOX
The 7th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia signs this typed letter thanking the recipient for writing him
Typed Letter signed: “Lester Maddox” in black ink, 1p, 8½x11. No place, 1974 September 10. On official state of Georgia letterhead of the lieutenant governor. Written to: “Mr. Jakie l. Pruett/ Principal/ Department of Special Education/ 713 West Mahan Street/ Clute, Texas 77531”. To: “Dear Mr. Pruett” In full: “Thank you for your letter of recent date in which you have requested that I send you some information on my service to Georgia./ I certainly do appreciate your interest in my career and other aspects of my life and I am pleased to forward you several items of mine. I am also enclosing an autographed photograph for you./ If I can be of further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me./ Best of luck in your project and with kind regards to you and your school/ Sincerely”. Lester Maddox (1915-2003) was charged with assaulting five black ministers who tried to eat at his Atlanta Restaurant the day after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. (He was subsequently acquitted by an all-white jury.) Maddox, who wielded an axe handle as a symbol of his opposition to desegregation, but never actually used it on anybody, ended up closing his restaurant rather than serving black customers. Maddox was later elected Governor of Georgia (1967-1971). Prohibited from a second term by Georgia's constitution, he was elected Lieutenant Governor (1971-1975), often opposing the policies of his successor, Jimmy Carter. Lightly toned. Vertical crease toward left-hand side running the full length of letter. Corners and edges worn and creased. Otherwise, fine condition.