George Corley Wallace, born on August 25, 1919, and passed away on September 13, 1998, was a four-time elected Governor of Alabama as a Democrat, serving from 1962 to 1987, and a four-time candidate for President of the United States.
Wallace is perhaps most famously known for his strong defense of segregation, going as far as to physically block the doors of the University of Alabama to prevent its desegregation in 1963. However, as he grew older, he began to reach out to African Americans and modify his stance on racial issues during the 1970s.
Wallace's public stance on race was largely rooted in his loss in the 1958 gubernatorial election, where he was portrayed as a liberal candidate who was soft on segregation. This experience led him to vow that he would "never be out-niggered again," and he went on to win the 1962 election.
Throughout his political career, Wallace publicly defied the Kennedy Administration, refusing to comply with federal orders to desegregate schools and other public facilities. It wasn't until he was faced with opposition from fellow southern Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson that he eventually relented.
In 1964, Wallace ran as a protest candidate in the Democratic presidential primary, but he failed to secure the nomination. However, in 1968, he ran a successful third-party campaign on the American Independent ticket, winning five states and 46 electoral votes.
Wallace's campaign was built around the slogan "law and order," which was code for being tough on African Americans. At one point during the election, it was feared that his success could potentially throw the election into the House of Representatives.
