Carl Sanders: Spokesman of the New South

by James F. Cook

Carl Sanders's rise to political prominence in the state of Georgia was little short of phenomenal. Less than five years after entering (in 1954) the Georgia House of Representatives as a little-known freshman, he advanced to the Senate and to key positions of leadership - floor leader and then president pro tem. At age thirty-three - and in only his third legislative term - Sanders became the second most powerful leader in the Georgia Senate, outranked only by the lieutenant governor. Sanders stood out as one of the bright and attractive new leaders in the New South, and in 1963, less than ten years after his initial entry into the political arena, he became one of Georgia's youngest, brightest, and most productive governors.
"Without the benefit of inherited wealth or family prestige, Sanders rose from ordinary circumstances to great wealth and influence. Blessed with a keen mind, a strong body, and an indomitable will, he took advantage of the opportunities that came his way. Eager to get as much out of life as possible, from early youth onward he set high goals for himself and pursued them with unrelenting vigor. When he attained them, he set ever-higher goals to strive for. Never completely satisfied with anything he achieved, he invariably undertook new challenges to satisfy a deep-seated longing to be the very best at whatever he attempted. By never resting on his laurels, he continued to grow intellectually and materially." (365)
"The history of the world," Carlyle said, "is but the biography of great men. Carl Spokesman of the New South, by James F. Cook, is, then, part of our own history. It is a part of our history of which we justifiably may be proud, and from which we may learn and even be inspired. The story of Carl Sanders, indeed a genuine "spokesman of the New South," is not only well worth telling, but well worth the hearing.

Genres: Biography

394 pages, Hardcover

First published December 12, 1993

Reviews

[Brent]

ATT: Goodreads, someone has put Maddox's summary description in place of Sanders,here, a cruel thing to find on the day Sanders passed away. Fix, please.

[Rick Segers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a reader of southern and primarily Georgia political history of the mid to late 20th century. This is an interesting study of an often over looked figure in Georgia history. It has many of the shortcomings of "endorsed" biographies. It provides an study of a very turbulent time and of a politician who at the time became the face of the "new south". He kept Georgia's schools and colleges open and did not stand in the school house door.

I first read a library copy of this book shortly after it came out. I finally got a copy for my personal library in the last couple of months.