WATCH: Meet the campaign director for George Wallace’s presidential run
Throughout the primary contest, people have compared Donald Trump to former Alabama Governor George Wallace, who ran for president in 1968 as a segregationist
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – Throughout the primary contest, people have compared Donald Trump to former Alabama Governor George Wallace, who ran for president in 1968 as a segregationist.
Wallace’s executive director for his campaign has called Columbia home for decades.
Tom Turnipseed, 79, is a former state senator, ran for governor in South Carolina and along with his wife, is an avid advocate for the Midlands’ homeless. He’s also a reformed racist.
Turnipseed grew up in Mobile, Alabama. He says while his father was a peaceful man, he believed African-Americans had their place.
“Segregation was it,” he said. “That was the culture.”
After meeting his wife at UNC-Chapel Hill during law school, the two moved to Barnwell, S.C., where Turnipseed’s brother had created a home with his young family. Turnipseed and Judy started their work resisting school integration, by creating dozens of private, segregated academies. That’s how he met George Wallace’s brother.
“He said, ‘you know Tom? George is gonna run for president. And we’ve got to get on the ballot for all 50 states. You seem to be a good organizer, for all these private schools, would you consider coming over?'”
The Turnipseeds hopped aboard the freight train that was the Wallace presidential campaign of 1968.
“He was kind of a populist guy, standing up for the every day working class folks and all,” Turnipseed said.
Most memorably, Wallace stood in the schoolhouse door at the University of Alabama, blocking the first black students from entering.
In 1972, Turnipseed resigned, citing anxiety about the Klan’s ties to the campaign, and the shady side of politics. Heading back to South Carolina, his personal relationship with race was beginning to change, but it wasn’t until he was knee-deep in a fight against utility companies for overcharging poor blacks that Turnipseed and his wife were replanted.
“And we agreed if we didn’t do another damn thing,” he said, “we were gonna fight for racial justice in South Carolina, and everywhere else.”
In the 40 years since, Turnipseed has brought suit against the KKK, is still a member of the NAACP, and he, along with Judy, spend hours volunteering with the homeless.
Tomorrow night at 11, you’ll hear why Turnipseed, who was on the trail with Wallace every step of the way, says the idea that Wallace and Donald Trump are running the same campaign is a stretch.
