Albert Brewer

Albert Preston Brewer ( born October 26, 1928 in Bethel Springs, McNairy County, Tennessee ) is a former American politician (Democratic Party). He was 1968-1971 Governor of Alabama.

Early years and political rise

Albert Brewer graduated in 1952 from the University of Alabama. He then had the following public offices held: Chairman of the Decatur City Planning Commission 1956-1963, member of the Alabama House of Representatives from 1955 to 1966, as well as its Speaker from 1963 to 1966 and Vice Governor of Alabama 1967-1968.

Governor of Alabama

In May 1968, Brewer was acting governor of Alabama, to fill the vacancy that was created by the death of Governor Lurleen Wallace. As Governor Brewer changed the state law philosophy, and programs not been requested in the course of Wallace's tenure. He worked without a whimper, but he caused a lot of needed reforms and programs. Furthermore, the funding for public schools received the largest increase in the history of the state and the public funding of local school systems was adjusted. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education and the Education Study Commission was created. In contrast to his predecessor Brewer sat in the election campaign not to "race question " and advocated and for the re-registration of black voters, what the state self-confidence strengthened and its public perception for the desegregation ( desegregation ) in schools and other public facilities improved. As a result, Governor Brewer was recognized as one of proper leader of the national institutions. He was also on the Executive Committee of the National Governors ' Conference and was the chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, an association of Governors of the 13 Appalachenstaaten. Besides, he had presided over the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway - Authority. While he had presided over the Authority, this was the first mortgage lending by Congress.

Further CV

He ran in 1970 at the Democratic primaries again for the governorship. His opponent, the former governor and presidential candidate George C. Wallace led an aggressive and negative campaign; he threw Brewer to be a coward and a puppet of blacks and left. From the environment of Wallace also fake photos were published that showed Brewer with the radical black leader Elijah Muhammad. In addition to scattered rumors, Governor Brewer was a homosexual and his wife, a mentally unstable alcoholic. In one of the last openly racist election campaigns in U.S. history, Wallace eventually prevailed scarce. Historians consider the Democratic primary election for the office of Governor of Alabama in 1970 as " the dirtiest campaign ever."

Albert Brewer then returned to his work as a lawyer in his practice back in Montgomery, he held there until 1979. He then practiced in Decatur until the late 1980s. He ran again in 1978 for the governorship, but failed again. Brewer is married to Martha Farmer and the couple have two children together.