Ch 6 Tx Politics - Ep 7 Gov. Shivers Swings Tx Dems. Right '51

       Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) tells of his experience in the Texas Democratic Party in Texas after WWII.
       Liberal forces, led by Emma Long in Travis County, had control of Texas politics. Gov. Alan Shivers wanted a change to more conservative values and recruited Emmett to take over the local Democratic organization, and he went to work.
       Emmett was elected chair of the County Convention, which was held in the House Chamber, Emmett tells of the activities at the convention. On his election, the liberal faction walked out. Stevenson was nominated for President.           
        Emmett's conservative faction also got control of the State Convention. Emmett was elected chair of the Nominations committee and charged with advising Gov. Shivers on delegates to go to the National Democratic Convention in Chicago. It was quite an honor, but Emmett almost spilled the names to the press. 
        While the Governor offered Emmett a seat at the National Convention, Emmett declared his support for Republican candidate Eisenhower.


Music: Democracy is Coming to the USA by Leonard Cohen

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Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.