Our Westlake

Ch13 Dems for Ike Ep1 Gov Shivers Swings Tx Right '52

Cynthia Shelton Season 13 Episode 1

         Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) was a life-long Democrat BUT in 1952 Emmett was an 'Eisenhower Democrat'.
          In the 1950s, Central Texas had become liberal. Emmett was active in the Texas Democratic Party and Gov. Alan Shivers asked for Emmett's help. Emmett became Chair of the Texas State Democratic Convention. He finalized the list of delegates to the National Dem. Convention in Chicago. The Gov. offered Emmett a delegate spot but Emmett declined telling Gov. Shivers he planned to support Eisenhower.
         Next Episode - In Ep2, instead of voting Republican, Emmett leads Democrats for Ike in Central Texas with the help of Republican Ms. Davenport.
        

#texashistory
#austinhistory
#texasdemocrats
#eisenhower
#alanshivers

Music: "Vote'm Out" by Willie Nelson

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