GEORGIA: Death of the Wild Man

(2 of 2)

Gene Talmadge's death set off one of the biggest, oddest political rows in U.S. history. The new Georgia constitution provided no clear-cut method of determining his successor. Backers of incumbent Governor Arnall believed that he should continue in office, even though he was constitutionally barred from a second candidacy, and had not run in 1946. Others wanted the General Assembly to choose between the two highest general election write-in candidates: James V. Carmichael and Talmadge's son, Herman (pronounced Hummon to rhyme with summon). Still others tried to make a case for M. E. Thompson, Georgia's newly elected lieutenant governor. At week's end no way had been found of resolving the dilemma.