George W. Andrews Explained

George William Andrews
Image Name:George W. Andrews.jpg
State:Alabama
District:3rd
Party:Democratic
Term Start:March 14, 1944
Term End:January 3, 1963
Preceded:Henry B. Steagall
Succeeded:District inactive
Term Start2:January 3, 1965
Term End2:December 25, 1971
Preceded2:District inactive
Succeeded2:Elizabeth B. Andrews
State3:Alabama
District3:At-large
Term Start3:January 3, 1963
Term End3:January 3, 1965
Preceded3:George M. Grant
Succeeded3:Kenneth A. Roberts
Birth Date:12 December 1906
Birth Place:Clayton, Alabama, U.S.
Death Place:Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Children:2
Occupation:lawyer, politician, judge
Alma Mater:University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa

George William Andrews (December 12, 1906 – December 25, 1971) was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from Alabama, and the husband of Elizabeth B. Andrews.

Andrews is known for objecting to the Supreme Court decision banning school prayer by saying, "They put the Negroes in the schools and now they've driven God out."[1] [2]

Biography

Andrews was born in Clayton, Alabama son of George William and Addie Bell (King) Andrews. He attended the public schools, and graduated from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in 1928. He was admitted to the bar in 1928 and commenced practice in Union Springs, Alabama. On November 25, 1936, he married Leslie Elizabeth Bullock.

Career

He served as district attorney for the third judicial circuit of Alabama, from 1931 to 1943. During the Second World War, he served as a lieutenant (jg.) in the United States Naval Reserve from January 1943 until his election to Congress, at which time he was serving at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.[3]

Andrews was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-eighth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry B. Steagall. He was reelected to the fourteen succeeding Congresses and served from March 14, 1944, until his death from complications following heart surgery in Birmingham, Alabama on December 25, 1971.

Andrews was a signatory to the 1956 Southern Manifesto[4] that opposed the desegregation of public schools ordered by the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education. Andrews voted against the Civil Rights Acts of 1957,[5] 1960,[6] 1964,[7] and 1968[8] as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution[9] and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[10]

Death and legacy

Andrews died in Birmingham, Alabama on December 25, 1971, 13 days after turning 65. He is interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Union Springs, Alabama.[11] The George W. Andrews Lake and George W. Andrews Federal Building are named for him.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Making Of A Modern Myth . Robert E. . Nordlander . October 8, 1988 . 2018-09-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180911002559/https://ffrf.org/legacy/fttoday/back/myth.html . 2018-09-11 . dead .
  2. News: Lewis . Anthony . June 26, 1962 . Supreme Court Outlaws Official School Prayers in Regents Case Decision . 2 . The New York Times . January 4, 2023.
  3. Web site: George W. Andrews. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 19 May 2013.
  4. Southern Manifesto . Congressional Record - Senate . 4459–4461.
  5. Web site: HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957. -- House Vote #42 -- Jun 18, 1957 . 2024-01-12 . GovTrack.us . en.
  6. Web site: HR 8601. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1960. APPROVAL BY THE … -- House Vote #106 -- Apr 21, 1960 . 2024-01-12 . GovTrack.us . en.
  7. Web site: H.R. 7152. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. ADOPTION OF A … -- House Vote #182 -- Jul 2, 1964 . 2024-01-12 . GovTrack.us . en.
  8. Web site: TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR … -- House Vote #113 -- Aug 16, 1967 . 2024-01-12 . GovTrack.us . en.
  9. Web site: S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF … -- House Vote #193 -- Aug 27, 1962 . 2024-01-12 . GovTrack.us . en.
  10. Web site: TO AGREE TO CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 1564, THE VOTING … -- House Vote #107 -- Aug 3, 1965 . 2024-01-12 . GovTrack.us . en.
  11. Web site: George W. Andrews. The Political Graveyard. 19 May 2013.