Win Rockefeller and Martin Luther King

[LiberalArkie]

http://www.kuar.org/kuarnews/55432-governor-rockefeller-memorial-address-of-martin-luther-king-remembered-at-state-capitol.html



Former politicians, civil rights workers and droves of students were among the hundreds gathered on the steps of the state Capitol building to hear the memorial speech then- Governor Rockefeller gave following the assassination of Dr King in 1968.
Governor Rockefeller himself took to those same capitol steps 44 years ago, joining with civil rights leaders in what would be a famous memorial. Rockefeller was the only known American governor to hold a public service for the fallen civil rights leader.
“…And we in Arkansas are going to be proud among the states, that we have solved our problems and will solve our problems."
That was an excerpt from the Governors 1968 address. During the capitol event Rockefeller’s grandson, William Rockefeller, recited the speech.
“…We can’t perform miracles because we are here together today as a symbol of working together for the equality of man, for the dignity of man, for our place in God’s sight. Thank you,” said Rockefeller.

[Art_from_Ark]

1. And you know, "WinRock" was a Republican!

I still remember the 1966 gubernatorial campaign of Winthrop Rockefeller versus then-governor Orville Faubus of Little Rock Central High infamy-- all the voting age members of family voted for Rockefeller, because they were tired of Faubus. And the ladies down the street gave me a "WR66" pin, which I think I still have somewhere. Rockefeller even made a cameo appearance on the TV show "The Governor and JJ". He was pretty progressive as a governor; unfortunately, the Republicans who have come after him can't come anywhere near to filling his shoes.

[LiberalArkie]

2. He was a great man, my dad worked for him in the first food stamp program.

On KAUR this morning they were talking about how he changed the Arkansas Democrats from the dixiecrats to a more Liberal form with Bumpers and Pryor.

I guess he was perhaps the most Liberal governor we have had in Arkansas, and he was a Republican..

[Art_from_Ark]

3. My family certainly had the highest regard for Winthrop Rockefeller

And speaking of 1968, Arkansas was all over the board in that election, re-electing a progressive Republican (Rockefeller) as governor, re-electing a progressive Democrat as US Senator (Fulbright), and voting for a racist for President (Wallace). What a year that was...

[Art_from_Ark]

4. In his first term as governor, Clinton tried to be fairly liberal, I think

But governors got only two years in those days, and Clinton was swept out of office by Frank White in the 1980 Conservative landslide, ostensibly for being "too liberal".