The Georgia Politics Podcast

Joining Craig on The Georgia Politics is former U.S. Senator Mack Mattingly. In 1981, Senator Mattingly became the first Republican to serve Georgia in the Senate since Reconstruction in the 1870s. He served one term from 1981-1987.   The focus of Part 1 of this 2 part interview is the Senator's dramatic and unexpected defeat of Senator Herman Talmadge in 1980. The campaign was part of a red wave that resulted in Republicans taking control of the Senate for the first time since 1955. Craig also asks about the role the media played in the campaign, critical "new voters" Republicans gained, and the Senator's success in attracting African American voters to his campaign. Senator Mattingly also discusses his term in the Senate, his committee work and his reflections about his colleagues and other key political players he met during his term.  During Craig's "lightning round," Senator Mattingly shares personal anecdotes about some of the more famous Senators of the time including Bob Dole, Joe Biden and Gary Hart.