The look in her recent visit to tuscaloosa. You are watching American History tv. All weekend every weekend. If there was ever a man that deserve recognition it was him. Men and women that deserve the recognition dont receive it. To see him receive it was a wonderful thing. Standing in the lobby of at the university of alabama. This is the first profile in courage award ever awarded at the john f. Kennedy library. In 1990. The former alabama congressman carl elliott. He was a congressman from until 1964. 1948 carl elliott was born very poor. In northwest alabama. At the depths of the depression came to the university with two dollars and . 50 in his pocket. And a 25 check even given. When he arrived he presented himself to the president and said you said anybody can come to the university. The president said if you want it badly that we will find a place for you. He ended up as president of the student body. No law degree. He actually ran for a county judgeship and lost. Then in 1948 he ran for congress. He authored two major bills. The Library Services and construction act of 1956 and the National Defense education act of 1958. The Library Services and construction act was aimed at constructing libraries in rural areas. It was the father of the bookmobile. Still today. The National Defense education act was very comprehensive. Was scholarships and loans for College Students firstte students legislation in regard to education. Over 1 billion spent. 20 million americans received a College Education through an nda loan or grant. If you take the competence of those 29 students, it may be the most significant piece of legislation ever passed by congress. Following the 1960 census lost a seat in congress. They came up with a suicidal plan called the 98 plan. Primary wasic tantamount to out election in alabama. All nine names when on the ballot a month later. Each voter had a votes. Mr. Elliott survived in 1962. In 1964 George Wallace have become governor by that time. Carl elliott was targeted because of his progressive stance. The ballot was circulated all over the state. We know it is the infamous blue ballot. It had the list of eight candidates and not mr. Elliott. The message was to drop carl elliott. He was defeated and that suicidal crazy primary. He began practicing law after he was defeated. 1966 he ran for governor against governor wallaces wife lurline. It was fraught with race. Lines was they will tell you that im u. S. Government approved. It is not stamped on my back. Hearts stamped is on my and that is my country right or wrong. Wallace appealing to all of the segregationist voters. Mr. Elliott was the moderate the man in the middle. The most difficult position to take. One of the things that characterized him was that he went to selma. The civil rights demonstrators. The Edmund Pettis bridge was the place where the marchers were badly bitten beat. He said ive not come to selma to go to the church and say we shall overcome. Nor have i come here to stand on the Edmund Pettis bridge video never. Canly the people of alabama find room in the middle for all of us. He came in third. They essentially bankrupted them. He withdrew his congressional pension, all the money he contributed so he was left again learning to practice law in a very late age. Diabetesagnosed with and it began to take a real toll on him. Confining them to a wheelchair. 1989 there was a cover story of parade magazine with john f. Kennedy junior and caroline. Americans to nominate people for a profile in courage award. The name coming from president kennedys pulitzer prizewinning book about americans who displayed great courage in public office. They encouraged nominations for the first award to be given in 1990. One of parade Magazine Article she called me and said we should nominate mr. Elliott. I said mary, if you will put together the stuff i will write the nomination. We have been told that there were 5000 nominations. The woman who headed the Committee Said when they read mr. Elliotts nomination they immediately said this is it. Is a sterling Silver Lantern to be a beacon. Was andgner schlossberg, Caroline Kennedys husband. Alledge and that wouldve been use of a 19th century sailing ship. Regarded as a simple of truth and hope. The characteristics of the library looks for in the recipients of the award. Mr. Elliott was on the stage the kennedy library. He expressed his gratitude to the kennedy family. Followed president kennedy to congress by two years. They served together in the house. He ended it in the statement that i think sums up his life. As long as we have overcrowded classrooms, underpaid teachers, schools with inadequate libraries and young men and women who are denied an education because they do not have the resources, our work is not yet finished. Kennedys vision for america will be fully accomplished until all of our young people have the opportunity to obtain the quality of education that is their birthright. Such educated young people engage in Public Service are essential to meet the challenges of each new frontier. Iere are those who said that was ahead of my time. They were wrong. Believe that i was behind the times. Announcer our cities to her staff recently traveled to tuscaloosa, alabama. Learn more about tuscaloosa and other stops at www. Cspan. Org our. Iesto he we proudlycretary, give 72 of our delegate votes to the next president of the united states
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