American Politickers
Posted on: October 18, 2016; Updated on: October 18, 2016CRAIGB1@mailbox.sc.edu , 803-777-3681 South Carolina Political Collections, housed at the University of South Carolina’s
Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library, is home to the papers of 11 governors
and more than 25 members of Congress, plus those of notable judges, civil rights activists,
state legislators and the League of Women Voters. But the collection’s vast holdings
aren’t limited to white papers, correspondence and speeches. They also contain plenty
of fun political ephemera representing both sides of the aisle.
A photo essay in the October issue of USC Times, the university’s monthly magazine
for faculty and staff, features a few choice items from the collection as well as
commentary from Herb Hartsook, SCPC’s longtime director. In honor of election season,
USC Times and @UofSCToday voted to share this small sample.
“Jim Edwards was the first Republican governor of South Carolina since Reconstruction.
In an era when Democrats won pretty much everything in this state, he won election
on kind of a fluke — the Democratic candidate had to withdraw just weeks before the
election and was replaced on the ticket. But Edwards ended up having a very successful
term. He had an interesting life — he was trained as an oral surgeon and had a very
successful practice in Charleston, gave that up for politics and ended his career
as president of MUSC.”
"When we were founded I wrote every member of the congressional delegation expressing
an interest in being the repository for their papers. We got a modest response, but
Floyd Spence called personally. He said, ‘I got your letter. What can I do for you?’
I said, ‘Well, we’d love to be the repository for your papers.’ He said, ‘Done. What
else can I do for you?’ That was just typical of him. I borrowed the eagle for an
exhibit, and when we were returning things I asked if I could keep that one in my
office."
“Bob Inglis had a fundraiser and did a takeoff on ‘Saturday Night Fever.’ He found
a baby blue tuxedo and wore these shoes. It’s really rare to see politicians put themselves
in that sort of position — it shows a real sense of humor. Now that he’s out of office,
he’s a leader in the fight against global warming.”
“Some years after John West passed away, his widow, Lois, was moving and invited me
to pick up some ephemera. I saw the yo-yo and asked if he played with it. She said,
“Oh yes, John loved that yo-yo.” It’s silver-plated and was given to him by his staff
shortly after he was elected. Lois asked if I like yo-yos, and I said, ‘Yes, as a
matter of fact I have a small collection of them.” She said, ‘Well then John would
want you to have that.’”
“Mrs. Moxon was a leader in the League of Women Voters, and she made that dress and
wore it every election day, year after year. That has become our most iconic piece
of ephemera. People love it. It most recently made an appearance at an Anita Hill
party in September.”
“Senator Hollings was a leading figure in bringing UPS to South Carolina. They’re
just a huge employer here. You could not go to a Hollings office and not see a UPS
model truck after that business came to South Carolina, so for years we’ve wanted
to have one. When we closed out his office we got two or three. This one is one I’ve
had in my office since that day.”
"The cup came from the inaugural picnic in 1963. It’s interesting because that picnic
was desegregated, was unusual for the day and drew a lot of attention. I don’t actually
remember how we got it, but it's wonderful what people save, We benefit greatly from
the generosity of folks willing to share their treasures."
"Joe Wilson has the most fascinating office. Every wall, every tabletop, every desktop
is covered with materials. Mr. Wilson has just been a terrific friend to us, and he
offered us this voting booth that he had gotten and saved, gosh knows when or why
or how. We've exhibited it often."
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