Oral history interview with James E. Holshouser Jr., May 9, 1998
Subtitle: interview C-0328-3, Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007)
Contributors: Fleer, Jack D., interviewer; Southern Oral History Program; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Documenting the American South (Project); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library
Edition: Electronic ed.
Publisher: University Library, UNC-Chapel Hill
Published: 2008
Place of publication: [Chapel Hill, N.C.]
Language: eng
Subjects: Interviews; Governors; Politics and government; Republican Party (N.C.)
Other titles: Interview C-0328-3, Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007); Interview with James E. Holshouser Jr., May 9, 1998; Oral histories of the American South.
Description: In 1972, James E. Holshouser, Jr., became the first Republican elected to North Carolina's governorship since 1896. In his five-year term, Holshouser faced the unique challenge of reintroducing the Republican Party to a leadership position in Raleigh. In this interview, he describes that challenge, reflects on his term, and considers some of the changes that took place between his departure from the governor's mansion and the time of this 1998 interview. The most significant challenge Holshouser addresses is the personal strain of a job that demanded constant attention. He remembers disappointments such as his failed effort to shepherd Gerald Ford to the Republican nomination in 1980, and a deteriorating relationship with the media. After he left office in 1977, he observed as the influence of money grew, often disbursed by political action committees pushing an increasing number of different interests; he saw the Republican Party grow in complexity as ideological divisions replaced regional ones; and he watched the decline of the citizen politician, as politics became a profession rather than a calling. Holshouser also considers his legacy, including his contributions to transportation, health, and the environment. As he reflects on these changes and challenges, Holshouser reveals himself as a consensus-builder and something of a pragmatist, a politician suspicious of ideology and in favor of a robust two-party system. This interview will be useful for students of North Carolina politics and those interested in one of the state's few Republican governors of the modern era.
Notes: Title from menu page (viewed on Nov. 19, 2008).

Interview participants: James E. Holshouser Jr., interviewee; Jack Fleer, interviewer.

Duration: 01:34:02.

This electronic edition is part of the UNC-Chapel Hill digital library, Documenting the American South.  It is a part of the collection Oral histories of the American South.

Text encoded by Kristin Shaffer.  Sound recordings digitized by Aaron Smithers.

Text (HTML and XML/TEI source file) and audio (MP3); 2 files: ca. 136 kilobytes, 172 megabytes.

Original version: Southern Oral History Program Collection, (#4007), Series Series C, Notable North Carolinians, interview C-0328-3, Manuscripts Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Original transcript: 36 p.

Funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services supported the electronic publication of this interview.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements:  Web browser with Javascript enabled and multimedia player.