Allan Shivers example essay topic

Throughout Texas history, there have been a number of men and women to serve in their government that have stood out from the rest. Allan Shivers has been one of those men who have stuck out not only as a sore thumb, but even more as one of Texas greatest politicians. Even though his come down from politics was a rough road, his accomplishments more than equal out a bad reputation. From rags to riches, he is a landmark in the lone star state. Allan Shivers was born Robert Allan Shivers on October 7, 1907 in Lufkin, Texas. He grew up in an area known as the Magnolia Hills near a little town called Woodville where he attended primary school.

The Woodville school system only went up to the eighth grade. When Shivers finished school in Woodville, he started working at the local sawmill. Shortly thereafter, his family relocated to Port Arthur where he attended high school and graduated in 1924. Eager to learn, Shivers was accepted to the University of Texas and went to school there for one year. Expenses for college had become too much for the Shivers family to afford. He was forced to drop out of school and returned to Port Arthur.

He worked in an oil refinery to make some money and eventually made enough to be able to return to school. He actively participated in extracurricular activities such as his fraternity Delta Theta Phi, a law frat. His senior year, he was elected president of the Students Association, thus marking the beginning of his political career. Two years after graduating with a B.A., he acquired his license to practice law and opened up a private practice with his law school buddy, Quentin Keith. After only a year of practicing law, Shivers decided to run of office of the State Senate. Elected in 1934, he was the youngest member ever to sit in the Senate.

He held a seat in senate for twelve years, however was enlisted in the army part time between 1943 and 1945. This was only possible because being in the senate did not pay enough as a result of a biennial meeting salary base. In 1946, after inheriting a millionaire's fortune via his wife, he ran and was elected Lieutenant Governor. In the three years of being Lt. Governor, he showed the state what he could do in a position of power. He initiated a practice of appointing senators to specific committees with daily agendas subsequently jump starting legislation. He was able to re-organize the public school system, appropriate funds for higher education, and increase funds for improving hospitals and highways among many other things.

Shivers was re-elected in 1948 and assumed governorship in 1949. His governor and party ally, Beaufort H. Jester, had died of a fatal heart attack. As governor, he was able to accomplish more than when he was in the senate and the lieutenant governorship combined. He pushed tax increases but initiated higher teacher salaries, raised aid funds for the elderly and created councils and boards to help the efficiency of the legislation process.

However, there were conflicts between and former Presidents Truman and Eisenhower in addition to a split from the Democratic Party because of these conflicts. This marked a turning point in his career in which his public support started to wane. Many criticized him for becoming too conservative after inheriting his father-in-law's fortune. This is where the nickname for his party became "Shivercrats". Shivers tried to support equal opportunity learning for Negroes but opposed the Brown vs. Board of Education which lost even more support. To top it off, his administration became tainted with corruption because of scandals involving insurance frauds and veterans' lands.

Although Shivers was found to be uninvolved, his popularity was going down the drain. After keeping the governorship for seven and a half years, he retired from politics in January 1957. Shivers was greatly known for defending state claims to the tidelands against the Truman administration. The tidelands are a large portion of underwater land between the low tide and the state's gulf-ward boundary. As soon as oil was discovered on it, federal officials began to assert national ownership.

This quickly became a national issue that other coastal states such as California became concerned about for themselves. In the end, Texas won the case because the United States Senate and President Andrew Jackson all had read the 1937 Boundary Act proclaimed by the Republic of Texas and agreed that it belonged to Texas. Another notable feat was his election to state senate at the age of twenty seven. This is impressive because he had very limited funds for campaigning. In addition, he did not have any name recognition or experience. Despite the obstacle, he made a point to be at every gathering and speak at every city that his four counties contained.

It was because of his determination and work ethic that enabled him to overcome his taunting opponent. After retirement, Allan Shivers went on to other things like the Board of Regents at UT and served on the Chamber of Commerce. He also served on Boards of multiple banks including Austin National Bank. Shivers lived almost thirty years after he retired and continued to actively participate as had become his way of life from beginning to end. He died at the age of seventy eight in 1985 and was survived by his wife, four kids, and ten grandchildren.

Bibliography

' yellow dogs and republicans' by Rick F. Dobbs. Texas A&M University Press, College Station. 2005.