Historic Tidbit: Perhaps the nastiest race in South Carolina came in 1978, as Max Heller, the enormously popular Democratic Mayor of Greenville faced State representative Carroll Campbell for an open Congressional seat. Heller had escaped Austria shortly before Hitler had invaded. Campbell’s consultant Arthur Finkelstein, who is Jewish, conducted surveys for Campbell, which asked whether they’d prefer “a native South Carolinian,” or Heller, “a Jewish immigrant.” A third candidate, Don Sprouse, rumored to have been recruited by Lee Atwater, would tell voters that Heller didn’t believe “Jesus Christ has come yet.” Heller began the race with a large lead but ultimately lost 51-45%, a margin of 6,000 votes in a very low-turnout election. Campbell denied having anything to do with the push-poll and his career went on to thrive.

In Alabama, it’s highly unusual for elected officials, particularly Republicans, to veer left once they get into office, but that’s exactly what occurred with John Buchanan.

Buchanan sought an At-Large Congressional seat in Alabama in 1962 but despite Democratic Senator Lister Hill’s surprising close call, the Civil Rights era had yet to begin and white voters were not taking out their frustrations on the Democratic Party. Buchanan finished a distant ninth in a nine candidate field, then became finance chair of the state party. But he’d try again in 1964 and was swept into office with other Republicans on Barry Goldwater’s coattails (you don’t hear that too often). To the surprise of everyone, he’d serve eight terms and hold the seat easily.

John Buchanan (Wiki)

At first, Buchanan was every bit as rank and file as his southern Republican brethren. As ranking member of the Government Operations Committee, he condemned Democrats for trying to investigate the costs of Nixon’s use of the plane. But there were cracks as early as the first year when Americans United for Separation of Church and State to award him Congressman of the Year in 1965. He opposed Medicare and the Voting Rights Act but began spearheading an investigation of the KKK. George Wallace did take a majority in Alabama-6 in 1968 (51%), but that was by far his lowest showing among Alabama’s seven Congressional district. For this was Birmingham, a heavy population of both African-Americans and whites.

There were other things. The Encyclopedia of Alabama says Buchanan “was a strong advocate of civic education, women’s rights, and civil liberties..and was the first Alabama congressman to promote diversity through hiring staff and nominating students to military academies regardless of race. ” He championed Title IX. Though he opposed busing, he backed federal funding for abortion and the Alaskan Lands bill. He used his seat on Foreign Affairs to advocate for Jews and Christians in Eastern Europe and blacks in South Africa.

What was all the remarkable about Buchanan’s conversion that he was a Baptist minister for ten years. Eventually, he’d join a predominantly black church in Washington DC and began advocating for home rule for the District of Columbia. The interaction with such a diverse crowd may have influenced his views, though his record well before shows his thoughtful, inclusive approach.

As time went on, this did not sit well with the increasingly conservative GOP back home and Buchanan began to experience a string of electoral challenges, including the general election. Buchanan was pressed hard in the Watergate year, to the point that some on both sides thought he might lose. He held with a surprisingly robust 58%. In 1976, he faced the Birmingham Sheriff who emulated Jimmy Carter’s anti-Washington platform. But Buchanan took 57%.

In 1978, primary voters began taking out their wrath on him. Buchanan surrendered 47% to two foes in the primary, 40% of which went to Albert Lee Smith. Had Buchanan finished below 50%, a runoff may have killed him. His Democratic opponent was poorly funded and Buchanan took 57% . In 1980, his luck ran out. Smith was back and had the field to himself.

Buchanan at a ’72 groundbreaking (Contemporary Photo)

Years later, Buchanan blamed the religious right for his loss. “It is absolutely true that the Moral Majority provided the margin of victory in my race. They were able to do a very extensive door-to-door campaign that turned the election around.” He became despondent on the direction of the party. “I have become controversial because the Republican Party is more to the right. I am absolutely glad to confess to being the most liberal Republican in Alabama. But that doesn’t make me the biggest liberal in the world.” He said losing his job made him feel “punched in the nose, hit over the head, kicked in the shin,” over his loss. “Republicans like me,” he added, “are a smile, not a frown.” Buchanan toyed with seeking office again in Maryland, but didn’t.

In time, Buchanan’s commitment to the betterment of society would earn him many accolades, among them the National Council of Jewish Women Hannah G. Solomon Award. He’d serve on the Common Cause President’s Council and the People for the American Way founded by Norman Lear, the latter which he had hoped to debate Jerry Falwell. At 85, Buchanan has left Alabama but continues speaking out on matters of importance. His story is emblematic of those who have felt the Republican Party is straying from it’s reputation as the party of Lincoln.

Buchanan, Wiki