George Wallace, former Governor of Alabama and husband of current Governor Lurleen Wallace, addresses the City Club of Cleveland amid speculation about a possible presidential run. As governor, he was chiefly noted for his stand against racial integration and the civil rights laws. One of his most famous quotations was “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever,” which he later stated meant “local government now, local government tomorrow, local government forever.” He uses the forum to explain and defend his political philosophy, record in Alabama and their attitude and philosophy in his state, and opposition to what he views as federal overreach.
One of the more controversial forum speakers, George Wallace was a staunch segregationist who ran a third-party candidacy for President in 1968 on a conservative states' rights platform. City Club members were among the protesters outside the forum, but then many of them came in to listen to Wallace speak, a testament to our tradition of backing a wide range of speakers.
The ideas expressed in City Club forums are those of the speakers, and not of the City Club, Ideastream Public Media, or their sponsors.