Guess Who Came to Evansville? Political Edition!

American history, History, Indiana history, Politics

Guess Who Came to Evansville? Political Edition!

July 25, 2018

1–2 minutes

*Post written by James Wethington, senior library assistant of the University Archives and Special Collections.

In the University Archives and Special Collections, there are several collections relating to local and national politics. Evansville has had their fair share of political candidates come to visit or campaign. Can you guess who these famous American politicians?

Let’s begin!

*Answer key and photograph information is located on the bottom of this post.

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Inside of online digital gallery at the University Archives and Special Collections, there are numerous collections relating to politics, such as Harry Thompson, Charles LaFollette, Winfield Denton, Roger Zion, Ralph Gray, and many more collections. UASC has created a research guide on politics.

Answers:

Politician #1: Robert F. Kennedy

Visited Evansville, Ind. on April 22, 1968.
Source: Sonny Brown collection (MSS 228-1417).

Politician #2: Ralph Nader

Visited ISUE in 1980.
Source: University Photographs collection (UP 03159).

Politician #3: George Wallace

Visited Evansville, Ind. on April 22, 1968.
Source: Sonny Brown collection (MSS 228-0993).

Politician #4: George H. W. Bush

Visited ISUE in 1988.
Source: University Photographs collection (UP 12085).

Politician #5: John F. Kennedy

Visited Evansville, Ind. on October 5, 1960.
Source: Sonny Brown collection (MSS 228-1373).

Politician #6: William Taft

Visited New Harmony, Ind. on June 8, 1914.
Source: Don Blair collection (MSS 247-4477).

Politician #7: Lyndon B. Johnson

Visited Evansville, Ind. on October 26, 1964.
Source: Sonny Brown collection (MSS 228-1442).

Politician #8: Richard Nixon

Visited Evansville, Ind. on May 3, 1968.
Source: Sonny Brown collection (MSS 228-1310).

2 responses to “Guess Who Came to Evansville? Political Edition!”

Gregory Van Leer Sr

July 27, 2021 at 12:49 pm

Met Lyndon Johnson when the motorcar stopped at Lincoln Elementary. Hubert Humphrey picked up my little brother who five a the the time. My mother took me to see Robert Kennedy at the Civic Center; was able to walk across the stage and shake his hand. While attending Central High school I was one of the African American protestors. I was no more than 15 feet from him. When he renounced his past I forgave him. Love covers a multitudes of sins; I refused to carry hatred in my heart.

Reply
1. Keith Vance
  
  August 27, 2022 at 8:43 am
  
  I was at the 1968 Wallace speach also. I was a freshman at CHS and I remember the African American protesters shouting down Wallace as he spoke. At the time I was too young to fully understand the dynamics of racism, but the protest made an impression. All these years later I can’t help but notice how much has changed and how much has stayed the same. Wallace was a Democrat back then, but sounded like so many Republican’s today.
  
  Reply