Connor, Theophilus Eugene 'Bull', et al. vs. New York Times, et al.
Trial Transcript
Biography:
Theophilus
Eugene Connor was born in Dallas County, Alabama in 1897. Trained as a telegraph
operator, Connor eventually settled in Birmingham, Alabama where he worked as a
radio sports announcer.
Capitalizing on his popularity with radio listeners and on his well known
nickname ("Bull"), Connor entered
politics in 1934 and was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives. Connor
was elected Public Safety
Commissioner of Birmingham in 1937, a position that gave him administrative
authority over the citys police
and fire departments. He remained Public Safety Commissioner until 1954, and
held the position again from
1958 to 1963 when he was forced from office by a change in the form of the city
government. During his long
political career Connor ran two unsuccessful campaigns for governor of Alabama
and was a leader of the1948
Dixiecrat revolt. From 1964 to 1972 he served as a member of the Alabama Public
Service Commission, the
state body that regulates public utilities. Connor died in Birmingham in 1973.
"Bull" Connor is most famous for ordering the use of police dogs and
fire hoses to disperse civil rights
demonstrators in Birmingham during the spring of 1963.
Sources:
Bernard,
William D., Dixiecrats and Democrats: Alabama Politics, 1942-1950.
Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press, 1974.
Garrow, Daid
J. (ed), Birmingham, Alabama, 1956-1963: The Black Struggle for
Civil Rights. Brooklyn, New York: Carlson Publishing, 1989.
Nunnelley,
William D., Bull Connor. Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama
Press, 1991.
Scope and Content:
On
April 12, 1960 the New York Times published an article by correspondent
Harrison Salisbury examining race relations in Birmingham, Alabama. Connor and
his
fellow city commissioners filed suit against the Times. This collection
contains a
transcript of the trial.
Guide to Collection:
File
level guide available in the Archives.
Subject Areas:
Birmingham (Ala.) Officials and employees.
Birmingham
(Ala.) Politics and government 20th century.
Birmingham
(Ala.) Race relations.
Connor,
Eugene, 1897-1973.
Politicians
Alabama Birmingham.
Salisbury,
Harrison Evans, 1908-
Collection Number: 17
Size: 1 linear foot (14 boxes)
Restrictions: Standard preservation and copyright restrictions.
JB/10-25-99
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