This will never be a good place for any of us to live until it is a good place for all of us to live until it is a good place for all of us to live.
Hubert Humphrey
In 1970, Dale Leon Bumpers ran for governor of Arkansas. He defeated Orval Faubus in the Democratic Party primary and, on November 3rd, he defeated Republican incumbent Winthrop Rockefeller in the general election. Bumpers won 62% of the votes to become the 38th governor of Arkansas.
As governor, Bumpers' goal was to continue to work on changing Arkansas' national image from a backward state to a progressive state. He often quoted Hubert Humphrey's famous line: "This will never be a good place for any of us to live until it is a good place for all of us to live."
In reviewing the Bumpers' administration, Doug Smith, veteran political reporter for the Arkansas Gazette, observed that is "was damn near revolutionary, but hardly anybody noticed." According to Smith, "there was more substantive progressive legislation enacted than in any other four year period in Arkansas history…and while that was going on, Bumpers' was casually establishing himself as one of the more skillful politicians the state has ever produced."
The Gubernatorial Papers of Dale Leon Bumpers covers the years from 1970 through 1974. Major areas covered include education, civil rights, social issues, and women's rights. In addition, governor Bumpers reorganized state government and reformed the state income tax. By the end of his term as governor, Dale Bumpers had politically transformed the state of Arkansas.
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