493:. He opened his campaign on October 3 with a television broadcast, calling for a "two-way street in human relations" and advising that "The white cannot keep the Negro down without paying the awesome penalty of restricting his own advancement." The declaration marked a break from previous Republican messaging in the state and garnered skepticism from political observers. When asked whether his comments had doomed his chances, Phillips stated, "I think the people of Mississippi are ready to face this issue. I think it is a timely subject." He also alleged that the state was controlled by an "old guard establishment" who were interested in perpetuating their own power at the expense of the state's economy.
537:. Historian Billy Burton Hathorn reflected that Phillips' "two campaigns breathed new life in a previously moribund party Phillips spearheaded a gradual change in the political climate of his native state so that in the future it would be the general election, not the second Democratic primary, which became the principal focus of attention."
501:, which praised his call to improve the state's race relations and reduce the restriction of black economic advancement. He denounced their support as a "kiss of death type endorsement". He lost overwhelmingly to Williams, only garnering 30 percent of the vote, much of it coming from black voters registered in wake of the passage of the
456:
commissioner in 1956 calling for a moderate approach to racial issues. He and major state newspapers decried the threat posed by a two-party system to the political unity of white conservatives, warning that it would create an opening for black voters to gain influence. Phillips also backed education reform,
455:
in the state would "undermine the Negro" as "Negroes are all
Democrats." Johnson characterized Phillips as a covert racial moderate who had switched parties because he had little chance of winning a large Democratic primary, and his campaign publicized a memo Phillips had written as a public service
496:
Phillips backed the reinstatement of compulsory school attendance legislation, the disbanding of the
Mississippi Milk Commission and the repeal of the two-year residency requirement for prospective voters in the state. He also supported a freeze on state government hiring, which Williams rejected,
362:
for State Tax
Collector rather than seek reelection. The two other members of the commission decided to name Phillips as the body's chairman upon their assumption of office. He and the rest of the commission were sworn in on January 16, 1956. During his tenure the commission's regulatory authority
33:
446:
racial segregation in the state than
Democrats. He declared in one campaign appearance, "I was born a segregationist, I am for segregation now, and I will be for segregation when I die." He attempted to link Johnson with President Kennedy, using the campaign slogan "K.O. the Kennedys", and stated
517:, a New York-based company that built housing modules. The firm went bankrupt in 1972, and Phillips and four other executives were indicted for conspiracy and the fraudulent sale of stock. Phillips and three others were convicted of inflating profits to deceive investors, auditors, and the
285:, but was incarcerated and disbarred after becoming involved in a scheme to inflate profit figures to investors and regulators. Reinstated to the bar in 1982, he resumed legal practice and worked as a consultant and counsel for a telephone company. He died at an assisted living facility in
720:
Mrs. Thomas L. Bailey was reelected after a hard battle with Howard H. Little, who is the incumbent public service commissioner in the northern district. Rubel
Phillips soundly trounced Gov. White's administrative assistant Sam Wilhite, 68,865 to 26,970 from 537 of the 642
280:
with a more racially moderate approach, losing after getting only 30 percent of the vote. He never ran for office again but continued to fundraise for
Republican candidates throughout the rest of his life. He thereafter became an executive at the
468:
increases. He lost the election, garnering only 38 percent of the vote. Despite concluding that
Republicans had "lost a battle," he argued that "we have not lost the war. We now know that we have a strong two-party system."
529:
disbarred
Phillips. He successfully sought reinstatement to the bar in September 1982 and resumed practicing law in Jackson. From 1979 to 1990 he worked as a consultant and retained counsel for
375:
appointed his brother, Thomas, to succeed him on the commission. His resignation went into effect on
January 1, 1958. In 1959 he worked on a campaign advisory committee for
427:
said of his party switch, "I really believe he converted to
Republicanism as a political opportunity to raise money to run. I never saw him as adopting the philosophy."
1337:
396:
1327:
407:, which Yerger chaired. After several weeks of public speculation, on December 20, Phillips formally announced his decision to run as a Republican in the
367:
to lower its rates for Mississippi customers. He announced his resignation from the Public Service Commission on December 20, 1957, to join a law firm in
1062:
How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda
521:. He was sentenced to pay a $ 5,000 fine (equivalent to $ 23,000 in 2023) and 10 months of incarceration. The defendants appealed their case to the
1332:
1352:
1347:
1307:
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offered Mississippi "a program of genuine conservatism and local responsibility" and accusing the "National Democratic Party" of promoting
1143:
Hathorn, Billy Burton (November 1985). "Challenging the Status Quo: Rubel Lex Phillips and the Mississippi Republican Party (1963–1967)".
1097:
321:, and retained an officer's commission in the force until he retired from the navy with the rank of commander in 1963. He graduated from
269:, the first person to do so since 1947. Supporting a platform of racial segregation and opposition to the presidential administration of
1312:
497:
arguing it would deny employment opportunities to young people. Phillips was endorsed by the black-dominated and civil rights-oriented
457:
1357:
1082:
How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States
1257:
1253:
518:
482:
408:
326:
277:
266:
246:
1302:
618:
355:
258:
49:
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505:. He never ran for office again but continued to fundraise for Republican candidates throughout the rest of his life.
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147:
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1322:
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399:. In late 1962 he began consulting Wirt Yerger Jr. on the possibility of him running for the office of
358:
in 1955 as its northern district member. He succeeded Howard H. Little, who unsuccessfully ran against
298:
282:
242:
110:
526:
502:
226:
660:
734:
400:
314:
301:, to William T. Phillips and Ollie Fare Phillips. He had four brothers, including future writer
1080:
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534:
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127:
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Eager to continue to build up the Republican Party in Mississippi, state Republican chairman
1020:
816:
753:
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309:. Rubel Phillips graduated from Alcorn Agricultural High School in 1943 and enlisted in the
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241:(March 29, 1925 – June 18, 2011) was an American politician and lawyer. He grew up poor in
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184:
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522:
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485:. Encouraged by the good performance of moderate Republicans in the South during the
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Following his second failed gubernatorial bid, Phillips became an executive for the
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as the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1960 and voted for the slate of
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270:
1125:
In Search of Another Country: Mississippi and the Conservative Counterrevolution
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411:, making him the first Republican gubernatorial candidate in Mississippi since
415:
ran in 1947. He justified his switch in party affiliation by arguing that the
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372:
364:
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clerk for Alcorn County, serving from 1952 until 1956. He was elected to the
351:
254:
439:
376:
318:
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and finance director Billy Mounger convinced Phillips to run again in the
478:
249:. Hailing from a politically active family and initially a member of the
871:
Herbers, John (November 5, 1963). "Mississippi Race Touches on T.V.A.".
489:, Phillips decided to run as a moderate against segregationist Democrat
1159:
Mississippi Government and Politics: Modernizers Versus Traditionalists
424:
346:
Hailing from a politically active family and initially a member of the
619:"Rubel Phillips, pioneer in Mississippi Republican Party, dies at 86"
530:
465:
420:
32:
1201:
The Nashville Chronicles: The Making of Robert Altman's Masterpiece
443:
525:, which declined to hear their case in 1978. Two years later the
1095:
382:
533:. He died on June 18, 2011, at an assisted living facility in
854:
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get elected president in 1964. He also stated that a strong
796:. United Press International. December 20, 1962. p. 1.
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847:
305:. The family grew up poor, and in the 1940s they moved to
1038:
1036:
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891:
879:
823:
442:, arguing that Republicans were better suited to protect
1180:
Mississippi Politics: The Struggle for Power, 1976-2008
959:
1031:
1001:
930:
835:
625:. Advance Local Media. Associated Press. June 21, 2011
276:
Phillips ran as a Republican a second time during the
637:
1183:(second ed.). University Press of Mississippi.
574:
363:was strengthened and it successfully litigated the
699:
313:. He served for four years, including duty in the
297:Rubel Lex Phillips was born on March 29, 1925, in
273:, he lost, garnering only 38 percent of the vote.
594:"Margaret Phillips Enjoys Meeting Mississippians"
434:, Phillips' campaign was dominated by appeals to
1279:
1128:(reprint ed.). Princeton University Press.
993:"G.O.P. Moderate Is Seeking Mississippi Votes".
778:. Associated Press. January 1, 1958. p. 1.
261:from 1956 to 1958. In 1962 Phillips joined the
1338:University of Mississippi School of Law alumni
472:
772:"Power Company Favored In Co-Op Service Case"
701:"Coleman Next Governor As Landslide Recorded"
365:Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company
1328:United States Navy personnel of World War II
1155:
1048:
858:
754:"Affairs of State: R. Phillips Hat In Ring?"
531:Mobile Communications Corporation of America
383:Party switch and 1963 gubernatorial campaign
1176:
953:
885:
64:January 16, 1956 – January 1, 1958
1021:"Phillips Gets Support from Rocky and FDP"
978:"Negro Votes Sought in Mississippi Race".
806:
613:
611:
609:
607:
31:
1156:Krane, Dale; Shaffer, Stephen D. (1992).
809:"Phillips Is Running On Republican Slate"
735:"Other State Officers Are Inducted Today"
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333:and subsequently had two sons with her.
329:. In 1955, he married Margaret James in
257:clerk from 1952 to 1956 and chaired the
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1098:"Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–"
1042:
1007:
936:
924:
912:
870:
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807:DeLuaghter, Jerry (December 21, 1962).
643:
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519:U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
483:1967 Mississippi gubernatorial election
409:1963 Mississippi gubernatorial election
327:University of Mississippi School of Law
278:1967 Mississippi gubernatorial election
267:1963 Mississippi gubernatorial election
247:University of Mississippi School of Law
1333:People from Alcorn County, Mississippi
1280:
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658:
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1096:Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
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356:Mississippi Public Service Commission
259:Mississippi Public Service Commission
50:Mississippi Public Service Commission
1353:20th-century American businesspeople
1348:20th-century American naval officers
1027:. November 1, 1967. pp. 1A, 6A.
667:. Associated Press. pp. 1A, 8A.
499:Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
1308:Military personnel from Mississippi
790:"R. Phillips May Run As Republican"
752:Hills, Charles M. (July 29, 1962).
741:. Associated Press. pp. 1, 17.
733:Starr, Douglas (January 16, 1956).
688:. December 2, 1955. pp. 1, 10.
547:
387:Phillips opposed the nomination of
336:
13:
1177:Nash, Jere; Taggart, Andy (2009).
1145:The Journal of Mississippi History
661:"Phillips Resigns As PSC Chairman"
14:
1369:
1313:20th-century American politicians
682:"PSC Will Oppose All Integration"
659:Parker, Tim (December 20, 1957).
600:. September 19, 1963. p. 11.
1162:. University of Nebraska Press.
447:that he would help U.S. Senator
265:. He ran as a Republican in the
1358:Businesspeople from Mississippi
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16:American politician (1925–2011)
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997:. October 8, 1967. p. 67.
982:. October 4, 1967. p. 26.
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692:
586:
430:Like his Democratic opponent,
1:
1303:20th-century American lawyers
540:
508:
292:
1090:American Antiquarian Society
1070:American Antiquarian Society
710:. August 24, 1955. p. 1
487:1966 United States elections
405:Mississippi Republican Party
7:
1204:. Hal Leonard Corporation.
473:1967 gubernatorial campaign
10:
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598:The Greenwood Commonwealth
515:Stirling Homex Corporation
299:Alcorn County, Mississippi
283:Stirling Homex Corporation
243:Alcorn County, Mississippi
111:Alcorn County, Mississippi
53:from the Northern District
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1242:
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1122:Crespino, Joseph (2021).
527:Mississippi Supreme Court
503:Voting Rights Act of 1965
462:right-to-work legislation
245:, and graduated from the
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1225:Party political offices
859:Krane & Shaffer 1992
403:with the backing of the
1343:Millsaps College alumni
1288:Mississippi Republicans
1249:Governor of Mississippi
954:Nash & Taggart 2009
886:Nash & Taggart 2009
401:governor of Mississippi
350:, Phillips was elected
535:Ridgeland, Mississippi
423:. Political columnist
287:Ridgeland, Mississippi
128:Ridgeland, Mississippi
1318:Mississippi Democrats
215:Years of service
1198:Stuart, Jan (2003).
739:Hattiesburg American
665:Hattiesburg American
458:civil service reform
360:Nellah Massey Bailey
1323:Mississippi lawyers
927:, pp. 249–250.
915:, pp. 247–248.
432:Paul B. Johnson Jr.
303:Thomas Hal Phillips
185:Thomas Hal Phillips
84:Thomas Hal Phillips
1266:Title next held by
1234:Title last held by
1025:The Clarion-Ledger
995:The New York Times
980:The New York Times
873:The New York Times
813:The Clarion-Ledger
794:The Clarion-Ledger
758:The Clarion-Ledger
707:The Clarion-Ledger
686:The Clarion-Ledger
561:The Clarion-Ledger
559:"Rubel Phillips".
523:U.S. Supreme Court
491:John Bell Williams
393:unpledged electors
311:United States Navy
253:, he served as a
239:Rubel Lex Phillips
209:United States Navy
1276:
1275:
1238:George L. Sheldon
903:, pp. 90–91.
832:, pp. 89–90.
413:George L. Sheldon
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563:. June 20, 2011.
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453:two-party system
417:Republican Party
397:general election
348:Democratic Party
337:Political career
323:Millsaps College
263:Republican Party
251:Democratic Party
200:Military service
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107:
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93:Personal details
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74:Howard H. Little
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37:Phillips in 1957
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815:. pp. 1A,
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436:white supremacy
389:John F. Kennedy
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315:Pacific Theater
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271:John F. Kennedy
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173: 1955)
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958:
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125:(aged 86)
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1151:(4): 240–265.
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966:Crespino 2021
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901:Crespino 2021
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888:, p. 44.
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875:. p. 19.
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1103:February 29,
1101:. Retrieved
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1043:Hathorn 1985
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639:
627:. Retrieved
622:
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440:race-baiting
429:
386:
377:Ross Barnett
345:
342:Early career
319:World War II
296:
275:
238:
237:
144:(until 1962)
123:(2011-06-18)
80:Succeeded by
59:
18:
1298:2011 deaths
1293:1925 births
1116:Works cited
1074:1700–1799:
1054:1634–1699:
581:Stuart 2003
479:Clarke Reed
395:during the
371:. Governor
289:, in 2011.
150:(from 1962)
70:Preceded by
1282:Categories
1245:Republican
570:1461974091
541:References
509:Later life
425:Bill Minor
293:Early life
148:Republican
142:Democratic
104:1925-03-29
714:March 29,
466:sales tax
421:socialism
227:Commander
218:1943–1963
187:(brother)
181:Relations
60:In office
1079:(1992).
1059:(1997).
629:July 13,
623:GulfLive
566:ProQuest
444:Jim Crow
325:and the
192:Children
369:Jackson
307:Kossuth
175:
167:
1263:Vacant
1231:Vacant
1208:
1187:
1166:
1132:
721:boxes.
568:
460:, and
158:Spouse
130:, U.S.
113:, U.S.
1149:XLVII
1086:(PDF)
1066:(PDF)
169:(
165:
1258:1967
1254:1963
1206:ISBN
1185:ISBN
1164:ISBN
1130:ISBN
1105:2024
716:2024
631:2022
438:and
331:Drew
223:Rank
118:Died
98:Born
817:10A
317:of
1284::
1256:,
1147:.
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171:m.
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195:2
106:)
102:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
