The 1941 Board of Regents Controversy
 
   By the early 1940's, higher education was rising to a new prominence in the state of Georgia.  More Georgians were attending colleges and universities than ever before university administrations, faculty, staff, students and alumni were becoming a major political force, much to the dismay of Governor Eugene Talmadge.  Particularly concerned with race relations, Talmadge did not like the fact that educators were among the first to speak out for an end to segregation.  Shortly after his election as governor in 1940, Talmadge began a campaign to oust "foreign" educators from positions in higher education.  (In Talmadge's vocabulary, "foreign" translated into anyone or anything coming from outside the state of Georgia.)
 
 
 
 
  Two of the chief targets of Talmadge's education campaign were Dr. Marvin S. Pittman, president of Georgia Teachers College, and Dean Walter Dewey Cocking of the University of Georgia.  Talmadge did not approve of Pittman's connections with the faculty of the Tuskeegee Institute, and the Chicago-based Rosenwald Fund, which put up the money for a new library at Georgia Teachers College.  Cocking had done a study of higher education for blacks in Georgia, and had determined the there was a great disparity between state-supported institutions for blacks and whites. 
 
Dr. Walter D. Cocking
 
 
 Dr. Marvin S. Pittman 

 
 
 
 
A plea for justice was the only theme of Attorney Hatton Lovejoy (standing) at the board of regents meeting Monday when Governor Talmadge's "Me too" members ousted Dr. Walter D. Cocking and Dr. Marvin S. Pittman from the University System of Georgia.  Left, with pencil under chin, is Dr. Pittman and right, with brief case in lap, is Dr. Cocking.  In the center foreground is Scott Candler, a "replacement" regent.  
 		  
  At the May 30, 1941 meeting for the Georgia Board of Regents, Pittman and Cocking were charged with various allegations of misconduct, and advocating an end to segregation.  While initially voting to fire the men, at the end of the day the board of Regents tabled the motion to dismiss Cocking and Pittman. A public hearing on the charges against the men was scheduled for June 16, 1941. 

  At the June 16th meeting, the Regents declined to dismiss Walter Cocking by a vote of eight to seven.  Charges against Pittman were not heard.  Shortly after the meeting, Talmadge stepped up his campaign.  He directed the State Auditor to compile a list of "foreign professors."  A study was begun of the books in the university system, targeting anything advocating communism or any other un-American ideal for removal.  Soon after, two of the Regents who supported Cocking and Pittman announced their resignations; this allowed Talmadge to put two more of his supporters on the Board.  Rumors were flying concerning the activities of all involved, and finally, on July 14, 1941, the newly reconstructed Board of Regents fired Pittman and Cocking.
 
 
 
 
Excerpt from Text of Dr. Pittman's WSB Radio replying to Governor Talmadge's Charges 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  Criticism of the Regents' actions came fast and furious, culmination with the decision by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools' December 4, 1941 decision to deny accreditation to ten Georgia institutions.  Newspapers all over Georgia accused Talmadge of destroying higher education in Georgia, and Attorney General Ellis Arnall announced his candidacy for governor in the 1942 election with the promise to remove the Board of Regents from political influence.  The loss of accreditation became a central issue in the 1942 election.  College students became involved in politics as never before, campaigning against Talmadge.  In September 1942, Ellis Arnall defeated Eugene Talmadge by a narrow margin.
  
 
 
  In January 1943, one of Arnall's first political action was to sign a bill creating a Constitutionally independent Board of Regents without the governor as an ex-officio member.  Soon afterwards, the newly-formed Board of Regents offered Pittman and Cocking their jobs back.  While Cocking declined to return, Pittman assumed his former post as president of Georgia Teachers College, where he remained until 1948.  With these activities, the Board of Regents crisis was over.  This marked the last attempt of political officials to fundamentally challenge the role of higher education in Georgia.  
Return to Home Page