by Ray Hill | Dec 9, 2012 | Archives, Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives
By Ray Hill Ellison DuRant Smith was one of the more colorful figures in South Carolina’s oftentimes turbulent political history. It was frequent said, “His name is Ellison DuRant Smith and he sure do rant.” More commonly, he was known simply as “Cotton Ed.” E. D....
by Ray Hill | Dec 2, 2012 | Archives, Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives
By Ray Hill In a time when the South had some of the most flamboyant politicians in the country, few exceeded Robert Rice Reynolds of North Carolina for his flair. Over time, Reynolds’s penchant for flair degenerated into buffoonery, a condition few politicians can...
by Ray Hill | Nov 25, 2012 | Archives, Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives
By Ray Hill Walter F. George was, during his time, one of the most respected and powerful members of the United States Senate. Senator George was a man of innate, if not somewhat exaggerated, dignity; even his wife, Miss Lucy, referred to him as “Senator George.”...
by Ray Hill | Nov 18, 2012 | Archives, Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives
By Ray Hill During his time, Alben W. Barkley was one of the most famous public officials in the country. Barkley was renowned for his oratory and could be depended upon to give a rousing speech just about anywhere, at any time and on most any topic. Barkley was the...
by Ray Hill | Nov 11, 2012 | Archives, Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives
By Ray Hill When folks think in terms of Texas and Connally, the late Governor John Connally usually comes to mind, but there was another Connally who enjoyed a much longer political career: Thomas Terry Connally. Tom Connally was no relation to John Connally and...
by Ray Hill | Nov 4, 2012 | Archives, Columnist, Hill, Ray Hill's Archives
By Ray Hill When folks think of successful Irish politicians from Massachusetts, they tend to think in terms of the Kennedys, John and Ted. Yet the first and most enduring Irish-Catholic politician from Massachusetts was not a Kennedy; it was David Ignatius Walsh. ...
