[VIRGINIANA] 1965 GOVERNOR’S ELECTION PARAPHERNALIA

1965. 3” x 4 ¼” campaign flyer with button. Against a green background are the photographs of Mills Godwin for Governor, Fred Pollard for Lieut. Gov., and Robert Young Button for Attorney General. “Pledged to the Progress of Virginia”, it urges Virginians to vote on Nov. 2, 1965. Representing the Democratic party, Godwin was a leader of the segregationist “Massive Resistance” movement as a state senator, but moved away from this position in the second half of the 1960s. They did win the election, and while in office Godwin enacted sales tax and bond sales to finance improvements in mental health and higher education; he also helped create the Virginia Community College System. After leaving office he left the Democratic party due to its trending leftward politically, and ended up serving again as Governor of Virginia as a Republican from 1974-1978.~~This campaign literature discusses on the reverse the Democratic platform in Virginia in 1965, emphasizing educational opportunities and increased highway development. A 1” diameter button through the top corner of the flyer shows the three candidate’s names in stripes of green, white, and black. Very good condition. ~.