Phillip M. Landrum

Phillip Mitchell Landrum (September 10, 1907 – November 19, 1990) was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Georgia.

Phillip M. Landrum
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 9th district
In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977
Preceded by	John S. Wood
Succeeded by	Ed Jenkins
Personal details
Born	Phillip Mitchell Landrum September 10, 1907 Martin, Georgia
Died	November 19, 1990 (aged 83) Jasper, Georgia
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Piedmont College, Atlanta Law School

Born in Martin, Georgia, Landrum attended the public schools and Mercer University, in Macon, Georgia. He graduated from Piedmont College, in Demorest, Georgia (A.B., 1939) and from the Atlanta Law School (LL.B., 1941). While in college and law school, Landrum worked as Superintendent of Nelson (Georgia) High School (1937–1941). He was admitted to the bar in 1941 and commenced the practice of law in Canton, Georgia.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 1942. During the Second World War, Landrum enlisted as a private in the United States Army Air Corps on October 2, 1942. He served in Europe and was discharged on June 1, 1945, as a first lieutenant.

After his discharge from the military, Landrum was briefly employed by the Veterans' Administration. He then served as assistant attorney general of the State of Georgia in 1946-1947, and as Executive secretary to Governor Melvin E. Thompson in 1947-1948.

He returned to the practice of law in Jasper, Georgia until he was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-third and to the eleven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977). While he easily won twelve general elections, he faced strong opposition in several primary elections, including from a young Zell Miller in 1964 and 1966.

Landrum was one of the primary sponsors of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, also known as the Landrum-Griffin Act. He was also the author of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, one of the key pieces of legislation of President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty.[1]

A staunch segregationist, in 1956, Landrum signed "The Southern Manifesto."

He was not a candidate for re-election in 1976. He was a resident of Jasper until his death on November 19, 1990.

Interstate 575 is named in his honor.

Notes

1. Lyndon B. Johnson: Remarks in Franklin D. Roosevelt Square, Gainesville, Georgia, May 8th, 1964

References

• United States Congress. "Phillip M. Landrum (id: L000054)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• New York Times obituary
• OurCampaigns.com

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.