Those who lived through that hard-fought campaign have never forgotten it. Even though most North Carolinians today do not remember the events of 1960, the Sanford-Lake election still provides a common reference point for the discussion and understanding of North Carolina history and modern-day politics.
The shorthand version of the campaign is as follows: Sanford and his moderate-progressive followers won a close but decisive victory over Lake and his conservative-segregationist supporters.
However, as an important book points out, the story of this contest is much more complicated. The book is “Triumph Of Good Will: How Terry Sanford Beat A Champion Of Segregation And Reshaped The South” by News & Observer Editor John Drescher, published by the University of Mississippi Press several years ago.
Why did this political race inspire so much passion among North Carolinians? Drescher says it was because “ . . . Lake and Sanford represented their viewpoints so well. Each was the best his side had to offer. Often in politics, voters believe they’re settling for a candidate less than best. That was not the case in 1960. Lake was the conservative’s conservative; Sanford was the liberal’s liberal. The most passionate partisans on each side had deep faith in their man and for good reason. Lake and Sanford were strong leaders with a vision for the state. They were men of character and ability.”
Both Lake and Sanford were, in a sense, running against the administration of then Governor Luther Hodges —but for different reasons. Sanford thought Hodges was arrogant and out of touch. Lake thought Hodges had been too “moderate” in resisting the efforts to integrate public schools and other public accommodations that came after the Supreme Court’s Brown vs. Board of Education ruling in 1954.
Lake honestly believed that it was important to preserve racial segregation as the best way of providing for the advancement of both races in North Carolina. As a member of the state attorney general’s staff, he had been active in developing the state’s justification for continuing its segregated policies. His positions hardened. He explained them over and over again and became known statewide as an articulate and persuasive advocate for maintaining segregated public schools and public accommodations.
In 1960 most white North Carolinians still would have preferred to maintain segregated schools, although many had concluded that it was more important to “keep the schools open” or “obey the law of the land.” Lake appealed to those who thought it important to maintain segregation at almost any cost.
As a result, Lake is sometimes unfairly and inaccurately portrayed as a caricature of the southern racist politician—like Alabama Governor George Wall-ace or Arkansas Gover-nor Orville Faubus.
Drescher’s portrait of Lake is more sympathetic and more complete, thanks in large part to the cooperation of Lake’s son, current North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake, Jr.
Chief Justice Lake shared with Drescher his father’s papers and his own memories of his father’s career. While Drescher clearly prefers Sanford’s viewpoints over those of Lake, he admires Lake’s personal qualities.
As Drescher explains, “Lake’s personal and public generosity was part of his appeal as a candidate and set him apart from other leading Southern segregationists of the 1950’s and 60’s. He was not a hater. His supporters believed him to be a good man. He was a religious person; Lake was a faithful churchgoer and Sunday school teacher at the Baptist church in Wake Forest for most of his life.”
Was Lake a racist? It depends on what you mean by racist. Drescher quotes Roy Green, one of Lake’s drivers in his second campaign for governor, “He was not a racist. He just didn’t believe in integrated schools. There wasn’t a racist bone in his body.”
Whether or not Lake was a racist, John Drescher shows him to be an interesting and complicated person whose life and beliefs deserve more scholarly attention.
In the meantime, Drescher’s book tells an important story about a critical point in North Carolina history and the clash of two men and two sets of ideas. “Triumph Of Good Will” ought to be by the bedside of anyone who loves North Carolina politics. D.G. Martin hosts UNC-TV’s North Carolina Bookwatch, which airs Fridays at 9:30pm with an additional airing on Sundays at 5 p.m. For more information or to view prior programs visit the webpage at www.unctv .org/ncbookwatch/
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