George Darden

George Washington "Buddy" Darden III (born November 22, 1943) is an American politician and lawyer from Georgia. He served in the state house and then for more than five terms as Congressman from Georgia.

Buddy Darden
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 7th district
In office November 8, 1983 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Larry McDonald
Succeeded by	Bob Barr
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from District 19 Post-3
In office January 1981 – November 1983
Preceded by	Bill Cooper
Succeeded by	Bill Cooper
District Attorney of the Cobb Judicial Circuit of Georgia
In office January 1, 1973 – January 1, 1977
Preceded by	Benjamin F. Smith
Succeeded by	Thomas J. Charron
Personal details
Born	George Washington Darden III (1943-11-22) November 22, 1943 Hancock County, Georgia
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Lillian
Education	University of Georgia (AB, LLB, JD)[1]

Early life

Darden was born in Hancock County, Georgia. He lived in Sparta and attended public schools, graduating from Sparta High School in 1961. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens in 1965 and Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor from the UGA School of Law in 1967 and 1969.[2] He received many honors and awards while a college student, including being elected as president of the student body.[3]

Career

Law

Upon graduation from law school, Darden started his law career as assistant district attorney in Cobb County, Georgia, serving from 1968 to 1972. He was elected as County District Attorney and served from 1973 to 1977.[4]

Legislative

In 1980 Darden was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives as a Democrat representing District 19-Post3 (Cobb County). He took office in January 1981, and served until 1983, when he resigned to campaign for an open Congressional seat.[5]

Congress

Upon the sudden death of U.S. Representative Larry McDonald, who was killed in the 1983 downing of Korean Air Lines Flight 007, Darden won a special election to fill McDonald's seat for the remainder of the Ninety-eighth Congress. He resigned from the Georgia Assembly.[6][7]

During his tenure in office, Darden sponsored 61 bills, including H.R.2044, legislation that authorize and directs the National Park Service to assist the State of Georgia in relocating a highway affecting the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in Georgia.[8] Darden shepherded numerous bills, including those benefiting Lockheed Aeronautical Corp., through Congress as part of the Armed Services Committee and co-sponsored others. "You don't have to introduce a tiny little bill with your name on it to make a difference," he said.[9]

Darden was a member of the Standards of Official Conduct committee, elected in 1991, and served on the Committee on Armed Services and Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.[10][11]

Darden has supported socially conservative positions: he opposed federal funding for Medicaid abortions except in cases of rape, incest or threat to the life of the mother.[12] He supported the death penalty.[12] Darden advocated maintaining a strong defense in spite of improved East-West relations. He said any money saved from a "peace dividend" should go to deficit reduction.[12] In 1992, the Americans for Democratic Action gave Darden's 1991 voting record 40 points out of 100; the American Conservative Union gave him 35 points.[12]

He was reelected to five more terms as representative until 1994, when he was defeated by Bob Barr.[13] He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House in 2002.[14]

After Congress

Since leaving Congress, Darden has served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1996, 2000 and 2004. In 2000, President Clinton announced the recess appointment of Darden to serve as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).[15] Darden also served as chairman of the Judicial Nominating Commission in the administration of Georgia Governor Roy Barnes from 1999 to 2003.[16]

In 1992, Darden became a member of the Board of Trustees for LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. In 2002, Darden was named Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and served for five years. He retired as Chair in 2007. In recognition of his service to the college, LaGrange College conferred on him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on May 19, 2007. As is customary, Darden was the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony during which he was honored.[17]

Darden is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.[18]

Since 1995, Darden has been a partner in the Atlanta law firm of Denton's (formerly Long, Aldridge & Norman, then McKenna, Long & Aldridge).[19] In 2018, he left Denton's to join Atlanta law firm Pope McGlamry as senior counsel.

Personal life

Darden married Lillian Budd (born May 15, 1945) on February 18, 1968. They had two children together: Lillian Christine (born December 17, 1971; now married and known as Christine Darden Brennan) and George Washington IV Darden (born August 7, 1974).[3][20] Darden currently resides in Marietta, Georgia.

References

1. Georgia Official and Statistical Register, 1975-1976 - page 940
2. "Darden, George (Buddy)". Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
3. "Congressional Record, Volume 140, Number 147". GPO. 1994-11-29. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
4. Evans, Randy (2010-08-08). "The Buddy Darden Rule". Neighbor Newspapers. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
5. "Members Of The General Assembly Of Georgia - 136th Session - Term 1981-1982". State of Georgia. July 1981. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
6. Larry McDonald, Pat Buchanan, Tom Braden (May 1983). Crossfire (Television Production). United States: CNN.
7. William Cotterell (November 9, 1983). "State legislator George 'Buddy' Darden, who soundly defeated Kathryn McDonald". United Press International. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
8. "Bill Summary & Status– George Darden – 100th Congress". THOMAS (Library of Congress). Retrieved 2012-02-01.
9. "Darden-Beverly sequel even hotter, Debate opens war wounds in 7th District". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 1992-09-28. pp. B3.
10. "Bill Text – 102nd Congress – H.RES.57". THOMAS (Library of Congress). Retrieved 2012-02-01.
11. "Bill Text – 101st Congress – H.RES.39". THOMAS (Library of Congress). Retrieved 2012-02-01.
12. "George Washington Darden – candidate Profile". The Associated Press. 1992-11-07.
13. "Bob Barr". Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
14. Bullock, Charles S., III (2003), "It's a Sonny Day in Georgia", in Sabato, Larry (ed.), Midterm Madness: the elections of 2002, p. 185
15. "President Names Darden as Member of Board of Directors of the OPIC" (Press release). The White House Office of the Press Secretary. 2000-12-22. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
16. "Rollercoaster for Northern Georgia U.S. Attorney Candidate". Main Justice. 2009-09-08. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
17. "College Awards Three Honorary Doctorates" (Press release). LaGrange College. 2007-05-04. Archived from the original on 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
19. "Revolving Door: Buddy Darden Employment Summary". OpenSecrets. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
20. "Lillian B. Darden (Secretary)". Georgia Department of Human Resources. Retrieved 2012-02-01.

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Larry McDonald	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 7th congressional district November 8, 1983 – January 3, 1995	Succeeded by Bob Barr