James K. Vardaman
James Kimble Vardaman (July 26, 1861 – June 25, 1930) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Mississippi. A Democrat, he served as the Governor of Mississippi from 1904 to 1908 and then represented Mississippi in the United States Senate from 1913 to 1919.
James K. Vardaman | |
|---|---|
Vardaman in 1910 | |
| United States Senator from Mississippi | |
| In office March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1919 | |
| Preceded by | LeRoy Percy |
| Succeeded by | Byron P. Harrison |
| 36th Governor of Mississippi | |
| In office January 19, 1904 – January 21, 1908 | |
| Lieutenant | John Prentiss Carter |
| Preceded by | Andrew H. Longino |
| Succeeded by | Edmond Favor Noel |
| Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives | |
| In office 1894–1896 | |
| Preceded by | Hugh McQueen Street |
| Succeeded by | James F. McCool |
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the Leflore County district | |
| In office January 1890 – January 1896 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Kimble Vardaman July 26, 1861 Jackson County, Texas, C.S.A. |
| Died | June 25, 1930 (aged 68) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Resting place | Lakewood Memorial Park, Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Anna Burleson Robinson |
| Nickname | "The Great White Chief" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Rank | Major |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War |
Known as "The Great White Chief", Vardaman had gained electoral support for his advocacy of populism and white supremacy, saying: "If it is necessary every Negro in the state will be lynched; it will be done to maintain white supremacy." Aligning with left-wing populists and favoring progressive reforms in railing against banks, railroads, and tariffs, he appealed to the poorer whites, yeomen farmers, and factory workers. Vardaman's tenure as Governor of Mississippi was marked by his advocacy of regulating corporations, enacting child labor laws, segregating streetcars, ending educational opportunities for African-Americans, and defending lynching. After completing his term as governor, he defeated Democratic incumbent LeRoy Percy, a member of the planter elite, in the primary for the 1912 U.S. Senate election, and was then elected unopposed in the general election.