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North Carolina's Governors
In 1954 Sanford managed Kerr Scott's successful campaign for the U.S. Senate. Six years later he had the support of Scott's organization in his bid for governor. Beverly Lake, his principal contender in the primary, campaigned largely on a segregationist platform. Sanford defeated Lake in a runoff and Republican Robert Gavin in the fall. Sanford urged the legislature to support $100 million in improvements for public schools and proposed financing by removing sales tax exemptions, including that on food. Higher education initiatives included the creation of state universities in Wilmington, Charlotte, and Asheville, and a community college system. Specialized education initiatives included the Governor's School for gifted and talented students; the School of the Arts; Operation Second Chance, for retraining dropouts; the Advancement School, for underachieving students; and the Learning Institute, for education research. Sanford in 1963 created the North Carolina Fund to combat poverty. He advocated "first-class citizenship" for all races and touted the biracial Good Neighbor Council to deal with race relation issues. After his term as governor Sanford led a study, based at Duke University, into the role of state governments. From 1969 to 1985 he served as president of Duke University. In 1972 and 1976 he was a candidate for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party. In 1986 Sanford defeated James T. Broyhill in a race for the U.S. Senate; six years later Lauch Faircloth defeated Sanford in his bid to retain the seat. Sanford is buried in Duke Chapel on the university campus.
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Terry Sanford (1917-1998), the youngest governor since Charles B. Aycock and the first born in the twentieth century, heralded a "New Day" in his inaugural address. He took office the same day John F. Kennedy became President, and launched a host of progressive programs, notably a series of education initiatives. Born in Laurinburg, Sanford completed a law degree at Chapel Hill after service as a paratrooper during World War II.
