Changes

In 1972, Thompson was a [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives]], but he was defeated by the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[incumbent]] [[W.S. Stuckey, Jr.]], [[scion]] of a wealthy Georgia family. In 1974, as his party's [[gubernatorial]] nominee, Thompson was trounced by Democrat [[George D. Busbee]]. A [[populist]] in political philosophy, Thompson was often at odds with his state and national moderate Republican leadership. However, during [[Watergate]] he was a staunch defender of embattled [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]], no particular favorite of many conservative Republicans.

In 1972, Thompson was a [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives]], but he was defeated by the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[incumbent]] [[W.S. Stuckey, Jr.]], [[scion]] of a wealthy Georgia family. In 1974, as his party's [[gubernatorial]] nominee, Thompson was trounced by Democrat [[George D. Busbee]]. A [[populist]] in political philosophy, Thompson was often at odds with his state and national moderate Republican leadership. However, during [[Watergate]] he was a staunch defender of embattled [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]], no particular favorite of many conservative Republicans.

Buddy Kelly Moore (1951-1998),<ref name=ssdi>http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi</ref> who completed a [[master of arts]] [[thesis]] on Thompson's career in 1976 at [[Georgia College & State University]] in [[Milledgeville, Georgia|Milledgeville]], determined that the Maconite "shocked and fascinated observers with hard-line approaches to law-and-order, [[municipal]] [[organized labor|unionism]], and race relations." Moore defined Thompson's career in terms of a "predilection for the flamboyant."<ref>Buddy Kelly Moore, '''Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson" A Political Biography'', Georgia College at Milledgeville, Master's thesis, August 1976, p. vi</ref> Unconventional [[author]] Will D. Campbell called Thompson "a harbinger of the [[New Right]]", a movement which emerged in the late [[1970s]] to help to elect Republican [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]] as [[U.S. President]].<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA191&lpg=RA1-PA191&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=5ttPFo0eCj&sig=JwKBOrK4ZnE27_NX2uOT9IjfSjw&hl=en#PRA1-PA140,M1</ref>

Buddy Kelly Moore (1951-1998),<ref name=ssdi>http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi</ref> who completed a [[master of arts]] [[thesis]] on Thompson's career in 1976 at [[Georgia College & State University]] in [[Milledgeville, Georgia|Milledgeville]], determined that the Maconite "shocked and fascinated observers with hard-line approaches to law-and-order, [[municipal]] [[organized labor|unionism]], and race relations." Moore defined Thompson's career in terms of a "predilection for the flamboyant."<ref>Buddy Kelly Moore, '''Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson" A Political Biography'', Georgia College at Milledgeville, Master's thesis, August 1976, p. vi</ref> Unconventional [[author]] Will D. Campbell called Thompson "a harbinger of the [[New Right]]", a movement which emerged in the late [[1970s]] to help to elect Republican [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]] as [[U.S. President]].<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA191&lpg=RA1-PA191&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=5ttPFo0eCj&sig=JwKBOrK4ZnE27_NX2uOT9IjfSjw&hl=en#PRA1-PA140,M1</ref>

==Early years, family, education, business==

==Early years, family, education, business==

==Thompson and African Americans==

==Thompson and African Americans==

Thompson chaired the Macon City Council [[Library]] Committee, which quietly opened services to [[African Americans]]. "Not a word was said about it. We just did it. No big to-do. No press releases to inflame folks. and we started putting branch libraries in different neighborhoods. Nothing racial about it," Thompson recalled.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA188&lpg=RA1-PA188&dq=will+d+campbell+ronnie+thompson&source=web&ots=5ttOIp_gzf&sig=eS3tR54AnASFJxQ77eTFE77MsmM&hl=en#PRA1-PA189,M1</ref>

Thompson chaired the Macon City Council [[Library]] Committee, which quietly opened services to [[African Americans]]. "Not a word was said about it. We just did it. No big to-do. No press releases to inflame folks. and we started putting branch libraries in different neighborhoods. Nothing racial about it," Thompson recalled.<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA188&lpg=RA1-PA188&dq=will+d+campbell+ronnie+thompson&source=web&ots=5ttOIp_gzf&sig=eS3tR54AnASFJxQ77eTFE77MsmM&hl=en#PRA1-PA189,M1</ref>

Most African Americans in Macon, however, opposed the Thompson administration. In 1969, Thompson blocked the popular [[boxer]], [[Muhammad Ali]], from fighting at the Macon Coliseum, which Thompson had helped to complete, because Thompson objected to Ali's [[Conscientious Objector]] status during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>http://www.mindspring.com/~teeth/caution/macontg100years.htm</ref>

Most African Americans in Macon, however, opposed the Thompson administration. In 1969, Thompson blocked the popular [[boxer]], [[Muhammad Ali]], from fighting at the Macon Coliseum, which Thompson had helped to complete, because Thompson objected to Ali's [[Conscientious Objector]] status during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>http://www.mindspring.com/~teeth/caution/macontg100years.htm</ref>

In midsummer of 1971, a racial crisis erupted when a black city employee was shot and killed by a white policeman, who a month later was cleared of [[involuntary manslaughter]].<ref>Robert Friedman, "City Votes to Pay Officer's Defense", ''Macon Telegraph'', June 30, 1971, p. A1; Grant Jackson, "Mayor to Keep Beck on Duty", ''Macon Telegraph'', June 30, 1971,  p. A3; Jackson, "Beck Case Dismissed by Jury", ''Macon Telegraph'', July 16, 1971, p. A1</ref> Mayor Thompson imposed a 36-hour [[curfew]] after several suspected fire bombings. He fired a [[carbine]] in the air, heard over police [[radio]], while he accompanied a police patrol.<ref>http://www.mindspring.com/~teeth/caution/macontg100years.htm</ref> He further angered [[liberal]]s by publicly discussing the "best type of bullet" to use against the criminal element. Critics called him "Machine Gun Ronnie", a [[sobriquet]] to which he did not object though he never handled a [[machine gun]]. In fact, he paid for his campaigns by selling [[memorabilia]] containing the name "Thompson" on model machine guns.<ref>http://www.rru.com/~meo/ga-folk/ga.5.html; http://www.civilrights.uga.edu/bibliographies/macon/mayor_thompson.htm</ref>

In midsummer of 1971, a racial crisis erupted when a black city employee was shot and killed by a white policeman, who a month later was cleared of [[involuntary manslaughter]].<ref>Robert Friedman, "City Votes to Pay Officer's Defense", ''Macon Telegraph'', June 30, 1971, p. A1; Grant Jackson, "Mayor to Keep Beck on Duty", ''Macon Telegraph'', June 30, 1971,  p. A3; Jackson, "Beck Case Dismissed by Jury", ''Macon Telegraph'', July 16, 1971, p. A1</ref> Mayor Thompson imposed a 36-hour [[curfew]] after several suspected fire bombings. He fired a [[carbine]] in the air, heard over police [[radio]], while he accompanied a police patrol.<ref>http://www.mindspring.com/~teeth/caution/macontg100years.htm</ref> He further angered [[liberal]]s by publicly discussing the "best type of bullet" to use against the criminal element. Critics called him "Machine Gun Ronnie", a [[sobriquet]] to which he did not object though he never handled a [[machine gun]]. In fact, he paid for his campaigns by selling [[memorabilia]] containing the name "Thompson" on model machine guns.<ref>http://www.rru.com/~meo/ga-folk/ga.5.html; http://www.civilrights.uga.edu/bibliographies/macon/mayor_thompson.htm</ref>

The Reverend Julius Caesar Hope (born 1932), a Macon black minister and the president of the Georgia [[NAACP]], contended that African Americans in Macon were tired of living with unfulfilled promises for so long.<ref>http://crdl.usg.edu/voci/go/crdl/dvd/viewItemc/wsbn63449-1-broll/flash/6517/2;jsessionid=7157AB6843F3D68E8CA43EC2ED1A0965</ref> Hope viewed Thompson as ambivalent toward blacks: "I think Mayor Thompson was a politician of expediency. I really don't think deep down within Ronnie Thompson was a [[racist]]."<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, pp. 34-35</ref> Macon lawyer Virgil Adams, who was a teenager at the time of the Thompson administration, alleged that Thompson "damaged Macon's image. When it got dark, you (blacks) needed to be off the street. Parents wouldn't let us out of the house at night for fear of being locked up, beaten by police, or shot."<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=4qPZiyJZOkYC&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=5vhIr1Ngab&sig=MehwVaKHcaJ3LUWqMi9OYP0eVpc&hl=en</ref>

The Reverend Julius Caesar Hope (born 1932), a Macon black minister and the president of the Georgia [[NAACP]], contended that African Americans in Macon were tired of living with unfulfilled promises for so long.<ref>http://crdl.usg.edu/voci/go/crdl/dvd/viewItemc/wsbn63449-1-broll/flash/6517/2;jsessionid=7157AB6843F3D68E8CA43EC2ED1A0965</ref> Hope viewed Thompson as ambivalent toward blacks: "I think Mayor Thompson was a politician of expediency. I really don't think deep down within Ronnie Thompson was a [[racist]]."<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, pp. 34-35</ref> Macon lawyer Virgil Adams, who was a teenager at the time of the Thompson administration, alleged that Thompson "damaged Macon's image. When it got dark, you (blacks) needed to be off the street. Parents wouldn't let us out of the house at night for fear of being locked up, beaten by police, or shot."<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=4qPZiyJZOkYC&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=5vhIr1Ngab&sig=MehwVaKHcaJ3LUWqMi9OYP0eVpc&hl=en</ref>

Thompson, however, defends his mayoral record on race relations. "Race wasn't an issue until my opponent brought it in. My administration built three new [[hospital]]s. Jet airport, firehouses, integrated the police department, had black personnel in every department. We went eight years without a tax increase or [[bond issue]]. I had a biracial committee<ref>http://crdl.usg.edu/voci/go/crdl/publicSearch/viewVBO/6517/0;jsessionid=8E605E31732715B994440854E6255064</ref> that met every month. Things like doctor's offices. Black patients had to go in a back door. We got it stopped. And the [[newspaper]]s had a different edition for black subscribers. My committee talked to them, and they stopped it."<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA188&lpg=RA1-PA188&dq=will+d+campbell+ronnie+thompson&source=web&ots=5ttOIp_gzf&sig=eS3tR54AnASFJxQ77eTFE77MsmM&hl=en#PRA1-PA189,M1</ref>

Thompson, however, defends his mayoral record on race relations. "Race wasn't an issue until my opponent brought it in. My administration built three new [[hospital]]s. Jet airport, firehouses, integrated the police department, had black personnel in every department. We went eight years without a tax increase or [[bond issue]]. I had a biracial committee<ref>http://crdl.usg.edu/voci/go/crdl/publicSearch/viewVBO/6517/0;jsessionid=8E605E31732715B994440854E6255064</ref> that met every month. Things like doctor's offices. Black patients had to go in a back door. We got it stopped. And the [[newspaper]]s had a different edition for black subscribers. My committee talked to them, and they stopped it."<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA188&lpg=RA1-PA188&dq=will+d+campbell+ronnie+thompson&source=web&ots=5ttOIp_gzf&sig=eS3tR54AnASFJxQ77eTFE77MsmM&hl=en#PRA1-PA189,M1</ref>

In a 1971 speech to the Macon Optimist Club, Thompson urged blacks to work hard. He noted that he is descended from "a laboring family from a mill town." Thompson said that he understands the discrimination of [[poverty]] and declared that "the best way that I know to fight poverty is to go to work." The speech brought a standing ovation from the Optimists. Thompson declared that the city would fight for its citizens and businesses.<ref>http://crdl.usg.edu/voci/go/crdl/publicSearch/viewVBO/6517/0;jsessionid=8E605E31732715B994440854E6255064</ref>

In a 1971 speech to the Macon Optimist Club, Thompson urged blacks to work hard. He noted that he is descended from "a laboring family from a mill town." Thompson said that he understands the discrimination of [[poverty]] and declared that "the best way that I know to fight poverty is to go to work." The speech brought a standing ovation from the Optimists. Thompson declared that the city would fight for its citizens and businesses.<ref>http://crdl.usg.edu/voci/go/crdl/publicSearch/viewVBO/6517/0;jsessionid=8E605E31732715B994440854E6255064</ref>

Thompson's tough stance on crime was lauded by the national radio commentator [[Paul Harvey]].<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=TH7nmIjcteQC&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=KPPbEuQE4r&sig=IlUX9zhB85ZK8CnXkB4WwgTvuD0&hl=en</ref>

Thompson's tough stance on crime was lauded by the national radio commentator [[Paul Harvey]].<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=TH7nmIjcteQC&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=KPPbEuQE4r&sig=IlUX9zhB85ZK8CnXkB4WwgTvuD0&hl=en</ref>

==Nerve gas and unionization==

==Nerve gas and unionization==

==School busing==

==School busing==

Thompson emphatically opposed school busing to achieve racial balance as affirmed in 1971 in the [[United States Supreme Court]] decision ''[[Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education]]''.<ref>http://www.oyez.org/cases/1970-1979/1970/1970_281/</ref> He blamed President Nixon for directing the machinery of the administration toward achieving school integration. He accused Nixon of having advocated "socialistic trends" in housing and welfare, of leniency toward "[[hippie]]s and revolutionaries", and with failure to end "forced busing."<ref>Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run", p. 75</ref> In Macon, a court-ordered desegregation plan in 1970 transferred many students to different schools. When Thompson's 12-year-old son, Johnny, was among those relocated, he continued to take his son to the previous school, as did other parents. He was threatened with [[contempt of court]], and despite [[boycott]]s by angry parents, the desegregation plan was implemented.<ref>Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run", p. 99</ref>

Thompson emphatically opposed school busing to achieve racial balance as affirmed in 1971 in the [[United States Supreme Court]] decision ''[[Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education]]''.<ref>https://www.oyez.org/cases/1970-1979/1970/1970_281/</ref> He blamed President Nixon for directing the machinery of the administration toward achieving school integration. He accused Nixon of having advocated "socialistic trends" in housing and welfare, of leniency toward "[[hippie]]s and revolutionaries", and with failure to end "forced busing."<ref>Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run", p. 75</ref> In Macon, a court-ordered desegregation plan in 1970 transferred many students to different schools. When Thompson's 12-year-old son, Johnny, was among those relocated, he continued to take his son to the previous school, as did other parents. He was threatened with [[contempt of court]], and despite [[boycott]]s by angry parents, the desegregation plan was implemented.<ref>Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run", p. 99</ref>

Thompson went to Washington meet with Nixon, whom Thompson said "told me positively, face to face, there would be no busing to meet racial quotas. . . . " As the busing continued, Thompson remained livid with Nixon.<ref>Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run", p. 75</ref> Watergate, however, prompted Thompson to defend Nixon and to attack the three national television networks for their comparable anti-Nixon coverage. In time, Thompson called on Nixon to surrender the [[White House]] tapes because Thompson expected the information to exonerate the President. Despite Nixon's resignation, Thompson said that he would always hold the former president "in the highest esteem". Thompson said that he never hesitated to take on politically impractical and unpopular causes.<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', May 8, 1974, p. A3; Randall Savage, "Nixon Still Gets the Mayor's Respect", ''Macon Telegraph'', August 9, 1974, p. A3; Moore, Thesis, p. 88</ref>

Thompson went to Washington meet with Nixon, whom Thompson said "told me positively, face to face, there would be no busing to meet racial quotas. . . . " As the busing continued, Thompson remained livid with Nixon.<ref>Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run", p. 75</ref> Watergate, however, prompted Thompson to defend Nixon and to attack the three national television networks for their comparable anti-Nixon coverage. In time, Thompson called on Nixon to surrender the [[White House]] tapes because Thompson expected the information to exonerate the President. Despite Nixon's resignation, Thompson said that he would always hold the former president "in the highest esteem". Thompson said that he never hesitated to take on politically impractical and unpopular causes.<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', May 8, 1974, p. A3; Randall Savage, "Nixon Still Gets the Mayor's Respect", ''Macon Telegraph'', August 9, 1974, p. A3; Moore, Thesis, p. 88</ref>

Thompson enlisted in the [[United States Air Force]] after his high school graduation. He served in the intelligence unit during the [[Korean War]] until a [[football]] injury resulted in his discharge in 1952 and disqualified him from [[pilot]] training.<ref>Buddy Kelly, Thesis, p. 4</ref> Thompson was a strong proponent of the American troops who were assigned to block the expansion of [[communism]] in the [[Vietnam War]]. He traveled to South Vietnam and went into the [[combat]] areas. He returned to Macon with numerous hand-delivered messages from the troops for their families. The sight of the American [[flag]] inspired staunch [[patriotism|patriotic]] feeings in Thompson. "I always get a thrill when I see the flag go by or hear the ''[[Star-Spangled Banner]]'', said Thompson, who contends that his maternal family is descended from [[Francis Scott Key]].<ref>Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run?", p. 90</ref> Thompson established the label "Flag City U. S. A." for Macon, where on Poplar Street are fifty-four flagpoles which fly the emblems of each state, the U.S. flag, and the standards of the [[District of Columbia]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[Virgin Islands]].<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', November 14, 1975, p. A4</ref>

Thompson enlisted in the [[United States Air Force]] after his high school graduation. He served in the intelligence unit during the [[Korean War]] until a [[football]] injury resulted in his discharge in 1952 and disqualified him from [[pilot]] training.<ref>Buddy Kelly, Thesis, p. 4</ref> Thompson was a strong proponent of the American troops who were assigned to block the expansion of [[communism]] in the [[Vietnam War]]. He traveled to South Vietnam and went into the [[combat]] areas. He returned to Macon with numerous hand-delivered messages from the troops for their families. The sight of the American [[flag]] inspired staunch [[patriotism|patriotic]] feeings in Thompson. "I always get a thrill when I see the flag go by or hear the ''[[Star-Spangled Banner]]'', said Thompson, who contends that his maternal family is descended from [[Francis Scott Key]].<ref>Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run?", p. 90</ref> Thompson established the label "Flag City U. S. A." for Macon, where on Poplar Street are fifty-four flagpoles which fly the emblems of each state, the U.S. flag, and the standards of the [[District of Columbia]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[Virgin Islands]].<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', November 14, 1975, p. A4</ref>

Thompson said that he felt compelled to protect the students of Mercer University, which he had briefly attended, from subversive speakers brought to the campus. He once vowed to arrest the antiwar activist and [[actress]] [[Jane Fonda]] were she to speak at Mercer.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA191&lpg=RA1-PA191&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=5ttPFo0eCj&sig=JwKBOrK4ZnE27_NX2uOT9IjfSjw&hl=en#PRA1-PA140,M1</ref>

Thompson said that he felt compelled to protect the students of Mercer University, which he had briefly attended, from subversive speakers brought to the campus. He once vowed to arrest the antiwar activist and [[actress]] [[Jane Fonda]] were she to speak at Mercer.<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA191&lpg=RA1-PA191&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=5ttPFo0eCj&sig=JwKBOrK4ZnE27_NX2uOT9IjfSjw&hl=en#PRA1-PA140,M1</ref>

He also rallied to the defense of [[U.S. Army]] [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[William Calley|William L. Calley, Jr.]], a fellow southerner who was convicted in the [[My Lai]] massacre during the Vietnam War. Thompson even offered Calley employment when the officer was paroled. Like Thompson had in his earlier years, Calley thereafter earned his livelihood in the jewelry business, but in Atlanta.<ref>Moore, Thesis, p. 86</ref>

He also rallied to the defense of [[U.S. Army]] [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[William Calley|William L. Calley, Jr.]], a fellow southerner who was convicted in the [[My Lai]] massacre during the Vietnam War. Thompson even offered Calley employment when the officer was paroled. Like Thompson had in his earlier years, Calley thereafter earned his livelihood in the jewelry business, but in Atlanta.<ref>Moore, Thesis, p. 86</ref>

In 1974, Thompson cross-filed in both the Republican and Democratic parties for governor, a practice then allowed in Georgia but not used by previous candidates during the state's long period of Democratic hegemony. Thompson said that his cross-filing was intended to increase his name identification and propel him to the leading position among four Republican primary candidates.<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, p. 116</ref> After the election, the state law permitting cross-filing was repealed in the Busbee administration. California similarly had a cross-filing law in the [[1950s]], used by then Governor [[Earl Warren]]. Thompson had considered running once again for U.S. representative or for [[Lieutenant Governor|lieutenant governor]] but instead filed for governor. He expected to face then Lieutenant Governor Lester Maddox of the Atlanta metro area, a former governor known nationally for his past appeals to segregation. Thompson called Maddox "a counterfeit conservative" and challenged the former governor to a head-to-head debate, which Maddox promptly rejected.<ref>Selby McCash and Randall Savage, "'Bring on Maddox,' Mayor Says," ''Macon Telegraph'', August 14, 1974, p. A1</ref>

In 1974, Thompson cross-filed in both the Republican and Democratic parties for governor, a practice then allowed in Georgia but not used by previous candidates during the state's long period of Democratic hegemony. Thompson said that his cross-filing was intended to increase his name identification and propel him to the leading position among four Republican primary candidates.<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, p. 116</ref> After the election, the state law permitting cross-filing was repealed in the Busbee administration. California similarly had a cross-filing law in the [[1950s]], used by then Governor [[Earl Warren]]. Thompson had considered running once again for U.S. representative or for [[Lieutenant Governor|lieutenant governor]] but instead filed for governor. He expected to face then Lieutenant Governor Lester Maddox of the Atlanta metro area, a former governor known nationally for his past appeals to segregation. Thompson called Maddox "a counterfeit conservative" and challenged the former governor to a head-to-head debate, which Maddox promptly rejected.<ref>Selby McCash and Randall Savage, "'Bring on Maddox,' Mayor Says," ''Macon Telegraph'', August 14, 1974, p. A1</ref>

Thompson also clashed with [[J.B. Stoner]], a self-avowed [[white supremacy|white supremacist]], who ran as a Democrat for lieutenant governor to succeed Maddox. Stoner, the former attorney for [[James Earl Ray]], the convicted [[assassin]] of [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]], placed a controversial advertisement on the side of a bus of the Macon Transit Company. Thompson had the sign removed, and Stoner sued successfully in federal court to have the sign returned though it was seen as hostile to blacks. Stoner even urged blacks to support Thompson for governor, a recommendation he made tongue-in-cheek.<ref>Randall Savage, "Stoner's Signs Removed from Buses," ''Macon Telegraph'', May 23, 1974, p. A3; Richard Harris, "Council Bans Political Ads from Buses," ''Macon Telegraph'', July 18, 1974, p. A3; ''Macon Telegraph'', June 28, 1974, p. A3</ref> Stoner received more votes in his race for lieutenant governor—73,449 or 9 percent of the total—than were cast for all candidates in the Republican gubernatorial primary.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=FiRbQYoZtv0C&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=4hgVyttuXS&sig=9s_rGFItLI_uxkmWIFy6z-uuuQA&hl=en</ref>

Thompson also clashed with [[J.B. Stoner]], a self-avowed [[white supremacy|white supremacist]], who ran as a Democrat for lieutenant governor to succeed Maddox. Stoner, the former attorney for [[James Earl Ray]], the convicted [[assassin]] of [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]], placed a controversial advertisement on the side of a bus of the Macon Transit Company. Thompson had the sign removed, and Stoner sued successfully in federal court to have the sign returned though it was seen as hostile to blacks. Stoner even urged blacks to support Thompson for governor, a recommendation he made tongue-in-cheek.<ref>Randall Savage, "Stoner's Signs Removed from Buses," ''Macon Telegraph'', May 23, 1974, p. A3; Richard Harris, "Council Bans Political Ads from Buses," ''Macon Telegraph'', July 18, 1974, p. A3; ''Macon Telegraph'', June 28, 1974, p. A3</ref> Stoner received more votes in his race for lieutenant governor—73,449 or 9 percent of the total—than were cast for all candidates in the Republican gubernatorial primary.<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=FiRbQYoZtv0C&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=4hgVyttuXS&sig=9s_rGFItLI_uxkmWIFy6z-uuuQA&hl=en</ref>

In the gubernatorial primary, Thompson faced four opponents, W.M. Coolidge, Harold Dye, [[Harry Geisinger]], and George Lankford. Dye (born 1917) of [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]] is a retired [[brigadier general]] who was a former member of the [[United Nations]] Military Armistice Commission and an official in the Georgia Department of Industry and Trade. Coolidge and Lankford were [[county commission]]ers in [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb]] and [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb]] counties, respectively. Geisinger, a native of [[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]], years later was elected to the [[Georgia State Legislature|Georgia House of Representatives]] from [[Roswell, Georgia|Roswell]] and served in the House Republican leadership.<ref>http://www.electharry.org/</ref>

In the gubernatorial primary, Thompson faced four opponents, W.M. Coolidge, Harold Dye, [[Harry Geisinger]], and George Lankford. Dye (born 1917) of [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]] is a retired [[brigadier general]] who was a former member of the [[United Nations]] Military Armistice Commission and an official in the Georgia Department of Industry and Trade. Coolidge and Lankford were [[county commission]]ers in [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb]] and [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb]] counties, respectively. Geisinger, a native of [[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]], years later was elected to the [[Georgia State Legislature|Georgia House of Representatives]] from [[Roswell, Georgia|Roswell]] and served in the House Republican leadership.<ref>http://www.electharry.org/</ref>

On election night, disgruntled Thompson supporters attacked chairman Shaw at the candidate's state headquarters in Atlanta. Shaw, who denied that he had ever undermined Thompson's candidacy and had indeed voted for him, sustained a deep gash in his forehead. Thompson said that he would "reconstruct" the GOP, vowed to tour the state to revive the party's sagging fortunes, but he never did so. Thompson did work to replace Shaw as chairman with [[Mack Mattingly]], who six years later in 1980 would win election to the U.S. Senate from Georgia in the same election in which the state voted once again for Jimmy Carter as president, rather than the national winner, Ronald Reagan.<ref>Selby McCash, "Revamp of Party Vowed by Mayor," ''Macon Telegraph'', November 6, 1974, p. A1; McCash, "Thompson Plans", p. 1; Moore, Thesis, p. 128</ref>

On election night, disgruntled Thompson supporters attacked chairman Shaw at the candidate's state headquarters in Atlanta. Shaw, who denied that he had ever undermined Thompson's candidacy and had indeed voted for him, sustained a deep gash in his forehead. Thompson said that he would "reconstruct" the GOP, vowed to tour the state to revive the party's sagging fortunes, but he never did so. Thompson did work to replace Shaw as chairman with [[Mack Mattingly]], who six years later in 1980 would win election to the U.S. Senate from Georgia in the same election in which the state voted once again for Jimmy Carter as president, rather than the national winner, Ronald Reagan.<ref>Selby McCash, "Revamp of Party Vowed by Mayor," ''Macon Telegraph'', November 6, 1974, p. A1; McCash, "Thompson Plans", p. 1; Moore, Thesis, p. 128</ref>

Thompson's defeat may have contributed to the loss of five Republican seats in the state legislature, as the GOP numbers fell from twenty-nine to twenty-four. In addition, the defeat of conservative Republican U.S. Representative [[Ben Blackburn]] by Democat [[Elliot Levitas]] in the Atlanta suburbs made the Georgia congressional delegate once again all-Democratic, as it had been prior to 1965.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=FiRbQYoZtv0C&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=4hgVyttuXS&sig=9s_rGFItLI_uxkmWIFy6z-uuuQA&hl=en</ref>

Thompson's defeat may have contributed to the loss of five Republican seats in the state legislature, as the GOP numbers fell from twenty-nine to twenty-four. In addition, the defeat of conservative Republican U.S. Representative [[Ben Blackburn]] by Democat [[Elliot Levitas]] in the Atlanta suburbs made the Georgia congressional delegate once again all-Democratic, as it had been prior to 1965.<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=FiRbQYoZtv0C&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=4hgVyttuXS&sig=9s_rGFItLI_uxkmWIFy6z-uuuQA&hl=en</ref>

==A Democrat succeeds Thompson==

==A Democrat succeeds Thompson==

==Thompson's accomplishments as mayor==

==Thompson's accomplishments as mayor==

Thompson's mayoral accomplishments abounded despite the political controversies. He promoted industrial expansion, airport improvements, the upgrading of hospitals, and the completion in 1968 of the $4.5 million 14,000-set Macon Colisuem.<ref>http://www.mindspring.com/~teeth/caution/macontg100years.htm</ref> Buckner Melton said that Thompson, despite his many critics, "had the vision to support the proper restoration of this great old building."<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=MpmJY-xpSBgC&pg=PA178&lpg=PA178&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=T01co3ucRn&sig=2TkAK58Hznjp3gMUswPtMEPTWAc&hl=en</ref> Libraries and city recreational programs were expanded. Seventy-seven miles of streets were paved, and nondiscriminatory hiring practices were instituted by the city. Thompson pushed for upgrading the Macon police and fire departments, with the number of police having increasd from 168 to 242 and firefighters from 181 to 297. Thompson pushed for [[civil defense]] and created "one of the best programs in the state."<ref>Christopher Bonner, "Thompson Abandons Third Term Bid", ''Macon Telegraph'', August 15, 1975, p. A8</ref> His accomplishment were not accompanied by a bond issue or an increase of [[ad valorem]] taxes. Yet, his positive accomplishments were overshadowed by his flamboyance and his hard-line positions on law-and-order and municipal unionism.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=TH7nmIjcteQC&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=KPPbEuQE4r&sig=IlUX9zhB85ZK8CnXkB4WwgTvuD0&hl=en; Moore, Thesis, pp. 136-137</ref>

Thompson's mayoral accomplishments abounded despite the political controversies. He promoted industrial expansion, airport improvements, the upgrading of hospitals, and the completion in 1968 of the $4.5 million 14,000-set Macon Colisuem.<ref>http://www.mindspring.com/~teeth/caution/macontg100years.htm</ref> Buckner Melton said that Thompson, despite his many critics, "had the vision to support the proper restoration of this great old building."<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=MpmJY-xpSBgC&pg=PA178&lpg=PA178&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=T01co3ucRn&sig=2TkAK58Hznjp3gMUswPtMEPTWAc&hl=en</ref> Libraries and city recreational programs were expanded. Seventy-seven miles of streets were paved, and nondiscriminatory hiring practices were instituted by the city. Thompson pushed for upgrading the Macon police and fire departments, with the number of police having increasd from 168 to 242 and firefighters from 181 to 297. Thompson pushed for [[civil defense]] and created "one of the best programs in the state."<ref>Christopher Bonner, "Thompson Abandons Third Term Bid", ''Macon Telegraph'', August 15, 1975, p. A8</ref> His accomplishment were not accompanied by a bond issue or an increase of [[ad valorem]] taxes. Yet, his positive accomplishments were overshadowed by his flamboyance and his hard-line positions on law-and-order and municipal unionism.<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=TH7nmIjcteQC&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=KPPbEuQE4r&sig=IlUX9zhB85ZK8CnXkB4WwgTvuD0&hl=en; Moore, Thesis, pp. 136-137</ref>

Thompson's last act as mayor was to release all prisoners from city jail. He then wrote a column for the weekly ''Macon Herald'' and hosted a radio talk show before such exchanges were commonplace on the airwaves.<ref>Moore, Thesis, pp. 137-138</ref> Subsequently, he wrote for the ''Macon News'' until 1983, when it merged with the ''Macon Telegraph''. In a column about the newspaper consolidation, Thompson said "the most permanent thing known to mankind is change."<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=7q4C6hESNrcC&pg=PA187&lpg=PA187&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=3wHxNjuzmD&sig=3zx4MsOqDWNNFCFSz3x8qZVzngc&hl=en</ref>

Thompson's last act as mayor was to release all prisoners from city jail. He then wrote a column for the weekly ''Macon Herald'' and hosted a radio talk show before such exchanges were commonplace on the airwaves.<ref>Moore, Thesis, pp. 137-138</ref> Subsequently, he wrote for the ''Macon News'' until 1983, when it merged with the ''Macon Telegraph''. In a column about the newspaper consolidation, Thompson said "the most permanent thing known to mankind is change."<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=7q4C6hESNrcC&pg=PA187&lpg=PA187&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=3wHxNjuzmD&sig=3zx4MsOqDWNNFCFSz3x8qZVzngc&hl=en</ref>

Thompson is a featured artist on the [[CD]] ''America Speaks from the Heart'' by Centurion, a tribute to the victims of the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], and the American military personnel in the [[terrorism|War on Terror]].<ref>http://cdbaby.com/cd/centurion</ref>

Thompson is a featured artist on the [[CD]] ''America Speaks from the Heart'' by Centurion, a tribute to the victims of the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], and the American military personnel in the [[terrorism|War on Terror]].<ref>http://cdbaby.com/cd/centurion</ref>