Changes

==1967 campaign==​

==1967 campaign==​

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In his race against Williams, Phillips had no running-mate. His previous nominee for lieutenant governor, Stanford Morse, endorsed Williams. Phillips later said that the GOP did not at the time realize the importance of offering full candidate slates.<ref>"Challenging the Status Quo," p. 258.</ref> The unopposed Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, Charles L. Sullivan of Clarksdale, had defeated in his party's primary Governor Paul Johnson, who ran in 1967 for his former post of lieutenant governor. At the time Mississippi governors could not succeed themselves but could sit out a term and enter the next race four years later.<ref name="ReferenceD">"Challenging the Status Quo", p. 259</ref> Sullivan earlier said that he could work with either Phillips or Williams, but he endorsed the Democratic nominee, having verbally sparred with Phillips at a meeting in Biloxi of the Mississippi Manufacturing Association.<ref>''Greenville Delta Democrat-Times'', October 15, 26, 1967</ref>​

In his race against Williams, Phillips had no running-mate. His previous nominee for lieutenant governor, Stanford Morse, endorsed Williams. Phillips later said that the GOP did not at the time realize the importance of offering full candidate slates.<ref>"Challenging the Status Quo," p. 258.</ref> The unopposed Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, Charles L. Sullivan of Clarksdale, had defeated in his party's primary Governor Paul Johnson, who ran in 1967 for his former post of lieutenant governor. At the time Mississippi governors could not succeed themselves but could sit out a term and enter the next race four years later.<ref name="ReferenceD">"Challenging the Status Quo", p. 259</ref> Sullivan earlier said that he could work with either Phillips or Williams, but he endorsed the Democratic nominee, having verbally sparred with Phillips at a meeting in Biloxi of the Mississippi Manufacturing Association.<ref>''The Greenville Delta Democrat-Times'', October 15, 26, 1967</ref>​

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Clarke Reed of Greenville, who succeeded Yerger as state chairman in 1966, recalled that Phillips did not wish to run for governor again in 1967 but was persuaded to do so by party leaders in need of a candidate though there was little expectation of success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/html_use/A-0113.html|title=Interview with Clarke Reed|publisher=docsouth.unc.edu|accessdate=May 12, 2014}}</ref> For his second race, Phillips shed his past segregationist image and ran to the middle, as had Williams' unsuccessful primary opponent, state Treasurer William F. Winter, who ultimately won the governorship in 1979. ''Time'' magazine called Phillips "an erstwhile segregationist who this year appealed for an end to the racial rancor."<ref>''Time Magazine,'' XC (November 17, 1967), p. 29.</ref> Phillips later said that his moderate stance hurt the Republicans at that time but that the party since "benefited from the things we did."<ref name="ReferenceD"/>​

Clarke Reed of Greenville, who succeeded Yerger as state chairman in 1966, recalled that Phillips did not wish to run for governor again in 1967 but was persuaded to do so by party leaders in need of a candidate though there was little expectation of success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/html_use/A-0113.html|title=Interview with Clarke Reed|publisher=docsouth.unc.edu|accessdate=May 12, 2014}}</ref> For his second race, Phillips shed his past segregationist image and ran to the middle, as had Williams' unsuccessful primary opponent, state Treasurer William F. Winter, who ultimately won the governorship in 1979. ''Time'' magazine called Phillips "an erstwhile segregationist who this year appealed for an end to the racial rancor."<ref>''Time Magazine,'' XC (November 17, 1967), p. 29.</ref> Phillips later said that his moderate stance hurt the Republicans at that time but that the party since "benefited from the things we did."<ref name="ReferenceD"/>​

''The Meridian Star'' charged that Phillips had "made it plain that he is no conservative. He is a member of the Republican Party, not just here ... but at the national level."<ref>''The Meridian Star,'' October 13, 1967.</ref> ''The Jackson Clarion-Ledger'' judged Phillips' in his second race as "a weak candidate with a weak pitch" and correctly termed his prospects as virtually "hopeless."<ref>''Jackson Clarion-Ledger,'' October 18, 1967.</ref>​

''The Meridian Star'' charged that Phillips had "made it plain that he is no conservative. He is a member of the Republican Party, not just here ... but at the national level."<ref>''The Meridian Star,'' October 13, 1967.</ref> ''The Jackson Clarion-Ledger'' judged Phillips' in his second race as "a weak candidate with a weak pitch" and correctly termed his prospects as virtually "hopeless."<ref>''Jackson Clarion-Ledger,'' October 18, 1967.</ref>​

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Phillips urged a "long-range master plan for education" and the reinstatement of compulsory attendance, which had been repealed in 1958.<ref>''The Meridian Star,'' October 17, 1963; estimates were that 84,000 pupils were not attending school in Mississippi in 1967.</ref> Phillips questioned the need of the Mississippi Milk Commission, which he said kept the price of milk artificially too high.<ref>''The Hattiesburg American,'' October 10, 1967.</ref>​

Phillips in 1963 urged a "long-range master plan for education" and the reinstatement of compulsory attendance, which had been repealed in 1958.<ref>''The Meridian Star,'' October 17, 1963; estimates were that 84,000 pupils were not attending school in Mississippi in 1967.</ref> Phillips questioned the need of the Mississippi Milk Commission, which he said kept the price of milk artificially too high.<ref>''The Hattiesburg American,'' October 10, 1967.</ref>​

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Presidential politics played some role in the 1967 campaign, as Williams stressed his friendship with former Governor [[George Wallace]] of Alabama, who was preparing for an independent presidential candidacy in 1968. Phillips countered that only a Republican, perhaps Richard Nixon or Governor  [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]], could defeat a national Democratic presidential nominee. Reagan cut a campaign commercial for Phillips; [[Maureen Reagan]] made some twenty appearances on Phillips' behalf at various places in the state.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' XXV (November 10, 1967), pp. 2295-2296; ''Vicksburg Evening Post,'' September 23, 1967</ref> Neighboring Governor [[Winthrop Rockefeller]] of [[Arkansas]], younger brother of [[Nelson Rockefeller]], spoke in Corinth and assisted Phillips in fundraising. Phillips raised $300,000 in the 1967 race.<ref>''Hattiesburg American,'' November 1, 1967.</ref>​

Presidential politics played some role in the 1967 campaign, as Williams stressed his friendship with former Governor [[George Wallace]] of Alabama, who was preparing for an independent presidential candidacy in 1968. Phillips countered that only a Republican, perhaps Richard Nixon or Governor  [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]], could defeat a national Democratic presidential nominee. Reagan cut a campaign commercial for Phillips; [[Maureen Reagan]] made some twenty appearances on Phillips' behalf at various places in the state.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' XXV (November 10, 1967), pp. 2295-2296; ''Vicksburg Evening Post,'' September 23, 1967</ref> Neighboring Governor [[Winthrop Rockefeller]] of [[Arkansas]], younger brother of [[Nelson Rockefeller]], spoke in Corinth and assisted Phillips in fundraising. Phillips raised $300,000 in the 1967 race.<ref>''Hattiesburg American,'' November 1, 1967.</ref>​

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Williams rejected Phillips' pleas for debates, as had Paul Johnson in 1963. In fact, the congressman spent few days on the general election campaign trail and urged friends "to do the campaigning for me."<ref>''Jackson Daily News'', October 25, 28, 1967; ''Jackson Clarion-Ledger'', October 28, 1967</ref> Williams, who had lost the lower part of his left arm while serving in the [[United States Army]] Air Corps during World War II, was hospitalized during the campaign with a leg ailment, which also stemmed from war injuries.<ref>''Vicksburg Evening Post,'' October 25, 1963.</ref> At a $40 per person fundraiser attended by some five thousand and hosted by the state's congressional delegation, Williams vowed to "destroy that Republican crowd so bad that they won't be able to find a Rubel in the rubble."<ref>''Jackson Clarion-Ledger,'' October 31, 1967.</ref>​

Williams rejected Phillips' pleas for debates, as had Paul Johnson in 1963. In fact, the congressman spent few days on the general election campaign trail and urged friends "to do the campaigning for me."<ref>''Jackson Daily News'', October 25, 28, 1967; 'The 'Jackson Clarion-Ledge,'' October 28, 1967.</ref> Williams, who had lost the lower part of his left arm while serving in the [[United States Army]] Air Corps during World War II, was hospitalized during the campaign with a leg ailment, which also stemmed from war injuries.<ref>''Vicksburg Evening Post,'' October 25, 1963.</ref> At a $40 per person fundraiser attended by some five thousand and hosted by the state's congressional delegation, Williams vowed to "destroy that Republican crowd so bad that they won't be able to find a Rubel in the rubble."<ref>''Jackson Clarion-Ledger,'' October 31, 1967.</ref>​

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Phillips obtained the endorsement of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, which sent a rival delegation to the 1964 national party convention in [[Atlantic City]], [[New Jersey]]. The Freedom Democrats backed Phillips because he had expressed his own doubts that Williams as governor would be able to fight the desegregation policies of the then [[United States Department of Health and Human Services|United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare]].<ref>''U.S. News and World Report,'' LXII (November 20, 1967), p. 35.</ref>​

Phillips obtained the endorsement of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, which sent a rival delegation to the 1964 national party convention in [[Atlantic City]], [[New Jersey]]. The Freedom Democrats backed Phillips because he had expressed his own doubts that Williams as governor would be able to fight the desegregation policies of the then [[United States Department of Health and Human Services|United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare]].<ref>''U.S. News and World Report,'' LXII (November 20, 1967), p. 35.</ref>​

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The Mississippi GOP slowly rebounded from Phillips' defeat. Five years later in 1972, two Republicans, [[Thad Cochran]] and [[Trent Lott]], were elected to the U.S. House and both eventually became influential U.S. Senators as well. Senator Lott was succeeded by another Republican still in office, [[Roger Wicker]]. The GOP did not offer a gubernatorial candidate in 1971 but has done so in all elections since 1975. The party nominee did not prevail until 1991, with the victory of the late Kirk Fordice. Since Fordice's two terms, [[Haley Barbour]] has also served two terms as governor. In 2012, a third Republican, [[Phil Bryant]], assumed the office. In the 2011 elections and steps down in 2020. Republicans also won control of both houses of the legislature, advances unimaginable at the time of Rubel Phillips' second gubernatorial defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enterprise-journal.com/opinion/article_db724200-9c46-11e0-8a04-001cc4c002e0.html|title=Editorial: "How Times Have Changed"|publisher=enterprise-journal.com|accessdate=December 1, 2011}}</ref>​

The Mississippi GOP slowly rebounded from Phillips' defeat. Five years later in 1972, two Republicans, [[Thad Cochran]] and [[Trent Lott]], were elected to the U.S. House and both eventually became influential U.S. Senators as well. Senator Lott was succeeded by another Republican still in office, [[Roger Wicker]]. The GOP did not offer a gubernatorial candidate in 1971 but has done so in all elections since 1975. The party nominee did not prevail until 1991, with the victory of the late Kirk Fordice. Since Fordice's two terms, [[Haley Barbour]] has also served two terms as governor. In 2012, a third Republican, [[Phil Bryant]], assumed the office. In the 2011 elections and steps down in 2020. Republicans also won control of both houses of the legislature, advances unimaginable at the time of Rubel Phillips' second gubernatorial defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enterprise-journal.com/opinion/article_db724200-9c46-11e0-8a04-001cc4c002e0.html|title=Editorial: "How Times Have Changed"|publisher=enterprise-journal.com|accessdate=December 1, 2011}}</ref>​

 

==Legal troubles==​

==Legal troubles==

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Phillips did not again seek public office but remained a long-term financial backer of the Mississippi GOP. He subsequently became an officer of the Stirling Homex Corporation, which manufactured housing modules and sought to locate a plant in Harrison County.<ref>''[[The New York Times]].'' January 30, 1977; ''Jackson Clarion-Ledger,'' April 3, 1980.</ref> The New York-based firm went bankrupt in 1972. Phillips and four other company officers were indicted and tried on charges of [[conspiracy]] and fraud in the sale of $40 million worth of stock. Four of the officers, including Phillips, were found guilty of falsely inflating earnings reports and deceiving investors, auditors, and the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]].<ref>''Infobase Publishing: Facts on File'', XXXVII (February 12, 1977), p. 751; ''The New York Times,'' January 30, 1977.</ref> Phillips was fined $5,000 and received a ten-month sentence imposed by Judge Marvin E. Frankel.<ref>''The New York Times,'' March 12, 1977; ''Facts on File, XXXVII (March 19, 1977), p. 203; ''Jackson Clarion-Ledger,'' April 3, 1980.</ref> In 1978, the [[United States Supreme Court]] declined to hear appeals by the defendants and left intact their fines and sentences.<ref>''Facts on File,'' XXXVIII (October 6, 1978), p. 751.</ref> In 1980, Phillips was disbarred by the Mississippi Supreme Court, which rejected a suspension as proposed in 1979 by a special state bar tribunal.<ref>''Jackson Clarion-Ledger'', April 3, 1980</ref> Phillips was permitted to seek reinstatement to the bar in September 1982 and thereafter resumed the practice of corporate law in Jackson.<ref>''Jackson Clarion-Leger,'' May 15, 1980; ''Challenging the Status Quo," p. 263.</ref>​

Phillips did not again seek public office but remained a long-term financial backer of the Mississippi GOP. He subsequently became an officer of the Stirling Homex Corporation, which manufactured housing modules and sought to locate a plant in Harrison County.<ref>''[[The New York Times]].'' January 30, 1977; ''Jackson Clarion-Ledger,'' April 3, 1980.</ref> The New York-based firm went bankrupt in 1972. Phillips and four other company officers were indicted and tried on charges of [[conspiracy]] and fraud in the sale of $40 million worth of stock. Four of the officers, including Phillips, were found guilty of falsely inflating earnings reports and deceiving investors, auditors, and the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]].<ref>''Infobase Publishing: Facts on File'', XXXVII (February 12, 1977), p. 751; ''The New York Times,'' January 30, 1977.</ref> Phillips was fined $5,000 and received a ten-month sentence imposed by Judge Marvin E. Frankel.<ref>''The New York Times,'' March 12, 1977; ''Facts on File, XXXVII (March 19, 1977), p. 203; ''Jackson Clarion-Ledger,'' April 3, 1980.</ref> In 1978, the [[United States Supreme Court]] declined to hear appeals by the defendants and left intact their fines and sentences.<ref>''Facts on File,'' XXXVIII (October 6, 1978), p. 751.</ref> In 1980, Phillips was disbarred by the Mississippi Supreme Court, which rejected a suspension as proposed in 1979 by a special state bar tribunal.<ref>''Jackson Clarion-Ledger'', April 3, 1980</ref> Phillips was permitted to seek reinstatement to the bar in September 1982 and thereafter resumed the practice of corporate law in Jackson.<ref>''Jackson Clarion-Leger,'' May 15, 1980; ''Challenging the Status Quo," p. 263.</ref>​