Changes

Though Thompson had in 1964 supported [[Barry Goldwater]] for the presidency over [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], he did not declare himself a Republican until he ran in the first ever GOP primary for mayor in 1967. His intraparty opponent, Royce F. Hobbs, was an official at Mercer University and the favorite of the party establishment. Thompson polled more than 7,000 votes, compared to barely 1,300 for Hobbs. Thompson then faced incumbent Mayor Merritt, who had initially encouraged him to run for the city council and with whom he had quarreled as an alderman. Thompson's legitimacy as a candidate was enhanced by open endorsements from former President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], [[Senate Minority Leader]] [[Everett Dirksen]] of [[Illinois]], and then [[Governor]] [[Claude Kirk|Claude Roy Kirk, Jr.]], of [[Florida]]. Thompson used the slogan "Make a Change for Progress" and called Merritt a "do-nothing mayor" who engaged in "bossism" and "machine politics".<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', October 28, 1967, p. 4A; November 5, 1967, p. A1; Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run," p. 96.</ref> He called Merritt "a desperate man who will do anything to stay in office" and a "flip-flopper like his ideal, [[Lyndon Johnson]]."<ref>''Macon Telegraph,'' November 2, 1967, p. A23.</ref> When Merritt reminded voters that he had served on Eisenhower's staff during [[World War II]], Thompson replied: "It is true that President Eisenhower doesn't know me. [But] that's the very reason that [he] has publicly endorsed me, because he does know Mayor Merritt."<ref>Moore, Thesis, p. 22.</ref>

Though Thompson had in 1964 supported [[Barry Goldwater]] for the presidency over [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], he did not declare himself a Republican until he ran in the first ever GOP primary for mayor in 1967. His intraparty opponent, Royce F. Hobbs, was an official at Mercer University and the favorite of the party establishment. Thompson polled more than 7,000 votes, compared to barely 1,300 for Hobbs. Thompson then faced incumbent Mayor Merritt, who had initially encouraged him to run for the city council and with whom he had quarreled as an alderman. Thompson's legitimacy as a candidate was enhanced by open endorsements from former President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], [[Senate Minority Leader]] [[Everett Dirksen]] of [[Illinois]], and then [[Governor]] [[Claude Kirk|Claude Roy Kirk, Jr.]], of [[Florida]]. Thompson used the slogan "Make a Change for Progress" and called Merritt a "do-nothing mayor" who engaged in "bossism" and "machine politics".<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', October 28, 1967, p. 4A; November 5, 1967, p. A1; Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run," p. 96.</ref> He called Merritt "a desperate man who will do anything to stay in office" and a "flip-flopper like his ideal, [[Lyndon Johnson]]."<ref>''Macon Telegraph,'' November 2, 1967, p. A23.</ref> When Merritt reminded voters that he had served on Eisenhower's staff during [[World War II]], Thompson replied: "It is true that President Eisenhower doesn't know me. [But] that's the very reason that [he] has publicly endorsed me, because he does know Mayor Merritt."<ref>Moore, Thesis, p. 22.</ref>

Thompson unseated Merritt, 14,732 votes (53.1 percent) to 13,002 (46.9 percent). He lost seventeen of thirty-two precincts, including the boxes in the [[African American]] community. However, the black turnout dropped in the [[general election]] compared to the Democratic primary in which Merritt had to go to court to qualify for the ballot. Blacks then constituted some 38 percent of Macon's population. In the 2000 [[census]], however, blacks were 63 percent of the municipal population. Thompson's greatest strength was in the [[blue collar]] section of south Macon. The Republican organization came on board in the last two weeks of the campaign and may have spelled the difference between victory and defeat for Thompson. It is also believed that Thompson benefited considerably from the unpopularity of President Johnson in Georgia.<ref>Billy Watson and Eric Welch, "How Did Thompson Topple Merritt?", ''Macon Telegraph and News,'' November 2, 1967, p. A8; Shannon, "Can a Gospel Singer?", p. 18.</ref>

Thompson unseated Merritt, 14,732 votes (53.1 percent) to 13,002 (46.9 percent). He lost seventeen of thirty-two precincts, including the boxes in the [[African American]] community. However, the black turnout dropped in the [[general election]] compared to the Democratic primary in which Merritt had to go to court to qualify for the ballot. Blacks then constituted some 38 percent of Macon's population. In the 2000 census, however, blacks were 63 percent of the municipal population. Thompson's greatest strength was in the blue collar section of south Macon. The Republican organization came on board in the last two weeks of the campaign and may have spelled the difference between victory and defeat for Thompson. It is also believed that Thompson benefited considerably from the unpopularity of President Johnson in Georgia.<ref>Billy Watson and Eric Welch, "How Did Thompson Topple Merritt?", ''Macon Telegraph and News,'' November 2, 1967, p. A8; Shannon, "Can a Gospel Singer?", p. 18.</ref>

The law required Thompson to take office the day after the election. He faced a divided City Hall, as twelve of the fifteen aldermen were Democrats. The Macon power structure considered him an intruder. A number of municipal records were removed from the mayor's office on election night and burned though Merritt denied any collusion in the act. As a result, Macon passed an [[ordinance]] which requires municipal papers to be filed permanently.<ref>Shannon, "Can a Gospel Singer?", p. 19; Eric Welch, "Mayor Says Some City Files Empty," ''Macon Telegraph'', December 6, 1967, p. A1; ''Macon Telegraph'', January 17, 1968, p. 18A</ref>

The law required Thompson to take office the day after the election. He faced a divided City Hall, as twelve of the fifteen aldermen were Democrats. The Macon power structure considered him an intruder. A number of municipal records were removed from the mayor's office on election night and burned though Merritt denied any collusion in the act. As a result, Macon passed an [[ordinance]] which requires municipal papers to be filed permanently.<ref>Shannon, "Can a Gospel Singer?", p. 19; Eric Welch, "Mayor Says Some City Files Empty," ''Macon Telegraph'', December 6, 1967, p. A1; ''Macon Telegraph'', January 17, 1968, p. 18A</ref>