Douglas Wilder was elected Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1985 and Governor in 1989.
Q: What do you feel is your greatest achievement in life and in you administration?
A: I would obviously have to say that being elected governor is the highest honor I have ever received. There are several things during my administration that I am proud of. One, the fact that we were able to get the One Gun a Month Bill passed. We were able to not raise taxes. We established the Rainy Day fund in which we were able to set aside monies that have bailed out the subsequent administrations. They borrowed a million dollars from it.We set it up for that purpose and we are very pleased to do that. So, there are some of the highlights that I like.
Q: What do you feel was the greatest contributor to your success in 1985 and 1989?
A: The people getting the opportunity to see me, and me going to meet with them rather than to sit back.Virginia has a 17-18 percent African-American population.Of that, about 15 percent is voting. A lot of people do not know that. Virginia has the smallest number of African Americans of any southern state. So, I had to go to all of those places and to all of those people and to participate with all of those entities. Consequently, that was that which contributed to people giving me the opportunity to make my case. It's not a question to think I'm going to run because I'm African-American. I'm going to run because I am liberal or I'm going to run because I am a Democrat or a Republican. That wouldn't connect and doesn't connect. You have to connect it with issues. You have to connect it with things; and luckily, I was able to do that.
Q: What is your opinion of the current government in Virginia under Governor Mark Warner?
A: I know that he has difficult times. He's confronting them. I have not passed judgment on how that is being done. I think it is premature to do it. I wish him the best and hope that he can surmount the problems that are confronting him and that he will be able to emerge victoriously.
Q: Where do you see politics heading in Virginia's future?
A: Politics will always be. The question is, where is it heading for whom? Right now the Democrats are not in control of the legislature. Republicans have pretty much dominated both houses, more so in the House than in the Senate. Even though Democrats have two state line offices and people don't mention that at all. Democrats have the Governorship and the Lieutenant Governorship, but they need to have a rebirth in the government within the Democratic Party in terms of a grass roots re-organizational effort to take place. That has not happened and I think it needs to happen if there's going to be any subsequent success.
Q: Some consider you a symbol of racial reconciliation. What do you think about this title?What did you think during you administration and has your opinion changed since?
A: [I'm glad] people think that. I would like to think that it isn't divisive. I've always thought that I would like to be a bridge between young and poor, rich and old, and African Americans and others. That was what I said in 1969 when I first ran for the state Senate. I don't think that is too much of a departure from where I am. I think it's a mistake for African Americans to regard themselves as not being full participants in anything to the extent that they are African Americans before they are Americans. Now my judgment sometimes detracts from that. I have no problem with what people call themselves. I never have and never will, but I am an American and a human being first. That I am the descendant of Africans is a further definition of what I am, but it doesn't separate me from being equal to any other entity in America.
Q: Do you think Jesse Jackson's race for the presidency had an effect on your campaign?
A: He thought so. He did not come to Virginia. I did not have anyone come to Virginia to campaign for me nor to assist in my campaign. I would not know what effect it had if it had any. Obviously, if there were people who were registered and who were involved in the opportunities to be registered and to be voters, that in my judgment, would be helpful.
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