Pat Taylor died on Sunday in Wadesboro. He was lieutenant governor from 1969 to 1973, back when that post had actual power as the leader of the state senate. Before that he was Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives.
I knew Pat my whole life and he was a significant part of my political education. Pat’s youngest son, Lockhart, and I are the same age. We went through school together and I spent a great deal of time at their house.
On Tuesday, May 4, 1968, Pat won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. My father, Fetzer, won the nomination for a district court judge seat. My uncle, Fritzi, won the nomination for the state house seat Pat was vacating. It was my fifth birthday and one of my earliest memories. The cover of the Anson Record on Thursday led with the headline “Pat and the Mills brothers win big.” There’s a photo of Pat riding a donkey flanked by my father and uncle.
Pat, my father and my uncle were virtually guaranteed their seats following that Democratic primary in what would turn out to be the last gubernatorial election cycle of one-party North Carolina. I learned about winning. At that age, I just assumed we would always win.
Four later, I learned about losing. This time, Pat was running for governor in the Democratic primary against “Skipper” Bowles, Erskine’s father. Being from Wadesboro, everybody I knew was for Pat, so of course he would win. When he didn’t, I got my very first lesson about living in a bubble. In November, Bowles went on to lose to Republican Jim Holshouser and Jesse Helms beat Nick Galifianakis, changing North Carolina politics forever.
When I was visiting his house, Pat used to stop me and question me or tell me stories. He had a thick southern accent, a downhome demeanor and a thoughtful way of questioning. He told me once that before somebody could be successful in politics, they needed to be successful in something else first. I’ve always remembered that and believe that today, we have too many people whose biggest success is in politics. Many of those folks would benefit from a broader perspective.
One time, when I was about thirteen or so, he asked me, “Why are you a Democrat?” I knew that “Because my parents are” was an unacceptable answer. So I thought for a minute and then said, “Because Democrats stand up for the little people.” He asked, “Who are these little people?” I answered, “They’re poor people and people who don’t have much.” He looked a little surprised and said, “Well, why don’t you want to stand up for people who are wealthy and creating things? Who’s going to stand up for them?” I thought for another minute and said, “Because they can stand up for themselves.” He beamed and said, “That’s exactly right.”
I had numerous interactions like that with Pat throughout my childhood. As an adult, he always supported my political activities. I reminded him once that he told me that before somebody could be successful in politics, they needed to be successful in something else. All I had ever really done was politics. He looked at me, smiled and said, “There’s an exception to every rule. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”
Rest in peace, Pat. Thanks for the lessons.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
Thomas,
Correct me if I am wrong, but as I recall that primary between Pat Taylor an Skipper Bowles was pretty bitter. The Taylor forces and the Bowles forces left that race angry. It might have contributed to Skipper’s loss. Late in general election when Bowles was facing Jim Holshouser for governor, I covered the Bowles campaign for The Associated Press as a “pool reporter” assigned to AP by my home newspaper. The last conversation I had with Bowles was at the airport in Charlotte. If you remember, 1972 was the Nixon-McGovern presidential year. I could not draw Bowles out on McGovern. He kept telling me, “We are running our own race.”
Another thing I remember from that campaign is when Bowles and his staff visited his home place in Monroe and pointed out that Bowles and Jesse Helms had been boyhood friends. Jesse’s dad, if I recall correctly, was police chief in Monroe. I had a feeling entering the election that Bowles might lose because of McGovern, but I really believed he would squeeze through. He did not. He was the first Democrat to lost a gubernatorial race in North Carolina in the 20th century.
Anyway, your words on Pat Taylor have ignited a flood of memories of my earlier days in the newspaper business. I feel every bit my age!
I was fortunate to know Pat, not only through politics but also through my job as court reporter. Your comment about his thick Southern accent reminded me of this story. Pat was representing the husband in the breakup of his marriage. He told the judge that his client wanted his “deah”. The judge asked,”What?”. Pat said, “Deah.” He had to repeat it again.
and finally he put two fingers up beside each ear, wiggled his fingers and said,”His deah head.”. Then we got it.
Amen!
Mr. Mills, I always look for your posts. Thank you for this one on Pat Taylor. I remember him well from my time as a reporter in Asheville. He campaigned there. and I remember him for being a Southern gentleman. There are not enough of his kind in politics these days.