Cornelia Wallace

Cornelia Wallace. She was an American political figure and musician, most prominently known as the second wife of Alabama Governor George Wallace. A member of the politically influential Folsom family of Alabama, she was a constant presence during her husband's presidential campaigns and his long convalescence following an assassination attempt. Her life intertwined with the turbulent politics of the American South during the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, leaving a complex legacy.

Early life and family

Cornelia Ellis Snively was born in Elba, Alabama, into a family deeply entrenched in Southern United States politics. She was the niece of two-term Alabama Governor James E. Folsom Sr., known as "Big Jim," and a first cousin of future Governor James E. Folsom Jr.. Her early life was marked by exposure to the Alabama State Capitol and political campaigning. A talented musician, she studied at Lurleen B. Wallace College and aspired to a career in country music, even recording songs in Nashville, Tennessee. Her first marriage was to John H. Watson, a state legislator, with whom she had two sons before their divorce.

Marriage to George Wallace

She married Governor George Wallace on January 4, 1971, in a ceremony at the Montgomery, Alabama Governor's Mansion. The marriage occurred shortly after the end of Wallace's first marriage to Lurleen Burns Wallace, who had served as a surrogate governor. Cornelia Wallace became a highly visible and active First Lady of Alabama, often compared to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis for her style and public presence. Her most defining period came after the 1972 assassination attempt on Wallace in Laurel, Maryland, by Arthur Bremer. She dedicated herself to his care during his prolonged recovery at Holy Cross Hospital and later at the Governor's Mansion, a period covered intensively by national media like The New York Times.

Political involvement

Cornelia Wallace was an integral part of her husband's political operations. She campaigned extensively during his 1972 and 1976 bids for the Democratic presidential nomination. Her role expanded following the assassination attempt, as she often served as a gatekeeper and public interpreter for the partially paralyzed governor. This led to significant political friction with members of the Wallace administration, including aide Elvin Stanton, over access and influence. Her tenure coincided with continued tensions over issues like school desegregation in the wake of Brown v. Board of Education.

Later life and death

The Wallaces' marriage deteriorated under the strain of his health and political pressures, leading to a very public separation and their divorce in 1978. She later authored a memoir, *C’nelia*, detailing her life in the political spotlight. She lived for many years in central Alabama and worked in real estate. In 1997, she married country music pianist Rhett Russell of the Nashville, Tennessee band The Blackwood Brothers; he died in 2002. Cornelia Wallace died on January 8, 2009, in Seale, Alabama, from cancer. She was interred in the Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama.

Legacy and cultural references

Her legacy is that of a poignant figure in 20th-century American politics, symbolizing both the glamour and the profound personal costs of political life. Her steadfast care for Governor Wallace following the shooting was widely publicized in outlets like *Time* magazine. She is referenced in historical accounts of the 1972 campaign and the assassination attempt on George Wallace. In popular culture, she was portrayed by actress Mare Winningham in the 1997 television film *George Wallace*, which highlighted her role during the governor's recovery. Her life story remains a notable chapter in the history of Alabama politics and the New South.

Category:1939 births Category:2009 deaths Category:Spouses of governors of Alabama Category:People from Coffee County, Alabama