Robert E. McNair

Robert E. McNair
Name	Robert E. McNair
Caption	108th Governor of South Carolina
Order	108th
Office	Governor of South Carolina
Term start	April 22, 1965
Term end	January 19, 1971
Lieutenant	John C. West
Predecessor	Donald S. Russell
Successor	John C. West
Office2	93rd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
Term start2	January 15, 1963
Term end2	April 22, 1965
Governor2	Donald S. Russell
Predecessor2	Burnet R. Maybank Jr.
Successor2	John C. West
Birth name	Robert Evander McNair
Birth date	14 December 1923
Birth place	Cades, South Carolina, U.S.
Death date	17 November 2007
Death place	Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Josephine Robinson, 1946
Education	University of South Carolina (LLB)
Branch	United States Navy
Serviceyears	1943–1946
Battles	World War II

Robert E. McNair was an American politician and attorney who served as the 108th Governor of South Carolina from 1965 to 1971. A member of the Democratic Party, his tenure was defined by significant industrial recruitment and the painful transition of the state's public schools through court-ordered desegregation. His administration was also marred by the Orangeburg massacre, a tragic event during the Civil Rights Movement. McNair previously served as the 93rd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina under Governor Donald S. Russell.

Early life and education

Robert Evander McNair was born in the small farming community of Cades, South Carolina, in Williamsburg County. He served in the United States Navy during World War II before pursuing higher education. McNair attended the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he earned his LLB degree and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar. He began his legal practice in Allendale, laying the groundwork for his future in South Carolina politics.

Political career

McNair's political career began in the South Carolina House of Representatives, where he served from 1951 to 1962, eventually rising to the position of Speaker of the House. In 1962, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina on a ticket with Donald S. Russell. He assumed the governorship in April 1965 when Russell resigned, a move orchestrated to allow Russell to accept a temporary appointment to the United States Senate. McNair was subsequently elected to a full term as governor in 1966.

Governorship of South Carolina

McNair's governorship focused on modernizing South Carolina's economy, aggressively recruiting major manufacturers like Michelin and Hoechst AG to establish operations in the state. He oversaw the creation of the South Carolina Technical Education System to develop a skilled workforce. His tenure was dominated by the enforcement of federal desegregation orders, including the contentious integration of schools in Greenville. The most devastating event was the Orangeburg massacre in 1968, where state troopers fired on protesting students at South Carolina State University, killing three and wounding many others.

1968 presidential campaign

In 1968, McNair was a prominent supporter of the presidential campaign of Hubert Humphrey, the Democratic nominee. As a sitting southern governor, McNair's endorsement was sought to help Humphrey bridge the gap with disaffected voters in the Solid South who were leaning toward third-party candidate George Wallace or Republican Richard Nixon. McNair campaigned actively for Humphrey, who ultimately narrowly lost South Carolina to Nixon.

Later life and death

After leaving the Governor's Mansion in 1971, McNair returned to his legal practice in Columbia and remained active in civic affairs. He served on numerous corporate and educational boards, including for the University of South Carolina. Robert E. McNair died on November 17, 2007, in Charleston, South Carolina, and was interred at the Williamsburg Presbyterian Cemetery in Kingstree.

Legacy

McNair's legacy is complex, marked by substantial economic development that diversified South Carolina's economy away from its agrarian past. Historians credit his efforts with laying the foundation for the state's modern manufacturing base. However, his governorship is inextricably linked to the turmoil of the Civil Rights Movement, particularly the Orangeburg massacre, which remains a somber chapter in the state's history. The Robert E. McNair Law Firm in Columbia continues to bear his name.

Category:1923 births Category:2007 deaths Category:Governors of South Carolina Category:Lieutenant Governors of South Carolina Category:South Carolina Democrats Category:University of South Carolina alumni