1995-11-21

Gantt, Harvey B. (Harvey Bernard), 1943-

Rankin, Alex

1 video file (0:28:35) : digital, MP4

Harvey Gantt appears on Issues in Focus, a local program in Cabarrus County. Alex Rankin is the host. Rankin asks Gantt about his experience running against Jesse Helms in 1990. Gantt said that running in 1990 was a great experience and he received a lot of support the first time. Gantt thinks that many of the issues in 1996 are the same as in the 1990 race. He says that North Carolinians are feeling insecure about a lot of things even though they work hard. Gantt comments on Helms's negative campaigning and how his infamous "Hands" ad derailed the campaign at the end of the race. Gantt comments on the power of Republicans in Congress and criticizes Helms for holding ambassorships and treaties hostage to get his way. Gantt talks about how he is a strong candidate to go up against Helms and about campaign financing. Gantt talks more about the "Hands" ad in 1990 and how it appealed to voter's worst fears and made him a scapegoat. Gantt held press conferences in the 1990 campaign to correct the record on his position but it didn't matter because the ad was all over TV. Gantt comments on his primary challenger, Charles Sanders, and says he seems like a gentleman but needs to be politically toughened to run against Helms. Gantt mentions that independents can now vote in the Democratic primary in NC and he will try to appeal to all voters by focusing on education, health care for all Americans, preserving the environment, and protecting the safety net for the vulnerable.

Harvey Gantt Papers

Gantt Video Tapes

Harvey Bernard Gantt is an architect and Democratic politician active in North Carolina. Gantt entered local Charlotte politics in 1974 serving on the city council until 1983. He was elected to two terms as the first black Mayor of Charlotte from 1983 to 1987. In the 1990s (1990 and 1996), he ran twice for the United States Senate against Jesse Helms. The bulk of the collection is comprised of audiovisual materials from Gantt's 1996 campaign against Jesse Helms for U.S. Senate, but also includes speeches and writings.

Gantt, Harvey B. (Harvey Bernard), 1943-

J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

videotapes
VHS
interviews

eng

Gantt, Harvey B. (Harvey Bernard), 1943-
Helms, Jesse
Sanders, Charles A., 1932-

Democratic Party (N.C.)
Democratic Party (U.S.)
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations

Political campaigns
Politics and government
African Americans--Politics and government
Advertising, Political
Primaries--U.S. states
Education
Education, Higher
Medicare
Social security--Government policy
Older people
Environmental policy
Campaign funds
Health insurance
Welfare recipients
Racism
Job security

North Carolina
North Carolina--Cabarrus County

Manuscripts--10th Floor, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Manuscript 543

https://findingaids.uncc.edu/repositories/4/resources/1437

This material is protected by copyright. Copyright is held by Harvey B. Gantt.

Use of this resource is governed by the terms of the Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives" License.

This project was supported by a Recordings at Risk grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). The grant program is made possible by funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

MP4 access copy created on ingest from MKV preservation master. Interview originally recorded on VHS.

ganms543-04-003

2018-11-29