Jim Hightower Accessions

Collection

Identifier: UPWC-09002

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The material consists of research material relating to the Hightower radio show, the newsletter The Lowdown, and several books published by Hightower. Publication material includes handwritten and typed manuscripts and correspondence. Campaign material and memorabilia include original artwork given to Hightower, various awards and certificates, political banners, t-shirts, and photographs. Audio/visual material consists mainly of the Hightower radio show commentaries. Over all, the material is in good condition with exceptions noted. Care has been taken to maintain the original order in all files and when available, original file titles appear in quotation marks; occasionally empty folders were found as well as multiple folders with the same title.

Dates

1983-2009

Creator

Hightower, Jim, 1943- (Person)

Language of Materials

English .

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials from the Wittliff Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user assumes responsibility for determining copyright status, obtaining permission to publish, and abiding by U.S. copyright laws. https://www.thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu/research/visit/policies/publication.html

Biographical Notes

Branded "America's #1 Populist," Hightower believes the true political spectrum is not right-to-left but bottom-to-top, and he is dedicated to battling the powers-that-be on behalf of—in his words—the "powers-that-ought-to-be": consumers, working families, farmers, environmentalists, small business owners, and "just plain folks."

Hightower was raised in Denison, Texas, in a family of independent business people, tenant farmers, and working stiffs. After graduating from the University of North Texas, he served in Washington, D.C., as legislative aide to Senator Ralph Yarborough of Texas. He then co-founded the Agribusiness Accountability Project, a public-interest project focused on corporate power in the food economy, and he was national coordinator of the 1976 "Fred Harris for President" campaign. Harris, a former Democratic Senator from Oklahoma, largely targeted the party's activist base with his liberal/populist positions on campaign issues.

Extent

135 Linear Feet

198 boxes (Audio visual materials, photographs, awards and artifacts)

Additional Description

Abstract

The Jim Hightower Accession consists of research material relating to the Hightower radio show, the newsletter The Lowdown, several books published by Hightower, audiovisual materials, phtographs and artifacts