Big Jim Folsom: The Two Faces of Populism

A profile of the two-term Alabama governor (1908-87), a champion of the “common man,” who refused to pander to racism and lost to George Wallace in 1962, effectively ending his political career. Included: interviews with historians and family members., The life of James E. “Big Jim” Folsom is chronicled in this documentary featuring an impressive combination of archival footage and contemporary interviews. Twice elected governor of Alabama, Folsom was a liberal populist who favored women’s rights and racial integration, but was defeated for election to a third term in 1962 by George Wallace.