(4 of 7)
Shivers makes certain concessions (such as the Mercury in Ford clothing) to what his constituents expect of a Texas governor, but he is not the type known to the rest of the country as the professional Texan. His hats are apt to be more nearly five-gallon than ten, his drawl is under control, and his public manner is more earnest than hearty. He can even kid the Texas myth a little. In a recent radio interview with Bob Crosby, he said: "I'd like to say something serious now, something I want all the world to know and remember and something it gives me great pride to tell you . . . I'm from Texas." Even without the ten-gallon hats and other Texas props, he looks a little like Gary Cooper made up for a Latin audience. But Shivers, despite his good looks, is debarred from a movie or TV career by the bluest beard in public life. In a recent campaign, his enemies spread a rumor that Shivers wears a toupee. Mrs. Shivers disposed of that with a bright remark: "If he does, he'd better get a new one, because this one is getting motheaten on top."
Shivers became governor without meaning to. After World War II (he was a military government major with the Third Army in Italy and France), he almost decided to quit politics and devote his full time to the Shary interests. But his colleagues persuaded him to run for lieutenant governor. On July 11, 1949, Governor Beauford Jester died and Allan Shivers became the 36th governor of Texas.
Throughout his career, Shivers' actions have fallen into two patterns: he has been forceful and aggressive when his position seemed secure, but has turned supercautious when his security seemed to be threatened. His forceful side was in evidence just after he became governor. Concerned about the impoverished condition of state hospitals, he called a special session of the legislature to appropriate additional funds. Older politicians advised him that it would be political folly to demand more money so early in his regime, but Shivers ignored them and even dared to use some uncomplimentary language about Texas. In his message to the session, he said: "Texas, the proud Lone Star State—first in oil, 48th in mental hospitals; first in cotton, worst in tuberculosis; first in raising goats, last in caring for its state wards." The legislature came through with the funds he wanted.
Men with an Aim. After he was elected to a full term in 1950, Shivers spoke out more & more against the Truman Administration, particularly on the tidelands issue. This caught the ears of Texas' powerful conservative Democrats, mostly wealthy oilmen and ranchers, who already considered Shivers one of themselves. Last December, a group of them sent an Austin lawyer, Clint Small, to tell the governor that they would support him for re-election or for Tom Connally's seat in the U.S. Senate. They wanted a political leader who would keep Texas safely on the conservative side in 1952. Shivers, however, was not certain that Connally would step down. He decided to run for re-election as governor, and to let his attorney general, Price Daniel, run for Connally's seat. (Daniel, 41, an intense, humorless lawyer from Liberty, Texas, a former speaker of the state house of representatives, now is certain to succeed Connally.)