Mack Mattingly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mack Mattingly
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Mattingly in 2017
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| United States Senator from Georgia |
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| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Herman Talmadge |
| Succeeded by | Wyche Fowler |
| United States Ambassador to Seychelles | |
| In office September 22, 1992 – March 1, 1993 |
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| President | George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Dick Carlson |
| Succeeded by | Carl Stokes |
| Chair of the Georgia Republican Party | |
| In office 1975–1977 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Shaw |
| Succeeded by | Rodney Mims Cook Sr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mack Francis Mattingly
January 7, 1931 Anderson, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 2 |
| Education | Indiana University Bloomington (BS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Service years | 1951–1955 |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | Hunter Army Air Field |
Mack Francis Mattingly, born on January 7, 1931, is an American diplomat and politician from Georgia. He served as a U.S. Senator for one term, from 1981 to 1987. He made history as the first Republican elected to the U.S. Senate from Georgia by popular vote. He was also the first Republican to serve in the U.S. Senate from Georgia since the Reconstruction period.
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Early Life and Career
Mack Mattingly was born in Anderson, Indiana, on January 7, 1931. He joined the United States Air Force and served for four years, from 1951 to 1955. During his service, he was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia, and became a staff sergeant.
After his military service, Mattingly continued his education. In 1957, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Indiana University Bloomington. He then worked for IBM in Georgia for two decades. Later, he started his own business, M's Inc., which sold office supplies and equipment in Brunswick, Georgia.
Stepping into Politics
Mattingly first became involved in politics in 1964. He led U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign in Georgia's 8th congressional district. Goldwater won in Georgia that year.
Two years later, Mattingly helped organize the Georgia Republican Party. He ran for the U.S. House of Representatives but did not win. However, he was elected to the Georgia Republican Party State Executive Committee. He served as Vice Chairman from 1968 to 1975. From 1975 to 1977, he was the Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party. After this, he began considering a run for the U.S. Senate.
Serving in the U.S. Senate
In the 1980 election, Mattingly achieved a big surprise victory. He defeated the long-serving Democratic Senator Herman Talmadge. Mattingly even won the state while Ronald Reagan lost Georgia in the presidential election to Jimmy Carter, who was from Georgia.
Mattingly served in the Senate from January 1981 to January 1987. He was a member of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. This committee decides how the government spends money. He led two important subcommittees: one for the legislative branch and another for military construction and veterans' affairs.
Mattingly also served on other Senate committees. These included the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the United States Congressional Joint Economic Committee. He was also part of the United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He is well-known for supporting the idea of a line-item veto. This would allow the president to reject specific parts of a spending bill, not just the whole thing. President Ronald Reagan even mentioned Mattingly for this idea in his 1985 State of the Union address.
1986 Re-election Campaign
In November 1986, Mattingly ran for re-election. He was narrowly defeated by Congressman Wyche Fowler from Atlanta.
Life After the Senate
After his time in the Senate, Mack Mattingly continued to serve the country. In 1987, President Reagan appointed him as an assistant secretary-general for defense support for NATO in Brussels, Belgium. NATO is a military alliance between several North American and European countries. In 1988, Mattingly received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service.
In 1992, President George H. W. Bush appointed Mattingly as the ambassador to Seychelles. Seychelles is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. He held this position until 1993.
Mattingly has remained active on various company and non-profit boards. In 2000, he ran for the U.S. Senate again in a special election. He aimed to replace the late Senator Paul Coverdell but lost to Democrat Zell Miller.
Mattingly has continued to be involved in Republican politics. He supported different candidates in presidential primaries and general elections over the years. He lives on St. Simons Island, Georgia.
Personal Life
Mack Mattingly married Carolyn Longcamp in 1957. They had two daughters, Jane and Anne. Carolyn Mattingly passed away in 1997. In 1998, he married Leslie Davisson, who is a lawyer, mediator, and former judge.
