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Inspired by the Battle of Athens in 1946, a bipartisan group of veterans challenged the political machine in Polk County, Tennessee led by Sheriff Burch Biggs. They ran on a platform of better schools, improved roads, honest elections, and impartial law enforcement. After three election day deaths, the National Guard was sent in to supervise the vote count. The Good Government League (GGL) won the election and broke the two-party system. From 1948 to 1966, the GGL governed the county as an independent third party. They implemented long-overdue reforms, but also faced significant challenges, including contested elections, borderline anarchy due to gridlock, shenanigans in Nashville, and multiple ambush murders. The GGL made some mistakes before they dissolved in 1966, but they left Polk County in much better shape than when they entered office. Tyler L. Boyd tells their story for the first time.
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601 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN, United States, Tennessee 37902
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