Joseph P. Riley, Interview by Kieran Walsh Taylor, 31 May 2016
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- Title:
- Joseph P. Riley, Interview by Kieran Walsh Taylor, 31 May 2016
- Date:
- 2016
- Interviewer:
- Taylor, Kieran Walsh
- Interviewee:
- Riley, Joseph P., 1943
- Description:
- The former mayor of Charleston discusses the troubled origins of the Spoleto Festival - Charleston's performing arts festival that began in 1977. The Charleston events are the US counterpart to the "Festival of Two Worlds" in Spoleto, Italy. Riley recounts the early financial and leadership struggles that led to the departure of festival chairman, Hugh Lane. He also discusses his working relationship with Spoleto's founder, the Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti. During an especially lean year, Riley provided personal funds to keep the festival afloat. Riley also recalls taking some pride in his nickname "Little Black Joe" or "LBJ." Detractors dubbed him LBJ to suggest that he was pandering to the African American community for votes. He concludes with some reflections on police reform early in his tenure. Police Chief John Conroy worked to rid the police force of "thumpers," or those officers prone to violence.
- Collection Title:
- The Charleston Oral History Program
- Contributing Institution:
- The Citadel Archives & Museum
- Media Type:
- Oral Histories
- Series:
- Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr.
- Personal or Corporate Subject:
- Spoleto Festival U.S.A.
Riley, Joseph P., 1943- - Topical Subject:
- Mayors--United States
- Geographic Subject:
- Charleston (S.C.)
- S.C. County:
- Charleston County (S.C.)
- Language:
- English
- Date Digital:
- 2016-05-31
- Digitization Specifications:
- Mp3 derivative audio created with Audacity software. Archival masters are .wav files.
- Format:
- audio/mpeg
- Copyright Status Statement:
- Copyright © The Citadel Archives & Museum.
- Access Statement:
- All rights reserved
- Access Information:
- For more information contact The Citadel Archives & Museum, Charleston, SC, 29409.
- Admin ID:
- 246459
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