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Jim Bennett writes a weekly column offering historical context to current events. Bennett served as Secretary of State of Alabama from 1993 - 2003 and from 2013 - 2015. He was a reporter for the Birmingham Post-Herald from 1961 to 1971. He can be reached at: jimbennettwriter58@gmail.com

Although one a New York millionaire and the other a former golden glove boxer from Clio, Alabama, there are similarities in their races for president.

Each appeared on the political scene as unlikely candidates for the leader of the free world, both appealed to voters who felt they were being ignored by an out-of-touch political leadership and each brought cheering crowds to their feet with fiery bombast.

Donald Trump and George Wallace turned the political world on its proverbial ear. In doing so, they perplexed the pundits and confounded the media, some of which blamed them for political divisiveness. Populists upset the status quo.

Gov. Wallace, if you might recall, not only called for state's rights, he also declared he was a self-proclaimed champion of the working class against big government; same as Trump. Both were tough on crime and critical of people in Washington "who don't know what they are doing."

Wallace said they reminded him of people who "can't park their bicycles straight."

Both were capable of packing Madison Square Garden or the Cleveland Convention Center to the consternation of their more liberal opponents. Both have been critical of the U.S. Supreme Court, although not the same decisions.

As a reporter, I was assigned to cover Wallace in his presidential bids both in 1964 and 1968. In Democratic primaries in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Maryland in 1964, Wallace got a third of the vote running against three surrogates backed by President Johnson. Trump is expected to do well in these three states as well, having already carried 18 states including Alabama and most of the South.

Trump, like Wallace, has attracted large numbers of demonstrators along the way who protest his campaign positions, some unpopular with students, minorities and immigrants.

I remember in Maryland, Wallace commenting about demonstrators trying to block his car, "If they lie down in front of my car, that's the last car they will ever lie down in front of," he told me.

When they would try to shout him down during his rallies, he would, say "Look at those pinkos. Get a haircut." The crowd would roar in approval.

Like Trump, Wallace could stir crowds with his oratory. The Huntsville Times interviewed Bill Jones, Wallace's first press secretary, who recounted "a particularly fiery speech in Cincinnati in 1964 that scared even Wallace." "Wallace angrily shouted to a crowd of 1,000 that 'little pinkos' were 'running around outside' protesting his visit, and continued, after thunderous applause, saying, "When you and I start marching and demonstrating and carrying signs, we will close every highway in the country." The audience leaped to its feet "and headed for the exit." Jones said, "It shook Wallace who quickly moved to calm them down."

Trump has had his share of noisy protestors too. He usually says, "Get them out of here. Good bye." He once said he would like to sock some guy who was yelling invectives. "When they have organized professionally-staged wise guys, we have to fight back."

Last Friday Trump postponed a rally in Chicago amid clashes between supporters and demonstrators, protests in the streets and concerns by the police that the environment at the event was no longer considered safe.

The announcement, which came amid protests both inside and outside the event at the University of Illinois at Chicago, followed heightened concerns about violence at campaign appearances. Hundreds of demonstrators packed into an arena, broke out into protest even before Trump had shown up. At least five sections were filled with dissenters.

It is a hard choice for any candidate. They can't just ignore someone disrupting their campaign stops. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have had them as well. Usually, building security or the local police will escort the protestors outside. Some supporters, more passionate than others, may, themselves, throw an unlawful punch without the candidate being aware of anything other than the commotion it brings. Certainly, they should encourage civility.

Wallace was a U.S. presidential candidate for four consecutive elections, in which he sought the Democratic Party nomination in 1964, 1972 and 1976, and was the American Independent Party candidate in the 1968 presidential election. He remains the last third party candidate to receive a state's Electoral College votes. Wallace carried five Southern states and won almost 10 million popular votes in the race won by Richard Nixon that year.

I remember one campaign stop Wallace made in Portland, Oregon in 1964 where protestors and counter protestors circled the hotel where he was speaking; some carrying "God is Love" signs, one of which whacked the head of one of the governor's supporters.

Such is American politics.

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