About the Collection
The John G. Tower Digital Media Collection is a cooperative effort between Southwestern University and SMU. Southwestern’s A. Frank Smith Jr. Library Center holds the John G. Tower Papers. The John Goodwin Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs at SMU promotes the study and discussion of politics and international affairs, and engages students in public service through insightful teaching and hands-on research.
This digital collection contains video and audio clips highlighting the many facets of John G. Tower’s life and career. Southwestern selected 208 multimedia objects from the John G. Tower Papers, including film, video, and audio recordings by and about John Tower. Currently, there are 196 audio files and 12 video files. The objects were digitized and formatted by SMU’s Norwick Center for Digital Solutions. Multiple items from Senator Tower's Capitol Cloakroom and Weekly Radio Report shows are within the collection.
About John G. Tower
A native Texan, John G. Tower (1925-1991) is famous for his far-reaching political career that covered three decades. He received his undergraduate degree at Southwestern University and Master’s Degree from SMU.
His political career began in 1961, when he became the first Republican Senator elected from Texas since Reconstruction. During his tenure in the Senate, Tower became well-known for his chairmanship of the Republican Party and Armed Services Committees.
Following his retirement from the Senate, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1985 to serve as a member of the United States arms negotiation team in Geneva. He also served as chairman of the Tower Commission in 1987 investigating the Iran Contra scandal. In his later years, Tower founded John Tower and Associates, a consulting firm, and was a member of President Bush's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.
