Five questions with Steve Guyton

Steve Guyton has observed Mississippi politics for decades. Working for numerous campaigns and public officials, Guyton has experienced much of Mississippi’s political lore firsthand. Spanning Walter Sillars and John Stennis to Roger Wicker and Chip Pickering, Gutyon has been involved in Mississippi politics for 40 years.

Guyton first got involved in politics in high school, serving as the student council president at Kosciusko High School his senior year. In 1964 her paged for Senator John Stennis in Washington and return to Mississippi to serve as head page for Speaker Walter Sillers in 1965 and 1966.

For the past 15 years, Guyton’s concern for Mississippi’s youth has been put to good use by several Mississippi congressmen, who employ him to place students in the nation’s military academies. Guyton has also been heavily involved in Boys State and Girls State, programs which teach Mississippi’s high school students about their state government.

1. What are your current duties?
I am shared congressional staffer for Congressmen Wicker and Pickering. It’s my job to help get students into military academies. Each year congressmen nominate students to West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy and the Coast Guard Academy. The students get nominated but they still have to compete for the actual appointment.

This year there were 10 students that got into West Point and the Air Force Academy. Eight got into naval academy, 7 in the Merchant Marines and 1 in the Coast Guard Academy.

Previously, we could have 7 a year to each academy. Now we are having record numbers.

I appreciate Congressmen Wicker and Pickering allowing me to do this full time. I help these students with ACT/SAT prep and building their resumes. I really believe in helping students get scholarships, whether they are going to a military academy or to school here in Mississippi.

We publicize the opportunities for students at military academy days for Congressmen Pickering and Wicker. This year, there were over 300 people at the academy day from all over the state.

I organize college fairs at Boys and Girls State and serve as the public relations person at Boys State, which I attended as a student in 1965.

2. What is your most memorable political experience?
I went to Washington as a page for Senator Stennis in the summer of 1964, a time when historic legislation was being passed. Being allowed to sit on the Senate floor, watching the process unfold and listening to the debate, was very memorable.

I particularly remember the filibusters of Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia. Senator Byrd is still in the Senate, and he still makes long flowery speeches. He’ll quote Cincinnatus in one breath and cite his dog in another. His speeches are unique.

After I came home that summer, it was interesting watching the laws is saw passed being implemented.

3. How has Mississippi politics changed over your lifetime?
The main things are the Internet and television. Print media used to dominate the media. Weekly newspaper endorsements were critical back then for a successful campaign.

It now costs more to run. Back when I first got involved, rallies were huge and every community had one. Politics seemed more personal then. Campaigning used to be harder because you had to go door-to-door and store-to-store. It was more grassroots as opposed to the electronic media these days.

The first time I went to the Neshoba County Fair was in the mid ‘60’s. It is my favorite event and always has been. I like hanging out at the Risher’s cabin. In the old days, there was no air conditioning and the speeches were a lot more critical than they are these days.

4. Stennis or Eastland?
I liked them both. Stennis did a lot of great things for the state, but my all-time favorite was Senator Eastland. He was a patronage politician. He took care of the state. Senator Eastland would go the second mile for the people.

Eastland was president Pro-temporae and acting Vice President of the United States twice. Senator Eastland wielded great power in the state. One of the stories that used to go around about him made the claim that one of his aides came in and told him that a friend of his in North Mississippi had been indicted. Eastland replied that it was impossible, a friend of his wouldn’t have been indicted. I think it’s one of those stories that makes interesting political lore. It probably has no basis in truth, but it’s revealing about how powerful people thought Eastland was.

5. Any role models or mentors?
The person that I really look up to is Judge Charles Pickering. He’s a dairy farmer and 4-Her. He takes a lot of time speaking to youth groups and spoke at Boys State this year. He was a peacemaker in the Republican Party, the state and the Baptist convention. Judge Pickering always ran for the right reasons. He remembers the past but doesn’t live in it. His message to youth about being involved and helping people is right on.

Judge Henry Wingate, who went to Yale, spends his time helping young people with their career paths.

One of the best governors the state has ever had was Bill Waller. He was a transition governor in the 70’s and really helped the state. He was a southern Baptist deacon.

Bill Simpson, Sr. from the Gulf Coast worked for Senator Eastland and Governor Paul Johnson. Bill stayed behind the scenes, but he spent his life helping people.

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