“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” -Bert Lance
Bert Lance
In the 1970’s Bert Lance and his wife LaBelle added another chapter to the glamorous history of Mayfair House. This period would be become the most politically charged chapters of the Mayfair House’s history. LaBelle called the estate “The White House of the South”, and it lived up to the name.
The Lances entertained on a grand scale and Mayfair became a gathering place for some of the most powerful figures in American politics. It was the backdrop for a social life that revolved around Bert’s close friendship with Jimmy Carter. The Carter’s were frequent guests, visiting during Carter’s years as Georgia Governor and later as President of the United States.
Bert Lance (right) and Jimmy Carter at Presidential press conference
Lance met Jimmy Carter in 1966 as the State Senator was running for Governor of Georgia. A friendship grew between the two men and their wives LaBelle and Rosalynn. Lance became an advisor to Carter during his 1970 Gubernatorial race. Carter appointed Lance to the office of the State Highway Director. As their relationship grew Lance was one of Carter’s biggest supporters for his Presidential campaign.
When Carter won the presidency in 1976, he named Lance as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Lance had a goal to create policies that would increase governmental efficiencies and promote fiscal conservatism. However, Lance’s position as Budget Director was short lived. A scandal involving mismanagement of funs and corruption while Lance was acting as Chairman of the Board of Calhoun First National Bank began to be reported. An investigation began as it was widely reported by The Washington Post and New York Times. William Safire’s article “Carter’s Broken Lance” earned a Pulitzer Prize in 1978. Lance resigned his position with the Carter administration. After a lengthy and highly publicized trail, Lance was acquitted on nine charges.
“Bert Lance is my friend I know him personally as well as if he was my own brother I know him without any doubt in my mind or heart to be a good and honorable man.”
- President Jimmy Carter
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
Dan Aykroyd as President Carter & Jim Belushi as Bert Lance on SNL in 1977
Lance’s legacy was put to the test when SNL did a spoof on the scandal. In 1977, the third season’s premiere episode was hosted by Steve Martin. The show opened with a scene in the Oval Office with two major players in the cast, Dan Aykroyd played President Jimmy Carter and Jim Belushi played Bert Lance in an uncomfortable encounter following the financial trouble Lance was in. In what was to be a private moment, Aykroyd as Carter says Lance has done “Nothing illegal and probably nothing unethical and only a few things that were really sleazy." Belushi as Lance then turns to the audience to say “Since a lot of you don’t know my face… here is my National Express Card” that has been cancelled.
After Lance’s resignation from the Carter administration in 1977 and his ultimate acquittal of all federal charges in 1980, the Lances returned to Mayfair. The home under the Lances was, by every account, one of the most remarkable private stages in Atlanta’s social history. It was a space that hosted presidents, shaped policy conversations and embodied the particular brand of Southern graciousness that Bert and LaBelle carried with them wherever they went.
President Carter & Bert Lance on vacation on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia.
Sources:
“Bert Lance” New Georgia Encyclopedia, E. R. Lanier
“Lance Acquitted on Nine Counts” Associated Press, April 30, 1980
“Bert Lance, banker and Carter Budget Director”, The Washington Post, August 16 2013, Matt Schudel
SNL, Steve Martin Sept 24, 1977, Saturday Night Live Transcript Archive
“Bert Lance, Carter Adviser, Dies at 82” The New York Times, Aug 17, 2013
