Interview with George Schwartzman, October 22, 2015

Interview Summary

George Schwartzman discusses his birth in Buffalo, New York, and talks about his family's arrival in the U.S. He also discusses growing up in a Jewish home and how the holidays he and his family celebrated influenced him. Schwartzman speaks about the existence of Jewish life on the University of Kentucky's campus. He talks about his involvement in Hillel as well as Zeta Beta Tau. He was president of Hillel at UK sometime between 1963-1967. He discusses the current climate at UK for Jewish students.

Schwartzman discusses his children, and how both of them married South African Jews. He speaks about the way his children observe all the major holidays but aren't frequent Temple goers. However, his daughter-in-law is sending her children to an Orthodox Chabad school.

Schwartzman ran for California Governor in the recall election of 2003. He ran against Arnold Schwarzenegger and received 12,382 votes when Schwarzenegger received almost 4 million. He talks about how only 135 people were qualified to run. Gary Coleman barely beat him for an 8th place finish in the race.

Interview Keyword

Holidays. Family histories. Religion Jewish families. Jewish children College campuses.

Interview LC Subject

College environment College students--Social conditions College students--Religious life Jews--Identity. Jews--Kentucky--Lexington. Lexington (Ky.) Governors--Election Politics and government Universities and colleges--Religion.

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.