George W. Andrews III

The son of two Members of Congress, George and Elizabeth Andrews, George W. Andrews III provides a unique look at the House of Representatives during one of the more turbulent periods in American history. Born and raised in the Deep South, Andrews discusses how he came to terms with divergent views on race relations—in his family, in the state of Alabama, and at the U.S. Capitol—in the civil rights era. In his series of interviews, Andrews offers a detailed description of the Alabama delegation, including his father’s office, during the 1950s and 1960s. He also reveals the impact of a House career on Members and their families faced with a decision of uprooting their lives and moving to D.C., or remaining home and spending time apart. Andrews, who joined the Page program in 1961 to be closer to his father, recalls an institution fraught by deep divisions, but where collegiality among Members typically prevailed. Andrews witnessed firsthand many historic events, including the vote to expand the House Rules Committee in 1961 and the lying-in-state ceremony in the Rotunda for President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Andrews also shares his memories of House traditions like the Congressional Baseball Game and the culture and living quarters of the Congressional Hotel where many Members of the time lived during House sessions. Assigned to the Democratic Cloakroom, Andrews credits the often stressful and fast-paced environment of his Page service, as a key component to his later career as a high-profile criminal defense attorney. After the sudden death of his father in 1971, Andrews observed his mother’s transformation from a grieving widow to a serious candidate, determined to fill out her husband’s term to continue his legislative agenda. In his dual role as House Page and as the child of Members, Andrews provides a distinctive narrative that augments segments of House history with few written records.

• Transcript (PDF)
• Deeds of Gift (PDF)

George W. Andrews III was born on October 12, 1946, in Union Springs, Alabama, to George and Elizabeth Andrews. Andrews’ father served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1944 until his death on December 25, 1971. His mother Elizabeth went on to win the special election to fill out the remainder of her husband’s term during the 92nd Congress (1971–1973).

Andrews remained in Alabama for much of his childhood while his father served in the House. In 1961 he moved to Washington, D.C., to become a House Page. Assigned to the Democratic Cloakroom, he answered telephones and relayed messages to Members of Congress—an essential role in an era before pagers, computers, or cell phones. As a Page, and as the son of an influential Representative, Andrews interacted with Members of Congress on a daily basis. During his tenure, he worked his way up to “number one phone Page,” a position he held for the majority of his service. In his leadership role in the cloakroom, Andrews oversaw an organized and carefully orchestrated messaging system which required on-the-spot decisions—some of which involved important communications between House Leaders, the Senate, Cabinet officials, and even Presidents. While employed by the House, Andrews attended the Capitol Page School, graduating in 1964.

After his Page service, Andrews attended Emory University in Atlanta, earning a B.A. in 1968. Three years later, he was awarded a J.D. from the University of Alabama. Andrews began his law career in the U.S. Navy, where he served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps until 1975.  From 1975 to 1979, and from 1985 to 1989, Andrews was a chief prosecutor in the Jefferson County, Alabama, District Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted many high-profile criminal cases. Andrews also worked in a private law practice and for a major legal firm in Alabama as a criminal litigator for both the prosecution and the defense. Currently a resident of Birmingham, Alabama, Andrews works part-time as a lawyer.