Jim Garrison
| Jim Garrison | |
|---|---|
 |
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| District Attorney of Orleans Parish | |
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In office 1961–1973 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Dowling |
| Succeeded by | Harry Connick Sr. |
| Constituency | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Earling Carothers Garrison November 20, 1921 Denison, Iowa |
| Died | October 21, 1992 (aged 70) New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Leah Elizabeth Ziegler |
| Children | Jasper Garrison Snapper Garrison Virginia Garrison Elizabeth Garrison Ebihart Garrison |
| Alma mater | Law degree from Tulane University in 1949 |
James Carothers "Jim" Garrison (born Earling Carothers Garrison; November 20, 1921 – October 21, 1992) was the District Attorney of Orleans Parish, Louisiana, from 1962 to 1973. A member of the Democratic Party, he is best known for his investigations into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He was played by Kevin Costner in Oliver Stone's JFK.
Earling Carothers Garrison was born in Denison, Iowa. He was the first child and only son of Earling R. Garrison and Jane Anne Robinson who divorced when he was two-years old. His family moved to New Orleans in his childhood, where he was raised by his divorced mother. He served in the U.S. National Guard in World War II, then obtained a law degree from Tulane University Law School in 1949. He worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for two years and then returned to active duty with the National Guard. After fifteen months, he was relieved from duty. One Army doctor concluded he had a "severe and disabling psychoneurosis" which "interfered with his social and professional adjustment to a marked degree. He is considered totally incapacitated from the standpoint of military duty and moderately incapacitated in civilian adaptability." Although one doctor did recommend that Garrison be discharged from service and collect 10% permanent disability, Garrison opted instead to join the National Guard where his record was reviewed by the U.S. Army Surgeon General who “found him to be physically qualified for federal recognition in the national army.”
Garrison worked for New Orleans law firm Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles from 1954 to 1958, when he became an assistant district attorney. Garrison became a flamboyant, colorful, well-known figure in New Orleans, but was initially unsuccessful in his run for public office, losing a 1959 election for criminal court judge. In 1961 he ran for district attorney, winning against incumbent Richard Dowling by 6,000 votes in a five-man Democratic primary. Despite lack of major political backing, his performance in a televised debate and last minute television commercials are credited with his victory.
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