Senator Larry Dixon, during the 1980s
>> Senator Charles Bishop challenged Larry Dixon to fight back when Bishop first served in the Legislature (1982-1990). At the time it was reported that Bishop threatened to “whip” Dixon. During the 2007 Regular Session, Bishop tried to rebut those reports and called Dixon to the Senate podium to discuss it.
Senator Larry Dixon said, “The Senator from Jasper [Bishop] was a little bit angry with me. He did not say he would whip me. What he said was, ‘Why don’t you and I go into the little boy’s room and settle this like men.’ At the time, I weighed about 180 pounds and he was about 240 and the men’s room was the size of a closet.” Dixon said he was angry but did not go. “I was mad. Not stupid,” Dixon said.
The Mobile Press-Register, “Lawmaker sets record straight.” March 5, 2007; page B1
>> Bishop earned a reputation for brashly defending his beliefs, once challenging a fellow senator [Dixon] to fight in the men’s restroom. He said that incident was misunderstood and he was asking the senator to have a private discussion, not a brawl.
The Birmingham News, “Bishop Making Noise in Quest for Governor’s Job.” Kim Chandler; May 16, 2002; Page 1-A.
Senator Hank Sanders, 1983
>> “I have had my own run in with Bishop. Some years ago, he called me ‘Big Boy.’ When I strongly objected, he offered to fight. A few weeks ago, he threatened to fight Senate Democratic Majority Leader Zeb Little who is half his size. I thought he might fight Senator Vivian Figures a month or so ago,” said Senator Hank Sanders.
Senate Sketches #1045, June 12, 2007.
Former State Representative Cecil Wyatt, May 1998
>> In May 1998, during the Democratic Primary campaign for Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries, Former State Representative Cecil Wyatt said that candidate Charles Bishop cursed him and threatened to beat him up. Wyatt said that Bishop threw a few punches at him and missed, then shoved him into a wall with his right shoulder. Wyatt, who was candidate Anne Payne’s campaign manager, was 66 at the time.
The Birmingham News, “Charles Bishop Denies Swinging at Rival’s Aide.” David White; May 5, 1998; page 1-B.
>> Bishop’s attack on Wyatt took place at the endorsement meeting for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union in Montgomery. A police report stemming from that altercation quotes Wyatt as saying that Bishop threatened to “kick his God d— a—,” threw several punches that missed and then shoved him in the shoulder.” In response, Bishop claimed that Wyatt tried to “provoke” him into an argument.
Wyatt said that Bishop “came at me like a wild man.” Wyatt said that Bishop lunged at him but Bishop’s campaign manager was initially able to hold him back. Wyatt said his shoulder was bruised when Bishop finally shoved him into the wall. Wyatt was hospitalized after the incident.
Source: The Huntsville Times, “Hospitalized campaign manager says ag chief race grew violent.” John Peck; May 5, 1998; Page B 2.
>> Bishop ended up in court with his Democratic opponent’s campaign manager over an alleged brawl at a Montgomery union hall. Cecil Wyatt claimed Bishop cursed him, shoved him into a wall and tried twice to punch him. Bishop responded by filing a defamation suit.”
The Birmingham News, “Hey, Riley: Tread Softly with Bishop.” Robin DeMonia; July 12, 2002; Page 13A
>> Quote from Skip Tucker, who worked in Bishop’s first legislative campaign, about Charles Bishop:
“He’s famous for his hair-trigger temper, but Charles is very calculating. He’d provoke folks and afterward he’d say, ‘That’s exactly what I intended to do.’ He’s give a wry smile about it.”
“Someone called me up and said, ‘Charles is mad at me.’ I asked, ‘Did he offer to fight you?’ They say no, so I said, ‘He’s not really mad at you.’”
The Birmingham News, “Bishop Making Noise in Quest for Governor’s Job.” Kim Chandler; May 16, 2002; Page 1-A.
>> Quote from Auburn University at Montgomery political scientist Carl Grafton regarding Bishop’s entering the Democratic race for Governor in 2002:
“It cannot be that he thinks he can be elected governor. You really have to wonder why he’s running. Bishop has never been described as ditzy – scary maybe, but not ditzy.”
The Birmingham News, “Bishop Making Noise in Quest for Governor’s Job.” Kim Chandler; May 16, 2002; Page 1-A.
Senator Vivian Davis Figures, April 2007
>> Bishop threatened Senator Figures during the 2007 Regular Session. This occurred on the Senate floor when Bishop walked by Figures’ senate desk with his pipe in his coat pocket. At the time, Bishop had been smoking the pipe outside the Senate chamber on the seventh floor of the State House.
Bishop said, “Senator, I was going to support your no-smoking bill, but if you keep spraying stuff on me I might have to filibuster.” Figures said Bishop then commented he might have something to spray on her. She does not believe Bishop meant Lysol. “I demand an apology,” she said on the Senate floor. Figures said she did not spray Bishop with Lysol, but sprayed it in his area because the second-hand smoke from his pipe made her cough. Figures said Bishop has offended people in this young legislative session unlike anybody else during her 10 years in the Senate. “He has crossed the line with me,” she said.
Bishop said to Figures, “With the way those in the Democratic majority have been treating Republicans and others in the minority, somebody needs to say a few offensive things to you. You’re no different than anybody else whether you are female or you are black.”
The Mobile Press-Register, “The Political Skinny: Piping mad.” April 9, 2007.
Senator Zeb Little, May 2007
>> Bishop threatened to whip Zeb Little during the 2007 Regular Session. Bishop got into a heated argument with Little, who said, “It certainly could have escalated.”
The Birmingham News, “Bishop’s not apologizing for punch.” Kent Faulk, June 9, 2007
Reports said that Bishop told Little, “You little ——-. You come outside. I’m going to whip your little ole a–.” Senator Parker Griffith and Senator Vivian Davis Figures witnessed Bishop’s threat of Zeb Little. Senator Figures stepped in between the two, and Senate security intervened to keep Bishop away from Little.
Senator Lowell Barron, June 7, 2007
Other quotes:
>> He [Bishop] earned his reputation as a hothead – shouting at colleagues and sometimes even challenging them to fistfights.
The Birmingham News, “Hey, Riley: Tread Softly with Bishop.” Robin DeMonia; July 12, 2002; Page 13A
>> “This is just the latest confrontation between Senator Bishop and other Senators that have occurred dating back 20 years when he first tried to fight Senator Larry Dixon. This year he tried to fight Senator Zeb Little on the floor, had a direct confrontation and threatened Senator Vivian Davis Figures on the floor, and now of course literally sucker punched Senator Barron on the floor of the Senate.”
Statement of Senator Parker Griffith, June 8, 2007
Timeline provided to the Political Parlor by a member of the Senate Leadership’s staff.
[...] Political Parlor: Charles Bishop Timeline [...]