and monetary cutbacks, including drastic curtailing
of expenditures in higher education. The most sig-
nificant piece of legislation passed during his admin-
istration was a more stringent gun control law, which
Wilder credited with having reduced the crime rate.
The governor was at times a combative individual.
His most serious feud was with Democratic senator
Chuck Robb.
Wilder made a run for the Democratic nomina-
tion for president in 1992—a move that led to wide-
spread criticism that he was neglecting public affairs
in Virginia. Presenting himself as the “grandson of
slaves” and pushing an anti-tax-increase agenda,
Wilder failed to ignite the enthusiasm that he had
banked on and was projected to finish close to last in
the New Hampshire primary. He accordingly with-
drew in January, 1992. After leaving office in 1994,
he again quarreled with Robb, entering the 1994
Senate race as an Independent against his rival. In
September, 1994, Wilder withdrew from the race
and in October conferred with President Bill
Clinton—a meeting that some believe motivated
Wilder to endorse Robb over Republican Party can-
didate Oliver North.
In 1995, Wilder took a position as distinguished
adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth Uni-
versity’s Center for Public Policy (later renamed the
L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Pub-
lic Affairs). In 1998, Wilder was selected by the board
of trustees of his alma mater, Virginia Union Univer-
sity, as its president. However, four days before he
was to take office, he abruptly withdrew his accep-
tance of the position when a dispute suddenly
erupted between him and board members over the
retention of administrative personnel. From 1996
and throughout the rest of the decade, Wilder
proactively fostered his own pet project of establish-
ing a national slavery museum.
Impact As a trailblazer, Wilder was regarded as a
possible model for aspiring African American politi-
cians. However, the ineffectiveness of his presiden-
tial campaign and his prickly relationship to certain
colleagues hindered any further ambitions he might
have had.
Further Reading
Germond, Jack W., and Jules Witcover.Mad as Hell:
Revolt at the Ballot Box, 1992. New York: Warner
Books, 1993.
Jeffries, J. L.Virginia’s Native Son: The Election and Ad-
ministration of Governor L. Douglas Wilder. West La-
fayette, Ind.: Purdue University Press, 2000.
Raymond Pierre HyltonSee also African Americans; Barry, Marion; Con-
servatism in U.S. politics; Crime; Dinkins, David;
Elections in the United States, 1992; Liberalism in
U.S. politics; Race relations. Will and Grace
Identification Television comedy series
Creators David Kohan (1964- ) and Max
Mutchnick (1965- )
Date Aired from September 21, 1998 to May 18,
2006
This series was one of the first to feature homosexual lead
characters. It used quick wit and a sharp sense of humor to
depict the lives of gay men as well as the platonic relation-
ship between a man and a woman.
Although the National Broadcasting Company
(NBC) was initially hesitant to air a television show in
which the title characters included a gay male lawyer,
Will Truman (Eric McCormack), and a straight Jew-
ish female interior designer, Grace Adler (Debra
Messing), the network took that risk, and a ground-
breaking sitcom was born. The show was popular
from the beginning and was one of television’s
highest-rated comedies throughout its eight sea-
sons. Over those eight years, the series was nomi-
nated for eighty-three Emmys and won sixteen. For
its first four years, it was the second-highest-rated
sitcom, never quite reaching the popularity of
Friends. Furthermore,Will and Gracewas popular
within the gay community and won numerous Gay
and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
Media Awards. Nevertheless, some critics of the se-
ries claimed that the show reinforced, rather than
subverted, stereotypes of homosexuals.
Based in New York City,Will and Graceexplores
the daily lives of the title characters in their work,
recreation, and relationships. From the moment
when Will first realizes he is gay and comes out of the
closet to the moment that Grace gets married, the
bond between the two never falters. Also included in
many of their adventures are Will’s flamboyantly gay
friend Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes), who loves the-920 Will and Grace The Nineties in America