I know that George Wallace was in Alabama state government for many years. And he did run as a third party candidate for president. But, I don't recall that he was ever any kind of figure, let alone pivotal, in the US government.

My meaning, and I suppose it would be a better way for me to phrase it, is that he was a povotal figure in government in the US. I did not mean to imply that he ever served in the federal government.