Changes

Initially, Beasley supported the practice, but in 1996 reversed his position and called for the flag to be relocated to a monument elsewhere on the grounds. Beasley's position on the Confederate flag cost him many Republican votes in the unsuccessfully 1998 reelection bid. The Confederate flag was removed from the capitol dome in 2000 after Beasley left office. It was displayed on a pole in front of the statehouse until it was removed in 2015 at the prompting of Governor Nikki Haley from the grounds after a church shooting.<ref name=palmetto>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725003418/https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/20-years-on-ex-sc-gov-beasley-s-prayer-on-flag-answered-confederate-battle-flag/article_4b1d3ee5-1362-5e02-9cef-30a891030b31.htmldate=July 10, 2015|title=20 years on, ex-SC gov Beasley's prayer on flag answered Confederate battle flag finds a new home among artifacts|author=Meg Kinnard|publisher=''Charleston Post and Courier''|accessdate=October 5, 2021}}</ref>

Initially, Beasley supported the practice, but in 1996 reversed his position and called for the flag to be relocated to a monument elsewhere on the grounds. Beasley's position on the Confederate flag cost him many Republican votes in the unsuccessfully 1998 reelection bid. The Confederate flag was removed from the capitol dome in 2000 after Beasley left office. It was displayed on a pole in front of the statehouse until it was removed in 2015 at the prompting of Governor Nikki Haley from the grounds after a church shooting.<ref name=palmetto>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725003418/https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/20-years-on-ex-sc-gov-beasley-s-prayer-on-flag-answered-confederate-battle-flag/article_4b1d3ee5-1362-5e02-9cef-30a891030b31.htmldate=July 10, 2015|title=20 years on, ex-SC gov Beasley's prayer on flag answered Confederate battle flag finds a new home among artifacts|author=Meg Kinnard|publisher=''Charleston Post and Courier''|accessdate=October 5, 2021}}</ref>

Beasley also faced allegations of having an affair with his former press secretary, Ginny Wolfe, but he disavowed the claim, saying, "I can tell you right now we [his wife the former Mary Wood Payne

Beasley also faced allegations of having an affair with his former press secretary, Ginny Wolfe, but he disavowed the claim, saying, "I can tell you right now we [his wife the former Mary Wood Payne] have both been faithful to each other 100 percent."<ref name="Key Races of 1998"/>

have both been faithful to each other 100 percent."<ref name="Key Races of 1998"/>

After, he lost his reelection bid in 1998 to Democrat James Hovis "Jim" Hodges (born 1956), Beasley became a fellow at the [[Harvard University]] Kennedy School of Government. In 2003, [[United States Senator]] [[Edward Moore Kennedy]] of [[Massachusetts]] awarded Beasley the [[John F. Kennedy]] "Profile in Courage Award" because of his call to remove the Confederate flag from the Capital dome.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729135339/https://www.jfklibrary.org/events-and-awards/profile-in-courage-award/award-recipients/david-beasley-2003|title=David Beasley & #124; JFK Library|publisher=jfklibrary.org|accessdate=October 5, 2021}}</ref>

After, he lost his reelection bid in 1998 to Democrat James Hovis "Jim" Hodges (born 1956), Beasley became a fellow at the [[Harvard University]] Kennedy School of Government. In 2003, [[United States Senator]] [[Edward Moore Kennedy]] of [[Massachusetts]] awarded Beasley the [[John F. Kennedy]] "Profile in Courage Award" because of his call to remove the Confederate flag from the Capital dome.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729135339/https://www.jfklibrary.org/events-and-awards/profile-in-courage-award/award-recipients/david-beasley-2003|title=David Beasley & #124; JFK Library|publisher=jfklibrary.org|accessdate=October 5, 2021}}</ref>