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'''James Strom Thurmond''' (1902-2003) was an [[United States]] [[Senate|Senator]] from [[South Carolina]] for over fifty years.  He served from 1954 to 1964 as a [[Democrat]] and from 1964 to 2003 as a [[Republican]]. He is the only senator in US history to have been elected by write-in vote.

'''James Strom Thurmond''' (1902-2003) was an [[United States]] [[Senate|Senator]] from [[South Carolina]] for over fifty years.  He served from 1954 to 1964 as a [[Democrat]] and from 1964 to 2003 as a [[Republican]]. He is the only senator in US history to have been elected by write-in vote.

 

In the late 1940s, Strom Thurmond was a [[liberal]]. <ref>[http://www.kevinbaker.info/c_wtm.html What Trent Lott Meant], Kevin Baker.</ref> As Governor of South Carolina, Thurmond said on a radio broadcast: ''"We need a [[Progressivism|progressive]] outlook, a progressive program and a progressive leadership."''  In his inaugural address as governor, Thurmond not only called for abolishing the [[poll tax]], but also advocated expanding Workman's compensation laws, and better working conditions in plants and factories. He repeated his call for better public education, and told his constituents that ''"more attention should be given to Negro education".''  

In the late 1940s, Strom Thurmond was a [[liberal]]. <ref>[http://www.kevinbaker.info/c_wtm.html What Trent Lott Meant], Kevin Baker.</ref> As Governor of South Carolina, Thurmond said on a radio broadcast: ''"We need a [[Progressivism|progressive]] outlook, a progressive program and a progressive leadership."''  In his inaugural address as governor, Thurmond not only called for abolishing the [[poll tax]], but also advocated expanding Workman's compensation laws, and better working conditions in plants and factories. He repeated his call for better public education, and told his constituents that ''"more attention should be given to Negro education".''  

Thurmond also was a pioneer as a Democrat for [[feminism]] and the women's movement.  He also demanded in his inaugural speech: ''..."equal rights for women in every respect...equal pay for equal work for women."''

Thurmond also was a pioneer as a Democrat for [[feminism]] and the women's movement.  He also demanded in his inaugural speech: ''..."equal rights for women in every respect...equal pay for equal work for women."''

Thurmond as a Democrat had been a supporter of [[segregation]] as most were in the South at that time,  and ran for President on the breakaway [[Dixiecrat]] platform in 1948. Like many [[New Deal]]ers, Thurmond by the 1960s was disenchanted with the [[Great Society]] and changed parties. At Thurmond's one hundredth birthday party, Senate Majority Leader [[Trent Lott]] stated if Thurmond had been elected in the early days of the [[Cold War]] "we wouldn't have had these problems all these years." [[Deceit|Liberals]] were in an uproar, and suggested some racial motivation behind Lott's comments, demanding he not only apologize, but resign from the Senate and his leadership position.  This politically motivated pressure and defamation, a continual distortion and interpretation of his remarks, eventually caused Lott to resign his position as Majority Leader, as Thurmond had indeed run on a segregationist platform.  

Like many [[New Deal]]ers, Thurmond by the 1960s was disenchanted with the [[Great Society]] and changed parties. At Thurmond's one hundredth birthday party, Senate Majority Leader [[Trent Lott]] stated if Thurmond had been elected in the early days of the [[Cold War]] "we wouldn't have had these problems all these years." [[Deceit|Liberals]] were in an uproar, and suggested some racial motivation behind Lott's comments, demanding he not only apologize, but resign from the Senate and his leadership position.  This politically motivated pressure and defamation, a continual distortion and interpretation of his remarks, eventually caused Lott to resign his position as Majority Leader, as Thurmond had indeed run on a segregationist platform.  

After Thurmond's death, it was revealed that he had fathered a child with a woman in his family's employ. The woman he fathered the child with was an [[African-American]] domestic worker in the Thurmond family household. She was 16 and Thurmond was 22. This was decades before he would run for [[President]] on the [[Dixiecrat]] ticket that opposed [[miscegenation]]. [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/showplatforms.php?platindex=SR1948] Thurmond and the child did not meet until she was 16 years old and she was unaware of the fact he was her father until that time. After that meeting, Thurmond (who had always privately given financial support to the mother and child), did take a more personal interest in her life.  His now 71 year-old daughter spoke affectionately of her father, and pointedly told reporters she and her mother had never held a grudge or ill feelings toward Thurmond.

After Thurmond's death, it was revealed that he had fathered a child with a woman in his family's employ. The woman he fathered the child with was an [[African-American]] domestic worker in the Thurmond family household. She was 16 and Thurmond was 22. This was decades before he would run for [[President]] on the [[Dixiecrat]] ticket that opposed [[miscegenation]]. [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/showplatforms.php?platindex=SR1948] Thurmond and the child did not meet until she was 16 years old and she was unaware of the fact he was her father until that time. After that meeting, Thurmond (who had always privately given financial support to the mother and child), did take a more personal interest in her life.  His now 71 year-old daughter spoke affectionately of her father, and pointedly told reporters she and her mother had never held a grudge or ill feelings toward Thurmond.

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[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:Democratic Party]]

[[Category:Democratic Party]]

[[Category:Republican Party]]

[[Category:Republican Party]]