Strom Thurmond

Date of Birth: December 5, 1902

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: June 26, 2003

Biography

James Strom Thurmond was a prominent American politician who served as a United States Senator from South Carolina for an extraordinary 48 years, from 1954 to 2003. Born in Edgefield, South Carolina, Thurmond was initially a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party in 1964. He is best known for his staunch segregationist views and opposition to civil rights legislation during the mid-20th century. Thurmond conducted the longest filibuster ever by a single senator, speaking for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Despite his controversial positions on race, Thurmond managed to reinvent himself over the years, eventually supporting African American nominees and the extension of the Voting Rights Act. He retired at the age of 100, making him the oldest serving member of the U.S. Senate.

5 Interesting Facts about Strom Thurmond

1. Strom Thurmond was the oldest person ever to serve in the U.S. Senate.

2. He holds the record for the longest filibuster in Senate history, speaking for over 24 hours against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

3. Thurmond ran for President in 1948 as a Dixiecrat candidate, advocating for segregation.

4. He fathered a mixed-race daughter, Essie Mae Washington-Williams, a fact that was publicly acknowledged only after his death.

5. Thurmond served in World War II, earning a Bronze Star for his service.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Strom Thurmond

1. “Segregation in the South is honest, open, and aboveboard.”

2. “I want to tell you that I love this state. I love the people of this state. I love the people of this country. And I want to tell you, there’s not a finer people in the world.”

3. “I am not a racist. I am against laws that would discriminate against any individual.”

4. “The Constitution was never meant to prevent people from praying; its declared purpose was to protect their freedom to pray.”

5. “If you can’t come to a compromise on an issue, you haven’t worked long enough or hard enough.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At his peak, Strom Thurmond’s net worth was estimated to be around $7 million.

Children

Strom Thurmond had five children: 1. Essie Mae Washington-Williams (with Carrie Butler) 2. Nancy Moore Thurmond (with Nancy Janice Moore) 3. James Strom Thurmond Jr. (with Nancy Janice Moore) 4. Juliana Gertrude Thurmond Whitmer (with Nancy Janice Moore) 5. Paul Reynolds Thurmond (with Nancy Janice Moore)