How is praising his segregationist run for President as a Democrat - a platform AND a party Strom is supposed to have renounced - "being nice"?
He wasn't praising his segregationist run for President; he was praising Strom. But, you're trying to get in his head, which is what thought police do.
Show me where Lott said "segregation" and I'll support you. But you can't.