Free Republic

President Biden on Monday claimed to have "literally" convinced South Carolina Democrat-turned-Republican Senator Strom Thurmond to vote for the Civil Rights Act — when he was just 21 years old. Biden made the claim while speaking on the 60th anniversary on the founding of the civil rights legal group, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. "Pause for just a moment," Biden said at the White House. "I thought things had changed." "I was able to — literally, not figuratively — talk Strom Thurmond into voting for the Civil Rights Act before he died," the president continued. "And I...

CHINO, Calif. - State Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond was told to leave a school district meeting in Southern California after expressing his opposition to a policy that requires administrators to inform parents if their child identifies as transgender. Thurmond was escorted out of the meeting held by the Chino Valley Unified School District when he exceeded his allotted one-minute speaking time. He used his time to voice concerns about the policy, stating that it would violate the privacy rights of students. He described being "forcibly removed."

President Joe Biden on Friday again spoke fondly of the old days when he served with segregationists in the United States Senate. “Things have kind of changed since the days when I first got there,” he mused, recalling he was first elected at the age of 29.

University of South Carolina alumni are circulating a petition to rename two buildings on campus whose namesakes were tied to segregation or slavery. The two online petitions, calling for the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center and Sims at Women’s Quad, a dormitory for female students, to be renamed, have each received more than 2,000 signatures, according to the petitions. The petitions cite Thurmond’s long opposition to racial integration and J. Marion Sims - considered to be the father of modern gynecology - experimenting on enslaved women without anesthesia. “I Googled his name and was immediately infuriated that the most...

Thursday Sept. 26, 2002; 5:14 p.m. EDT Illinois Dem: KKK Membership OK for Congress Rep. Jan Schakowski, D-Ill., said Thursday that Ku Klux Klan members should be allowed to serve in Congress as long as they had resigned from the domestic terror group and had publicly renounced its beliefs. Asked if she thought leading Senate Democrat Robert Byrd's past Klan membership should have disqualified him from serving in the Senate, Schakowski told nationally syndicated radio host Sean Hannity, "No, not if you've totally rejected it - my goodness." "I think (Byrd) would agree that participation in the KKK is pretty...

R.I.P.: The passing of the longest-serving senator gives mainstream media another chance to rewrite history. Will he be touted as a constitutional scholar or a free-spending former Klansman who fought civil rights? That Robert Byrd left his mark would be an understatement. Our prayers are with his family and the people of West Virginia. He was both the dean of the Senate and the prince of pork. He knew the history of his chamber better than anybody, having authored a four-volume history of the upper chamber, and the Constitution better than most. He also, quite shamelessly, brought home so much...

Adam Clymer, NYT when Strom Thurmond died: Strom Thurmond, Foe of Integration, Dies at 100 By ADAM CLYMER Published: June 27, 2003 And again, remembering Byrd: Robert Byrd, Respected Voice of the Senate, Dies at 92 By ADAM CLYMER Published: June 28, 2010

Voters in South Carolina nominated a black Republican lawmaker for an open congressional seat Tuesday, rejecting a legendary political name and potentially changing the face of the national party. State Rep. Tim Scott defeated Paul Thurmond, an attorney who is son of the one-time segregationist U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond. Scott, who won the runoff with 69 percent of the vote, is now poised to become the nation's first black GOP congressman since 2003. Scott, 44, owns an insurance business and became the first black Republican in the South Carolina Legislature in more than a century when elected two years ago....

Republican Tim Scott earned a landslide victory against challenger Paul Thurmond in the Republican runoff in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District. The Associated Press called the race for Scott with the candidate leading Thurmond 74 percent to 26 percent. There was no question that Scott was the candidate of the party's D.C. establishment in South Carolina's 1st congressional district. It's a label that has essentially been the kiss of death for other GOP primary candidates this election cycle. But in the open seat primary to replace retiring Rep. Henry Brown (R) the party appeared thrilled to coalesce behind Scott, the...

At a March 3, 2002 Presidential Gala at Ford’s Theater, in Washington, President George W. Bush was seated in the front row. When emcee Kelsey Grammer introduced blind musician Stevie Wonder, the president smiled and raised his right hand in a perfunctory wave. It was clear to those seated nearby that his gesture was intended for Grammer, one of Hollywood’s few unabashed Republicans. Nevertheless, the Washington Post published a story the following day implying that Bush had waved at Stevie Wonder, saying, “The Prez is such a dolt, he waves at blind folks,” and Democrats all across the country repeated...

AIKEN, S.C. | The oldest son of the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond may be going into the family business. Strom Thurmond Jr. is considering running for a recently vacated state Senate seat once held by his father, according to reports published Thursday. Thurmond, 34, did not immediately return a telephone message left by The Associated Press. Before officially becoming a candidate for the seat, Thurmond would have to move to the nearby Senate district with the vacancy. "I have some loose ends to address - one of which would be to move the family," he said. Thurmond served as...

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The biracial daughter of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond defended the former segregationist on Tuesday and said the Rev. Al Sharpton "overreacted" when Sharpton learned he is a descendent of a slave owned by the senator's relatives. "In spite of the fact he was a segregationist, he did many wonderful things for black people ... I'm not sure that Reverend Sharpton is aware of all the things he did," said Essie Mae Washington-Williams, who was in South Carolina for a speech. "I kind of feel that there was an overreaction." Professional genealogists working for Ancestry.com found that...

NEW YORK - The Rev. Al Sharpton said he wants a DNA test to determine whether he is related to former segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond through his great-grandfather, a slave owned by an ancestor of the late senator. "I can't find out anything more shocking than I've already learned," Sharpton told the Daily News, which on Sunday reported the link based on genealogists' findings. Sharpton's spokesman, Rachel Noerdlinger, confirmed Monday for The Associated Press that Sharpton plans to pursue DNA testing, but had no further details. Sharpton and Thurmond didn't appear to have much in common: Thurmond ran for president...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Prominent black activist Al Sharpton has learned he is descended from a slave who was owned by ancestors of the one-time segregationist U.S. senator, the late Strom Thurmond, the Daily News reported on Sunday. The series of revelations came to light after the newspaper offered Sharpton a chance to delve into his family history with the help of genealogy experts from Ancestry.com. Sharpton learned of the connection this week, and told the News that "nothing -- nothing -- could prepare me for this." According to the genealogists' research, Sharpton's great-grandfather, Coleman Sharpton, was a slave in...

Genealogists have found that civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton is a descendent of a slave owned by relatives of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, a newspaper reported Sunday. The Daily News said professional genealogists, working at the newspaper’s behest, recently uncovered the ancestral ties between one of the nation’s best known black leaders and a man who was once a prominent defender of segregation. “I have always wondered what was the background of my family,” the newspaper quoted Sharpton as saying. “But nothing — nothing — could prepare me for this.” “It’s chilling. It’s amazing.” Some of Thurmond’s...

Al Sharpton's Ancestors Were Slaves Owned by Strom Thurmond's Relatives February 25, 2007 New York - Genealogists have found that civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton is a descendent of a slave owned by relatives of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, a newspaper reported Sunday. The Daily News said professional genealogists, working at the newspaper's behest, recently uncovered the ancestral ties between one of the nation's best-known black leaders and a man who was once a prominent defender of segregation. "I have always wondered what was the background of my family," the newspaper quoted Sharpton as saying. "But nothing...

Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., was in critical condition Saturday and resting from brain surgery. In South Dakota, the governor said people were standing behind the stricken lawmaker and he urged patience during Johnson's recovery. "At this point, no news is good news," said the senator's spokesman, Noah Pinegar. GOP Gov. Mike Rounds, who would appoint a replacement if Johnson were to leave office, said, "It just happens that we have one of our friends, one of our colleagues, who is going through a tough time. When that happens, we stand by him. And that's exactly what the people of South...

Paul Thurmond, 30, seeks nomination for Charleston County Council seat By LEE BANDY Staff Writer Paul Thurmond, the youngest son of the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, said Thursday he will seek the Republican nomination for a seat on the Charleston County Council.Thurmond, in making the first run for public office by a child of the former senator and governor, said he views the seat as an opportunity to make a difference for the people of Charleston County.For three years, Thurmond served in the Charleston County Solicitor’s Office before co-founding the Thurmond Kirchner & Timbes law firm.Thurmond, 30, promised to...

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The youngest son of the late U-S Senator Strom Thurmond says he will seek the Republican nomination for a seat on the Charleston County Council. The 30-year-old Paul Thurmond is the first of his father's five children to seek public office. Paul's brother -- Strom Junior -- was appointed U-S attorney for South Carolina but resigned the post about two years ago. Paul Thurmond left the Charleston County prosecutor's office for private practice last fall. He downplayed any notions he might seek higher office in the future. The seat Thurmond is seeking is held by council chairman...

Strom Thurmond wins S.C. 3A title Associated Press Posted on Sat, Dec. 03, 2005 COLUMBIA, S.C. - Coco Hillary passed for one touchdown and ran for two more scores Saturday night to lead Strom Thurmond a 21-3 victory over Clinton for the state Class 3A championship. Hillary completed 13-of-19 passes for 174 yards and ran for 63 yards as the Rebels finished with a 14-1 record and won their first state title since 1968. Hillary's touchdown pass came on the last play of the first half on a 50-yard toss to Jarrell Taylor that gave Strom Thurmond a 14-3 lead....