Strom Thurmond was born on December 5, 1902, in Edgefield, South Carolina. Growing up, he excelled in academics and athletics, eventually earning a scholarship to Clemson Agricultural College (now Clemson University). After graduating, he worked as a teacher, then as a farmer, before pursuing a career in law.
Thurmond attended law school at the University of South Carolina and passed the bar exam in 1930. He opened his own law practice and quickly became involved in politics, serving as the prosecutor for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of South Carolina.
In 1947, Thurmond was appointed to fill a vacant seat in the United States Senate. He went on to be elected to a full term in 1954 and was re-elected several times, serving a total of forty-eight years in the Senate. Thurmond was known for his conservative views and strong support of states' rights.
One of the most controversial moments of Thurmond's career came in 1957 when he filibustered for over twenty-four hours to oppose the Civil Rights Act. Despite his efforts, the act was eventually passed, marking a significant moment in the civil rights movement.
Thurmond's personal life was not without controversy. In 2003, it was revealed that he had a daughter, Essie Mae Washington-Williams, from a relationship with his family's black housekeeper, Cassie Butler. Washington-Williams came forward after Thurmond's death to publicly acknowledge her parentage.
Despite his personal indiscretions, Thurmond remained a powerful figure in South Carolina politics until his retirement in 2003. He passed away in 2003 at the age of 100, leaving behind a complicated legacy as one of the longest-serving senators in U.S. history.
In 1948, Thurmond made a failed run for the presidency as a third-party candidate in opposition to President Harry S. Truman's desegregation of the U.S. Army. Though he did not win the election, Thurmond's campaign garnered national attention and solidified his reputation as a staunch defender of segregation and states' rights.
Throughout his long career, Strom Thurmond remained a controversial and influential figure in American politics. His legacy is complicated, marked by both his staunch defense of segregation and his long tenure in the Senate. Despite his flaws, Thurmond's impact on American history cannot be denied.