Dixiecrat
The Life and Times of Strom Thurmond
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Thurmond carefully executed his plan of attack. Earlier in the day, he had nearly dehydrated himself in the Senate steam room. His body purged of fluids, Thurmond was determined to keep his kidneys from interrupting his forthcoming oratorical marathon. After supper, Thurmond slipped into his suit coat, gathered his reading material, and filled his pockets with throat lozenges and malted milk balls, before exiting his office for the short walk to the Senate chambers. At 8:54 p.m., the proud South Carolinian stepped to the podium: "Mister President, I rise to speak against this so-called Voting Rights Bill, HR 6127..." Once Strom Thurmond started talking, he didn't stop for 24 hours and 18 minutes. During his oratorical marathon, Thurmond read aloud the election laws of every state in the union, intending to prove there was no need for federally mandated voter legislation. Thurmond also read at length from the Constitution and other texts related to the right of trial by jury. He cited the legal opinions of "a great man and a great American," Chief Justice William Howard Taft, concerning contempt cases. Thurmond continued by reciting the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and George Washington's Farewell Address. At one point, he managed to incorporate details about his grandmother's biscuit recipe."
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About the Book
A colorful and controversial statesman who served in the United States Senate for a half-century, Strom Thurmond did not retire from office until after he was 100 years old. Hailing from the small town of Edgefield, South Carolina, Thurmond rapidly ascended the political ladder--Superintendent of Education, State Senator, Circuit Court Judge, Governor, and U.S. Senator. An avowed States' Righter, Thurmond ran as a segregationist Dixiecrat presidential candidate in 1948. Thurmond holds the record for the longest solo filibuster in American history, when he held the floor for over 24 hours to protest the Civil Rights Act of 1957. The defiant South Carolinian is one of only two persons to have ever been elected to national office by write-in vote. While remaining a staunch conservative, Thurmond eventually abandoned his segregationist ways and managed to earn the gratitude and electoral support of African American voters. With unrivaled service to his constituents, Thurmond was elected to the Senate on nine occasions. Throughout his storied career,Thurmond never revealed that he had fathered a mixed race child. The general public did not learn about this potentially career-ending secret until after Thurmond's death. A decorated World War War II veteran who participated in the D-Day invasion of France, a courageous Thurmond was not unwilling to undertake personal and political risks. The South Carolina Senator's bold actions, eternal youthfulness, and political longevity were the envy of supporters and opponents, alike. "Dixiecrat: The Life and Times of Strom Thurmond" is a concise, biography of a 20th century political icon.
About the Author
Jeffrey K. Smith is a physician and a writer. A native of Enterprise, Alabama, he received his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Alabama. After completing his residency at the William S. Hall Psychiatric Institute in Columbia, South Carolina, Dr. Smith entered private practice. The author resides in Greer, South Carolina, along with his wife, Anne. They are the proud parents of two sons, Andy and Ben. Smith is the author of three murder-mystery novels and five non-fiction books. To learn more about his books, please visit www.newfrontierpublications.net.