December 20, 2003

*

Trent Lott, US Senate Majority Leader,
until 20 December 2002

Strom Thurmond,1948:

I wanna tell you, ladies and gentlemen, that there’s not enough troops in the army to force the southern people to break down segregation and admit the nigger race into our theatres, into our swimming pools, into our homes, and into our churches. [Applause]
listen (mp3 / 164k), stromwatch.com, thanks

Trent Lott
5 December 2002

I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president [in 1948], we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn’t have had all these problems over all these years, either. [Applause]
listen (mp3 / 105k), stromwatch.com
Talking Point Memo
Josh Marshall, 6 December 2002
Thurmond ran as the presidential candidate on the “States-Rights Democrat” or “Dixiecrat” ticket—a candidacy that was based exclusively and explicitly upon the preservation of legalized segregation and opposition to voting rights and civil rights for blacks.

There’s a sort of agreement in Washington these days—with Thurmond’s retirement and hundredth birthday—to sort of forget about all that unpleasantness.

But look at what Trent Lott said about that candidacy yesterday . . .

Lott Steps Down as Majority Leader
CNN.com, 20 December 2002