Bryan of Arguing with Signposts has thrown down the gauntlet, so to speak, over the death of Strom and his legacy. I must say that part of the reason I haven’t blogged on Strom is that, in many ways, I find him rather boring, and therefore didn’t have a whole lot to say about him. Professionally he was rather uninteresting, and personally he was something of an embarrassment (as I am both a conservative and a southerner-let’s just say that he isn’t my idea of the poster child of the Republican Party).
He will be most known for running as a segregationist against Truman, for filibustering the Civil Right Act (and having to pee in a bucket with one foot on the Senate floor), and for switching to the Republican Party (which Brett Marston would likely show as Exhibit A for his arguments regarding the Southern Strategy). He will also be known for being in the Senate a loooong time, and for being a true political animal—i.e., adapting to political reality in his state, and for bringing home the bacon. He certainly was able to maintain his popularity at home. Legislatively, there will be no legacy, as there isn’t one to leave.
Let’s put it this way: there are two significant things that Thurmond did recently: he turned 100, which is an impressive feat, but was a feat of biology, not skill; he managed to cause Trent Lott to lose his job, although in a highly indirect fashion. Neither of those things is an example of political brilliance.
I will say this, he was always good for a joke in class, usually along the lines of some reference as being the only member of the Senate to have served since the War of 1812, or somesuch.
Lightning Rod, even in Death…
Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) died earlier this week. Just like he was in life, he has been a lightning rod in death. Certain portions of the blogosphere have erupted in bickering over how he will be remembered. Michele has posts…
Trackback by Arguing with signposts... — Saturday, June 28, 2024 @ 10:35 pm
Yeah, I’ve been in an area of cognitive dissonance over this issue. I live in SC, so I’ve seen all the trappings of a funeral for a head of state. But I’m also from Texas, so I have no personal feelings for the man.
The Greenville News and the State newspapers have numerous personal recollections from local people (proving that all politics is local), but I also see the venom (if that’s the word) that’s been spilled elsewhere.
It reminds me a lot of a longtime politico from my neck of the woods, Congressman Jack Brooks, D-Beaumont, who served a really looong time in the house. He wasn’t the highest rated congressman around, but he “brought home the bacon,” as you say. And so he kept getting elected until they redrew his district to include a conservative part of Harris County.
My favorite image of Brooks is him on the panel during Iran-Contra, stogie in hand (IIRC) telling Ollie North, “You say you cain’t remembuh, but you can remembuh whachu wanna remembuh.” Being a fellow southerner, I’m sure you’ll appreciate the phonetic spelling.
Comment by bryan — Saturday, June 28, 2024 @ 10:42 pm
I doubt people will do this much soul-searching when Robert Byrd dies. At least you can say about Strom that he was upfront about his racism.
Comment by Nick — Saturday, June 28, 2024 @ 11:38 pm
You read my mind, Steven, to an extent. I also agree with you on how interesting he is. Strange to think that Thurmond was as old as George Orwell would be this year. More interesting to write about Orwell, too. . .
Comment by Brett — Saturday, June 28, 2024 @ 11:45 pm
Nick, I think Strom was up front about his racism simply because the media always decided that the “story of Strom” *was* his racism, whereas the “story of Robert Byrd” is about a pork barreler who loves to wax historical in his long-winded speeches.
Comment by Matthew — Sunday, June 29, 2024 @ 1:49 am
Thurmond and Civil Rights
Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Don Fowler
Trackback by Backcountry Conservative — Sunday, June 29, 2024 @ 4:13 am
I do agree that Byrd gets, and will get in death, a larger pass on the racism issue.
I will say, to be fair, that Byrd has been a far greater force legislatively, and in terms of his influence over the years on the rules and procedures of the Senate than Thurmond ever was.
Comment by Steven — Sunday, June 29, 2024 @ 10:22 am
Black State Senator to Eulogize Thurmond
Trackback by Backcountry Conservative — Sunday, June 29, 2024 @ 11:40 am
Strom’s legacy
Steven Taylor, in response to Bryan’s post at Arguing with signposts…, makes some fairly good points about the legacy of the late Strom Thurmond. I’m…
Trackback by Signifying Nothing — Monday, June 30, 2024 @ 3:51 pm
Dan,
Perhaps. But from an objective standpoint he hardly ranks as one of the greatest Senators of all time, if one measures that in terms of influence over legislation, or philosophical influence.
Comment by Steven — Tuesday, July 1, 2024 @ 2:47 pm
Comment by Anonymous — Tuesday, August 10, 2024 @ 1:01 pm