Strom Thurmond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Strom Thurmond
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Thurmond in 1961
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| President pro tempore of the United States Senate | |
| In office January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Byrd |
| Succeeded by | Robert Byrd |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Byrd |
| Succeeded by | Robert Byrd |
| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Warren Magnuson |
| Succeeded by | John C. Stennis |
| President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate | |
| In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Robert Byrd |
| United States Senator from South Carolina |
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| In office November 7, 1956 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas A. Wofford |
| Succeeded by | Lindsey Graham |
| In office December 24, 1954 – April 4, 1956 |
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| Preceded by | Charles E. Daniel |
| Succeeded by | Thomas A. Wofford |
| 103rd Governor of South Carolina | |
| In office January 21, 1947 – January 16, 1951 |
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| Lieutenant | George Bell Timmerman Jr. |
| Preceded by | Ransome Judson Williams |
| Succeeded by | James F. Byrnes |
| Member of the South Carolina Senate from the Edgefield County district |
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| In office January 10, 1933 – January 14, 1938 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Greneker |
| Succeeded by | William Yonce |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Strom Thurmond
December 5, 1902 Edgefield, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | June 26, 2003 (aged 100) Edgefield, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Resting place | Edgefield Village Cemetery |
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| Other political affiliations |
Dixiecrat (1948) |
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| Children | 5, including Essie, Strom Jr., and Paul |
| Education | Clemson University (BS) |
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| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1964 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Unit | United States Army Reserve |
| Battles/wars | |
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James Strom Thurmond Sr. (December 5, 1902 – June 26, 2003) was an American politician. He represented South Carolina in the United States Senate for nearly 48 years. This long service lasted from 1954 until just before his death in 2003.
Before becoming a senator, he was the 103rd governor of South Carolina from 1947 to 1951. Thurmond was known for his very long speeches in the Senate. One of his speeches, against the Civil Rights Act of 1957, lasted over 24 hours.
He became the oldest person to serve in the U.S. Senate in 1996. In 1997, he became the longest-serving senator at that time. He cast his 15,000th vote in 1998.
Early Life and Education
James Strom Thurmond was born on December 5, 1902, in Edgefield, South Carolina. He was one of six children. His father was a lawyer and a local politician. His mother was known for her strong religious beliefs.
From a young age, Thurmond learned to ride horses and bulls. His family moved to a larger home when he was four. Their home was often visited by politicians and lawyers.
Thurmond attended Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina. Today, this school is known as Clemson University. He studied horticulture, which is the science of growing plants.
At Clemson, he was president of the Calhoun Literary Society. Here, he practiced debating and learned about parliamentary procedure. This is a set of rules for conducting meetings. He graduated from Clemson in 1923 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
After college, Thurmond worked as a farmer, a teacher, and an athletic coach. In 1929, he became the superintendent of education for Edgefield County. While working, he also studied law with his father.
Political Career
Strom Thurmond was a member of the Democratic Party until 1964. Then, he joined the Republican Party. He remained a Republican for the rest of his time in politics.
In 1948, he ran for president as a candidate for the Dixiecrat party. He received over a million votes and won four states.
Thurmond was involved in important debates about civil rights laws in the 1950s and 1960s. He gave a very long speech in the Senate, lasting 24 hours and 18 minutes. This speech was against the Civil Rights Act of 1957. In the 1960s, he voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Later in his career, by the 1970s, Thurmond's views on race began to change. He continued to explain his earlier positions based on states' rights.
Thurmond served three times as President pro tempore of the United States Senate. This role is usually held by the most senior senator of the majority party. He also led important committees. He chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1981 to 1987. He also chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1995 to 1999.
He retired in 2003 at 100 years old. He was the first person to be a centenarian (someone 100 years or older) while serving in Congress. His 48 years as a senator was a record at the time. It is now the fourth-longest in U.S. history.
Personal Life
Strom Thurmond was married two times. He had five children.
Later Years and Death
Thurmond died on June 26, 2003, in his hometown of Edgefield, South Carolina. He was 100 years old. He passed away from heart failure in his sleep. He was buried in the Willowbrook Cemetery in Edgefield.
Honors and Memorials
Many places and organizations are named after Strom Thurmond to honor his long career.
- The Strom Thurmond Foundation, Inc., helps students in South Carolina with financial aid.
- A large reservoir on the border of Georgia and South Carolina is named Lake Strom Thurmond.
- The University of South Carolina has the Strom Thurmond Fitness Center. It is one of the largest fitness centers on a college campus.
- Charleston Southern University has a Strom Thurmond Building. It holds business offices and the bookstore.
- The Thurmond Building at Winthrop University is also named for him. He served on Winthrop's Board of Trustees.
- A statue of Strom Thurmond is located on the grounds of the South Carolina State Capitol.
- The Strom Thurmond Federal Building and United States Courthouse is named after him.
- Strom Thurmond High School is in his hometown of Edgefield, South Carolina.
- The U.S. Air Force has a C-17 Globemaster cargo plane named the Spirit of Strom Thurmond.
- The mobilization complex at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, is named in his honor.
- In 1989, he received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Ronald Reagan.
- Strom Thurmond Boulevard is a street at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
- In 1993, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George H. W. Bush. This is one of the highest civilian awards in the United States.
- The Strom Thurmond Institute is located at Clemson University.
Images for kids
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Thurmond in 1969
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Thurmond (far right) campaigning for Ronald Reagan in Columbia, South Carolina in 1980
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President Reagan with Thurmond in the Oval Office
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Margaret Thatcher and Thurmond at a state dinner in 1981
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The statue honoring Strom Thurmond on the south side of the South Carolina State House
See also
In Spanish: Strom Thurmond para niños
