Strom Thurmond

Strom Thurmond is the oldest serving U.S. Senator; a Republican, representing South Carolina.

His career in the Senate extends from the days of Jim Crow, when he was a strong supporter of racial segregation as a southern Democrat. He later ran for President on an independent ticket of a party which bolted from the Democrats which was informally known as the Dixiecrats, and then switched to the Republican party. Thurmond has played an important role in building Republican support in the South, which was overwhelmingly Democrat prior to the early 1960s.

He supported racial segregation with the longest filibuster ever on the Senate floor. However, being pragmatic and wishing to save his political career, he switched over to endorsing integration earlier than most other Southerners.

There is currently some controversy over his mental condition as the oldest member of the Senate. Some, including close friends, have claimed that he has lost mental acuity and should not be serving in the Senate. However, his supporters claim that while he has lacks physical stamina from his age, that mentally he remains aware and attentive and that he maintains a very active work schedule in showing up for every floor vote.