Segregationists All Democrats
Many liberal friends of mine seem to think that the racist Democrats in the South just became today’s racist Republicans. From my reading of history, the racist Democrats died, retired or were defeated. There was only one notable exception; one Democrat segregationist did become a Republican, Dixiecrat Senator Strom Thurman of South Carolina. Based on signing the 1956 Southern Manifesto and voting against the 1964 Civil Rights Act basically all the segregationists were Democrats.
The 1956 Southern Manifesto, ninety-one years after the Confederacy had lost the Civil War, was signed by nineteen United States Senators and seventy-seven members of the House of Representatives opposed to racial integration in public places. Of the ninety-six members of Congress who signed the Southern Manifesto, two were Virginia Republican Congressman [three Southern Republican Congressmen refused to sign]. The Southern Manifesto included "This unwarranted exercise of power by the Court, contrary to the Constitution, is creating chaos and confusion in the States principally affected. It is destroying the amicable relations between the white and Negro races that have been created through 90 years of patient effort by the good people of both races. It has planted hatred and suspicion where there has been heretofore friendship and understanding." My, My.
Most Democratic segregationists died, retired or were defeated, for example:
Senator Richard Russell, Democrat of Georgia, co-authored the 1956 Southern Manifesto strongly defended white supremacy and voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. He died in 1971; civil rights supporting Democrat Sam Nunn was elected in 1972. In 1996 Nunn retired and civil rights supporting Democrat Max Cleland was elected who was defeated in 2002 by civil rights supporting Republican Saxby Chambliss.
Senator Albert Gore Sr., Democrat of Tennessee, voted against 1964 Civil Rights Act was defeated in 1970 by civil rights supporting Republican William E. Brock III.
Senator Sam Ervin, Democrat of North Carolina (the Senator who chaired the Watergate Investigating Committee), signed the 1956 Sothern Manifesto and voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act was succeeded by moderate Democrat Robert Morgan who was then defeated in 1980 by civil rights supporting Republican John Porter East.
Senator James O. Eastland, Democrat of Mississippi was a staunch segregationist and avowed racist who signed the 1956 Southern Manifesto and voted against 1964 Civil Rights Act. Did national Democrats ostracize Eastland? Heck no; he served in the Senate until 1978 under President Jimmy Carter in the prestigious positions of Judiciary Committee Chairman and the Senate office In line to assume the Presidency, President Pro Tempore. However, in 1978, Eastland retired and the voters elected civil rights supporting Republican Thad Cochran.
Senator J. William Fulbright, Democrat of Arkansas (mentor of President Bill Clinton), signed the 1956 Sothern Manifesto and voted against 1964 Civil Rights Act as well as voting against the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Did he become a Republican? No, he was defeated in the Democratic primary by civil rights supporting then-Governor Democrat Dale Bumpers. Civil rights supporting Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln stills holds this seat for the Democratic Party.
What about Republican Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina, wasn’t he a segregationist? No, consistent with the 1964 Civil Rights Act, he and most Republicans are against race based affirmative action. Helms was elected in 1972 replacing segregationist Democrat B. Everett Jordan appointed to the Senate in 1958 who voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The 1964 Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin: in voting, employment, and public services, such as transportation.
The 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed in the United States Senate:
Democratic Party: 46-22 (68%-32%)
Republican Party: 27-6 (82%-18%)
The 1964 Civil Rights Act passed in the House of Representatives:
Democratic Party: 153-91 (63%-37%)
Republican Party: 136-35 (80%-20%)
The 1956 Southern Manifesto, ninety-one years after the Confederacy had lost the Civil War, was signed by nineteen United States Senators and seventy-seven members of the House of Representatives opposed to racial integration in public places. Of the ninety-six members of Congress who signed the Southern Manifesto, two were Virginia Republican Congressman [three Southern Republican Congressmen refused to sign]. The Southern Manifesto included "This unwarranted exercise of power by the Court, contrary to the Constitution, is creating chaos and confusion in the States principally affected. It is destroying the amicable relations between the white and Negro races that have been created through 90 years of patient effort by the good people of both races. It has planted hatred and suspicion where there has been heretofore friendship and understanding." My, My.
Most Democratic segregationists died, retired or were defeated, for example:
Senator Richard Russell, Democrat of Georgia, co-authored the 1956 Southern Manifesto strongly defended white supremacy and voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. He died in 1971; civil rights supporting Democrat Sam Nunn was elected in 1972. In 1996 Nunn retired and civil rights supporting Democrat Max Cleland was elected who was defeated in 2002 by civil rights supporting Republican Saxby Chambliss.
Senator Albert Gore Sr., Democrat of Tennessee, voted against 1964 Civil Rights Act was defeated in 1970 by civil rights supporting Republican William E. Brock III.
Senator Sam Ervin, Democrat of North Carolina (the Senator who chaired the Watergate Investigating Committee), signed the 1956 Sothern Manifesto and voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act was succeeded by moderate Democrat Robert Morgan who was then defeated in 1980 by civil rights supporting Republican John Porter East.
Senator James O. Eastland, Democrat of Mississippi was a staunch segregationist and avowed racist who signed the 1956 Southern Manifesto and voted against 1964 Civil Rights Act. Did national Democrats ostracize Eastland? Heck no; he served in the Senate until 1978 under President Jimmy Carter in the prestigious positions of Judiciary Committee Chairman and the Senate office In line to assume the Presidency, President Pro Tempore. However, in 1978, Eastland retired and the voters elected civil rights supporting Republican Thad Cochran.
Senator J. William Fulbright, Democrat of Arkansas (mentor of President Bill Clinton), signed the 1956 Sothern Manifesto and voted against 1964 Civil Rights Act as well as voting against the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Did he become a Republican? No, he was defeated in the Democratic primary by civil rights supporting then-Governor Democrat Dale Bumpers. Civil rights supporting Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln stills holds this seat for the Democratic Party.
What about Republican Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina, wasn’t he a segregationist? No, consistent with the 1964 Civil Rights Act, he and most Republicans are against race based affirmative action. Helms was elected in 1972 replacing segregationist Democrat B. Everett Jordan appointed to the Senate in 1958 who voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The 1964 Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin: in voting, employment, and public services, such as transportation.
The 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed in the United States Senate:
Democratic Party: 46-22 (68%-32%)
Republican Party: 27-6 (82%-18%)
The 1964 Civil Rights Act passed in the House of Representatives:
Democratic Party: 153-91 (63%-37%)
Republican Party: 136-35 (80%-20%)
posted by Gene Felder at 3:46 PM
1 Comments:
"What about Republican Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina, wasn’t he a segregationist?"
Jesse Helms was a Dixiecrat segregationist until 1970 when he registered as a Republican. He served as a legislative aide for segregationist North Carolina Senator Willie Smith and on the 1952 Dixiecrat presidential campaign of Richard Russell.
Nice bit of historical revisionism, but the facts speak for themselves.
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