US Senate career of Strom Thurmond

{{Main|1954 United States Senate election in South Carolina}}

The incumbent U.S. senator from South Carolina, Burnet R. Maybank, was unopposed for re-election in 1954, but he died two months before the election. Various leaders requested a primary election for choosing the new nominee; however, the Democratic Party selected Edgar A. Brown, a state senator, as the party{{'s}} nominee to replace Maybank without conducting a primary election. Thurmond organized a write-in campaign for the vacant senate seat. He pledged that if he won, he would resign in 1956 to force a primary election. He won the 1954 election easily, receiving almost 63% of the vote. His victory made him the first person to be elected to the U.S. Senate as a write-in candidate.{{Efn|It has only been repeated once, in 2010, by Lisa Murkowski}} In January 1955, he stated that federal encroachment on states' rights was among the biggest threats to American life and violated the Constitution. He spoke of the importance of education, saying, "it should be a primary duty of the states just as national defense is a primary obligation of the federal government."{{cite news|date=January 9, 1955|title=Solon Says States' Rights Great |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Times |location=Shreveport, Louisiana |publisher=Monroe Morning World |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83088256/solon-says-states-rights-great/ |access-date=August 9, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} In July 1955, Thurmond supported the Eisenhower Administration{{'s}} bill for an expanded military reserve law, including peacetime officers receiving compulsory training. He argued the bill would strengthen Eisenhower during the Geneva Summit. He opposed the alternate plan proposed by Senator Richard Russell, which argued to abolish compulsory training in addition to adding a bonus of $400 ({{Inflation|index=US|value=400|start_year=1955|fmt=eq}}) to males forgoing active duty. Thurmond asserted that patriotism could not be purchased.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=July 11, 1955 |title=Sen. Thurmond Backs Fight For Military Reserve Law |newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FSYeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0pkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2787%2C1216950 |access-date=August 9, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

{{Wikisource4|the text of Thurmond's filibuster|Strom Thurmond filibuster on the Civil Rights Act of 1957}}

Thurmond co-wrote the first version of the Southern Manifesto, stating disagreement with the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, that desegregated public schools.{{Cite journal |last=Crespino |first=Joseph |date=April 29, 2010 |title=The Scarred Stone: The Strom Thurmond Monument |url=https://southernspaces.org/2010/scarred-stone-strom-thurmond-monument |journal=Southern Spaces |doi=10.18737/M7P315|doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |access-date=August 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://perma.cc/SL47-KS2M |archive-date=2019-11-17 |url-status=dead|doi-access=free }} He was part of the group of Southern senators who shared a commonality of being dispirited with Brown v. Board of Education.{{cite book |last=Woods |first=Randall Bennett |author-link=Randall B. Woods |date=2006 |url=https://archive.org/details/lbj00rand/page/303 |title=LBJ: Architect of American Ambition |publisher=Free Press |isbn=978-0-684-83458-0 |location=New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/lbj00rand/page/303 303] |lccn=2006041259 |ol=7721570M |access-date=August 9, 2021 |url-access=registration}} In early 1956, he resigned from the Senate, keeping the promise he made two years earlier.{{Cite news |agency=United Press |date=March 4, 1956|title=Thurmond Resigns His Senate Seat to Keep Promise He Made|work=The Springfield News-Leader|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83088971/thurmond-resigns-his-senate-seat-to/|access-date=August 9, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} He won the primary as well as the general election unopposed. Thereafter, he returned to the Senate in November 1956. In 1957, the Eisenhower administration introduced an amended version of the Civil Rights Bill, imposing expansion of federal supervision of integration in Southern states.{{cite book |last=Newton |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Newton (journalist) |year=2011 |url=https://archive.org/details/eisenhowerwhiteh00newt/page/242|title=Eisenhower: The White House Years|publisher=Doubleday|isbn=978-0-385-52353-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/eisenhowerwhiteh00newt/page/242 242] |lccn=2011010759|ol=25045949M|access-date=August 9, 2021 |url-access=registration}} In an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the bill{{'s}} passage,{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=August 31, 1957 |title=Thurmond's Filibuster Angers Dixie Senators|work=The Herald Journal|publisher=|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19570831&id=PWssAAAAIBAJ&pg=3968,4300592|access-date=August 9, 2021}} Thurmond filibustered the bill, speaking for a total of 24 hours and 18 minutes, the longest filibuster ever conducted by a single senator at the time.{{Cite news|last=Memmott|first=Mark|date=March 7, 2013|title=How Did Strom Thurmond Last Through His 24-Hour Filibuster?|work=The Two-Way |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/03/07/173736882/how-did-strom-thurmond-last-through-his-24-hour-filibuster |access-date=August 9, 2021}} Other Southern senators, who had agreed as part of a compromise not to filibuster this bill, were upset with Thurmond because they thought his defiance made them look incompetent to their constituents.{{cite book |last=Caro |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Caro |date=2002 |title=Master of the Senate: The Years of Lyndon Johnson |location=New York |publisher=Knopf |isbn=978-0-394-52836-6}}{{Page needed|date=August 2021}} Despite his efforts, the Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 on August 29.{{cite news |last=Glass |first=Andrew |date=August 29, 2007 |title=Congress passes Civil Rights Act Aug. 29, 1957 |work=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/08/congress-passes-civil-rights-act-aug-29-1957-005470}} In January 1959, the Senate held a debate over changing the rules to curb filibusters, Thurmond expressed the view that the Senate return to the rule prior to 1917, when there were no regulations on the time for debate.{{cite news |last=Chadwick |first=John |date=January 13, 1959 |title=Liberals Claim South Won Filibuster Battle |newspaper=The Gadsden Times |page=1 |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=Z610oKUqOA4C&dat=19590113&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |via=Google News Archive}}

In February 1960, Thurmond requested a quorum call that would produce at least half the membership of the Senate, the call being seen as one of the delay tactics employed by Southerners during the meeting. 51 senators assembled, allowing for the Senate to adjourn in spite of Thurmond's calls for another quorum call. Thurmond afterward denied his responsibility in convening the Saturday session, attributing it to Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson and opining that those insistent on passing a civil rights bill should be around during discussions on the matter.{{Cite news |date=February 28, 1960 |title=Senator Russell Ties Rights Bakers To Race Riots |newspaper=The Blade (Toledo, Ohio) |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wggwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_gAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6818%2C4468116|access-date=August 13, 2021}} During his filibuster, Thurmond relied on the book The Case for the South, written by W. D. Workman Jr. Thurmond had known the author for fifteen years as Workman had covered both Thurmond's tenure as South Carolina governor and his presidential campaign, in addition to having served in the military unit Thurmond had organized in Columbia, and having turned down an offer by Thurmond to serve as his Washington office press secretary. The Case for the South, described in 2013 by Loyola history professor and author Elizabeth Shermer as "a compendium of segregationist arguments that hit all the high points of regional apologia", was sent by Thurmond to each of his Senate colleagues and then-vice president Richard Nixon.{{cite book |last=Shermer |first=Elizabeth Tandy |date=2013 |title=Barry Goldwater and the Remaking of the American Political Landscape |publisher=University of Arizona Press |pages=152–153 |isbn=978-0-8165-2109-8 |lccn=2012029636 |ol=25404808M}}

{{Main|1960 United States Senate election in South Carolina}}

On account of Kennedy{{'s}} known support for Civil Rights, Thurmond refused to support the Democratic Party's nominee in the 1960 United States presidential election. Thurmond himself was up for re-election that year and despite his party disloyalty, he won the South Carolina Democratic Primary with nearly 90% of the vote. Like much of the South during this time period, South Carolina was still effectively a one-party state where winning the Democratic primary was tantamount to victory. In the 1960 South Carolina Senate race, Thurmond ran unopposed in the General Election, a Republican candidate did not even appear on the ballot. As of 2021, 1960 remains the last time a Democrat won South Carolina's Class 2 Senate Seat.{{Sfn|Bass|Thompson|1998|p=189}} In the presidential election, he received 14 electoral votes for the vice president (as Harry Byrd Sr.'s running mate). Though Both Byrd and Thurmond had long since moved on from the States Rights' Democratic Party, they were the decided protest ticket of several southern delegates and unpledged electors, who refused to give their support to Kennedy.{{Cite journal|last=Middleton|first=Russell|date=1962|title=The Civil Rights Issue And Presidential Voting Among Southern Negroes And Whites|journal=Social Forces|publisher=Oxford University Press|volume=40|issue=3|pages=209–215|doi=10.2307/2573630|jstor=2573630}} Though their actual level of electoral support is difficult to determine, "the Byrd{{Endash}}Thurmond ticket" or "Unpledged candidate", won a plurality of the vote of the vote in Mississippi, finished second (ahead of Nixon) in Alabama and third in Louisiana with 20% of the vote.{{Cite web|title=1960 Electoral College Results|url=https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/1960|access-date=August 13, 2021|website=National Archives and Records Administration|date=November 5, 2019}}

Following Kennedy's victory, Thurmond loudly voiced the view that he would be expelled from the Senate Democratic Caucus in retaliation.{{cite news|date=January 4, 1961|title=Thurmond Not Purge Target |work=The Sumter Daily Item |page=1 |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6gEvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xqkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6411%2C158793 |access-date=August 13, 2021}} Though not a position ever endorsed by either Kennedy or the DNC, some Democrats were angered by Thurmond's determined opposition and felt he should be kicked out of the party for his disloyalty.

The 87th Congress began without a move to remove Thurmond from the Senate Democratic Caucus, in spite of Thurmond's predictions to the contrary.{{cite news |date=January 3, 1961|title=Thurmond Invites Fight To Oust Him |newspaper=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |page=11 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/01/03/archives/thurmond-invites-fight-to-oust-him.html |url-access=limited |access-date=August 13, 2021}} An aide for Senator Joseph S. Clark Jr. said there was never an intention to pursue recourse against Thurmond, though in his opinion Thurmond should no longer be a member of the party. In February 1961, Thurmond stated his support for imposing quotas per country and category on textile imports; noting that the same practice was being imposed by other countries. He added that American industry would be destroyed by government subsidies that would convert the textile industry to other fields.{{cite news|date=February 13, 1961 |title=U.S. Must Impose Textile Quotas, Thurmond Says |work=The Herald Journal |page=8 |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19610213&id=gnssAAAAIBAJ&pg=2018,1614545 |access-date=August 13, 2021}} He later opposed legislation that "would give the president unprecedented authority to lower or wipe out tariff wall [and] would provide for the first time broad government relief to industries and workers", the only Democrat to do so.{{cite news|date=September 20, 1962|title=Unprecedented Authority Voted: Senate Passes Trade Bill 78–8|work=The Herald Bulletin|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-bulletin-sep-20-1962-p-1/|access-date=August 13, 2021}} In December 1961, he addressed the Arkansas American Legion conference in Little Rock. He claimed he had been told that the State Department was preparing "a paper for the turning over of our nuclear weapons to the United Nations."{{cite news|date=December 4, 1961|title=Thurmond Remark Goes Unanswered|work=The Times Recorder|publisher=|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83356834/thurmond-remark-goes-unanswered/|access-date=August 13, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} In September 1962, Thurmond called for an invasion of Cuba.{{cite news|last=Marlow|first=James|date=September 5, 1962|title=Cuba, Soviet Warned|work=Springfield News-Leader|publisher=|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/299255121/|access-date=August 13, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} In a February Thurmond stated that "the brush curtain around Cuba is a formidable Soviet strategic military base" and estimated between 30,000 and 40,000 Cuban troops were under the leadership of a Soviet general. Hours after the statement was made public, a Pentagon official disputed his claims as being "at wide variance with carefully evaluated data collected by U.S. intelligence" and called for Thurmond to release his proof to the Defense Department.{{cite news|date=February 2, 1963|title=Soviet Has Around 40,000 Military Personnel In Cuba|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=A7-hzOuI2KQC&dat=19630202&printsec=frontpage&hl=en}} During Paul Nitze's nomination hearing for Secretary of the Navy, Thurmond was noted for asking "rapid fire questions" on military action and focusing on Nitze's participation as a moderator in the 1958 National Council of Churches conference.{{cite news|date=November 7, 1963|title=Thurmond Fires Queries Senate Group Grills Nitze, Navy Secretary Nominee|work=The San Bernardino Sun|publisher=|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SBS19631108.1.3|access-date=August 13, 2021}} Along with Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, Thurmond delayed the Nitze nomination.{{cite news|last=Raymond|first=Jack|date=November 16, 1963|title=Senators Delay Approving Nitze {{endash}} Questions Are Raised About Parley and Land Sale Asked About Views|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/11/16/archives/senators-delay-approving-nitze-questions-are-raised-about-parley.html|access-date=August 13, 2021}} In spite of Thurmond voting against him, the nomination was approved.{{cite news|date=November 22, 1963|title=Senate Group Backs Nitze As Navy Head|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83357006/senate-group-backs-nitze-as-navy-head/|access-date=August 13, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

When the Senate debated Kennedy's public school aid bill, Thurmond proposed an amendment prohibiting the government from barring segregated schools from receiving loans or grants.{{cite news|last=Jenks|first=George|date=May 17, 1961|title=Strategy Shifts On School Aid|newspaper=Toledo Blade|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k0AxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Mw4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6158%2C4230798|access-date=August 13, 2021}} After Kennedy sent Congress his civil rights bill, Thurmond's opposition was clear and immediate.{{cite news|date=June 20, 1963|title=Right Plan Hit by Southern Block {{endash}} Thurmond Says Proposals Recall Reconstruction|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/06/20/archives/rights-plan-hit-by-southern-bloc-thurmond-says-proposals-recall.html|access-date=August 13, 2021}} Later that month, Thurmond accused radio and television networks of supporting the views espoused by the NAACP, sparking a dispute with Rhode Island Senator John Pastore.{{cite news|date=June 29, 1963|title=Thurmond Accuses Radio-TV Networks|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/06/29/archives/thurmond-accuses-radiotv-networks.html|access-date=August 13, 2021}} In the weeks leading up to the March on Washington, Thurmond delivered a Senate floor speech,{{cite news|last=Younge|first=Gary|date=August 23, 2013|title=Bayard Rustin: The Gay Black Pacifist at the Heart of the March on Washington|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/23/bayard-rustin-march-on-washington|access-date=August 13, 2021}} accusing the march's organizer Bayard Rustin of "being a communist, a draft dodger and a homosexual." Rustin biographer John D'Emilio said these remarks unintentionally gave Rustin further credit in the Civil Rights Movement: "Because no one could appear to be on the side of Strom Thurmond, he created, unwittingly, an opportunity for Rustin's sexuality to stop being an issue."{{cite news|last=Corley|first=Cheryl|date=August 15, 2013|title=Bayard Rustin: The Man Who Organized The March On Washington|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/08/15/212338844/bayard-rustin-the-man-who-organized-the-march-on-washington|access-date=August 13, 2021}} Rustin denied Thurmond's charges on August 15.{{cite news|last=Handler|first=M. S.|date=August 16, 1963|title=Negro Rally Aide Rebuts Senator; Denies Thurmond's Charge of Communist Membership Cites Common Fallacy Refused Military Service March of Young People Statement on Character|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/08/16/archives/negro-rally-aide-rebuts-senator-denies-thurmonds-charge-of.html|access-date=August 13, 2021}}

In August, Thurmond formally requested the Senate Armed Services Committee to vote on whether to vote for "a conspiracy to muzzle military anti-Communist drives." The appearance prompted the cancellation of another public appearance in Fort Jackson, as Thurmond favored marking his proposal with his presence, and his request for a $75,000 committee study was slated for consideration.{{Cite news|date=August 31, 1961|title=Military Gag Probe Asked|work=Daily Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83660013/military-gag-probe-asked/|access-date=August 18, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} In November, Thurmond went on a five-day tour of California. At a news conference, he stated that President Kennedy had lost support in the South due to the formation of the National Relations Boards, what he called Kennedy's softness on communism, and an increase in military men being muzzled for speaking out against communism.{{cite news|date=November 28, 1961|title=Thurmond Defends Military Leaders|work=Madera Tribune|publisher=|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=MT19611130.2.42|access-date=August 13, 2021}} Thurmond held resentment toward NBC for its lack of coverage of his military muzzling claims.{{cite news|date=February 19, 1962|title=Thurmond Peeved at NBC But Likes TV Spotlight|work=The Janesville Daily Gazette|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83357619/thurmond-peeved-at-nbc-but-likes-tv/|access-date=August 13, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} In January 1962, Thurmond charged the military speeches' censorship with having proven State Department officials sold U.S. leadership on the country not wanting to win the Cold War.{{cite news|date=January 29, 1962|title=Senator Thurmond Blasts Censorship of Military|work=The Holland Sentinel|publisher=|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83357696/sen-thurmond-blasts-censorship-of-milit/|access-date=August 13, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} That month, Senate investigators into the military censoring disclosed having obtained documents not given to them by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. Thurmond stated the evidence was obtained through checking with the individuals censoring, describing them as just taking orders. He added that the issue of censoring had predated the Kennedy administration, though charged the incumbent executive branch with having increased its practice.{{cite news|last=Kelly|first=G. Milton|date=January 23, 1962|title=Senate Probes Censorship By Pentagon|work=Blytheville Courier News|publisher=|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83357870/senate-probes-censorship-by-pentagon/|access-date=August 13, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} The committee was ended on June 8.{{cite news|date=June 9, 1962|title=Senate Unit Ends Censor Hearings; Thurmond Arouses Defense Aide With Accusations|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/06/09/archives/senate-unit-ends-censor-hearings-thurmond-arouses-defense-aide-with.html|access-date=August 13, 2021}} In May, Thurmond was part of a group of Senate orators headed by John C. Stennis who expressed opposition to the Kennedy administration's literacy test bill, arguing that the measure was in violation of states' rights as defined by the Constitution.{{cite news|date=May 1, 1962|title=Justice Dept. Move Sparks New Debate|newspaper=Times-News|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19620501&id=EPMZAAAAIBAJ&pg=5477,6510|access-date=August 13, 2021}} After the Supreme Court ruled state composed prayer in public schools was unconstitutional, Thurmond urged Congress to take steps to prevent the Court from making similar decisions.{{cite news|date=July 26, 1962|title=Thurmond Blasts Court's Decision|work=Madera Tribune|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MT19620726&dliv=userclipping&cliparea=1.2%2C4168%2C2460%2C649%2C1353&factor=4&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-strom+thurmond-------1|access-date=August 13, 2021}}

The day after the Nitze vote, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.{{Cite web|title=November 22, 1963 {{endash}} Death of the President|url=https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/november-22-1963-death-of-the-president|access-date=August 23, 2021|website=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum}} Thurmond expressed the view that a conspiracy would be found by investigators to have been responsible for JFK's death.{{cite news|date=February 14, 1967|title=Thurmond Says a Red Plot Led to Death of Kennedy|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/02/14/archives/thurmond-says-a-red-plot-led-to-death-of-kennedy.html|access-date=August 23, 2021}} Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson ascended to the presidency.{{Cite news|date=November 23, 2021|title=Johnson Takes Over Presidency; Nation, World Mourn Kennedy|work=Carroll Daily Times Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83977834/johnson-takes-over-presidency-nation/|access-date=August 23, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} He began campaigning to secure passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which angered white segregationists. These laws ended segregation and committed the federal government to enforce voting rights of citizens by the supervision of elections in states in which the pattern of voting showed black people had been disenfranchised. Many Democrats strongly opposed these laws, including Senator Robert Byrd, who filibustered the Civil Rights Act for 14 hours and 13 minutes on June 9 and 10, 1964.

During the signing ceremony for the Civil Rights Act, President Johnson nominated LeRoy Collins as the first Director of the Community Relations Service.{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Lyndon B.|author-link=Lyndon B. Johnson|date=July 2, 1964|title=446 – Radio and Television Remarks Upon Signing the Civil Rights Bill|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=26361|access-date=August 23, 2021|website=The American Presidency Project|quote=First, I will send to the Senate my nomination of LeRoy Collins to be Director of the Community Relations Service. Governor Collins will bring the experience of a long career of distinguished public service to the task of helping communities solve problems of human relations through reason and commonsense.}} Subsequently, Thurmond reminded Collins of his past support for segregation and implied that he was a traitor to the South, Thurmond having particular disdain for an address by Collins the previous winter in which he charged southern leaders with being harsh and intemperate.{{cite book|last=Cohodas|first=Nadine|title=Strom Thurmond & the Politics of Southern Change|publisher=Mercer University Press|year=1995|isbn=978-0865544468|page=353}} Thurmond also suggested that Collins had sought to fault southern leaders for President Kennedy's assassination.{{Sfn|Cohodas|1993|p=353}} Thurmond was the only senator to vote against Collins' nomination being sent to the Senate, and later one of eight senators to vote against his nomination in the chamber.{{Sfn|Cohodas|1993|p=355}}

Shortly after the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, on July 9, Johnson nominated former Florida governor LeRoy Collins to a position in the Community Relations Service, which was designed to mediate racial disputes. Thurmond, the most senior southern member of the Commerce Committee, bitterly opposed Collins' nomination, based on a speech that Collins made in Thurmond's home state where he stated that southern leaders' "harsh and intemperate" language unnecessarily stoked racial unrest. Commerce Chairman Warren Magnuson was aware that he had the votes in favour of the nomination, but had failed to get the required quorum. Thurmond, aware of the chairman's struggles, stationed himself outside of the committee door, physically blocking any entry from the later-arriving U.S. Senators.

Later, Ralph Yarborough arrived, and was blocked from entering. Yarborough, the only southern senator to have voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act, joked to Thurmond "Come on in, Strom, and help us get a quorum." Thurmond responded "If I can keep you out, you won't go in, and if you can drag me in, I'll stay there." Thurmond & Yarborough were both 61 years old, but Thurmond was 30 pounds lighter and much more physically fit. After some light scuffling, both senators removed their suit jackets. Thurmond overpowered Yarborough, who he managed to bring to the floor. "Tell me to release you, Ralph, and I will," said Thurmond, although the out-of-breath Yarborough refused. Another senator approached, suggesting that they stop before one of them has a heart attack. Eventually, the fight was broken up by Chair Magnuson, who growled, "Come on, you fellows, let's break this up." Yarborough made his exit line, grunting "I have to yield to the order of my chairman." Thurmond and Yarborough both composed themselves and entered the committee chamber.

Despite the fact that Thurmond had won the wrestling match, Collins was nominated 16 to 1.

{{Further|1964 United States presidential election|Party switching in the United States}}

On September 16, 1964, Thurmond confirmed he was leaving the Democratic Party to work on the presidential campaign of Barry Goldwater, charging the Democrats with having "abandoned the people" and having repudiated the U.S. Constitution as well as providing leadership for the eventual takeover of the U.S. by socialistic dictatorship. He called on other Southern politicians to join him in bettering the Republican Party.{{cite news|date=September 17, 1964|title=Thurmond Break Is Made Official {{endash}} He Will Work as Republican for Goldwater Election|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/09/17/archives/thurmond-break-is-made-official-he-will-work-as-republican-for.html|url-access=subscription|access-date=August 23, 2021}} Thurmond joined Goldwater in campaigning through Louisiana later that month, telling reporters that he believed Goldwater could carry South Carolina in the general election along with other southern states.{{cite news|date=September 18, 1964|title=Thurmond Joins Goldwater Drive|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/09/18/thurmond-joins-goldwater-drive.html|url-access=subscription|access-date=August 23, 2021}} Though Goldwater lost in a landslide, he won South Carolina with 59% of the vote compared to President Lyndon Johnson 41%.{{cite news|last=Sabato|first=Larry J.|date=October 27, 2014|title=How Goldwater Changed Campaigns Forever|work=Politico (magazine)|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/10/barry-goldwater-lasting-legacy-112210/|access-date=August 23, 2021}}

Senate Republicans had a lukewarm reaction to Thurmond joining their caucus. The 1964 United States elections had been an all around disaster for the Republicans, who not only lost the race for the presidency by the largest margin in history but were reduced to a "super minority" of only 32 seats in the Senate prior to Thurmond's switch.http://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/682280/generalelection_USSenator.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053355/https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/682280/generalelection_USSenator.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }} General Election Results – U.S. Senator – 1914–2014" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved February 10, 2021. On January 15, 1965, Senate Republicans voted for committee assignments granting Thurmond the ability "to keep at least some of the seniority power he had gained as a Democrat."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/01/16/archives/gop-senators-approve-assignments-to-thurmond.html|title=G.O.P. Senators Approve Assignments to Thurmond|date=January 16, 1965|newspaper=The New York Times}}

Following the election, Johnson continued to push through Civil Rights legislation, most notably the Voting Rights Act in 1965, which committed the federal government to enforce voting rights of citizens by the supervision of elections in states with noted record of voter suppression and disenfranchisement.One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a work in the public domain: "Introduction to Federal Voting Rights Laws: The Effect of the Voting Rights Act". www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/intro/intro_c.php. U.S. Department of Justice. June 19, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2021. Thurmond stated that his opposition to the Voting Rights Act was due to not favoring its authorization of the federal government to determine the processes behind how statewide elections are conducted and insisted he was not opposed to black voter turnout.Cohodas, p. 13. During floor debate on the bill, Republican Senate Leader Everett Dirksen spoke in favor of the VRA, calling it a means to ensure that the rights granted by the Constitution could be afforded to every American, Thurmond retorted that the VRA would lead to "despotism and tyranny."May, Gary (April 9, 2013). Bending Toward Justice: The Voting Rights Act and the Transformation of American Democracy (Kindle ed.). New York, NY: Basic Books. {{ISBN|978-0-465-01846-8}}.

The Voting Rights Act passed into law by a slightly larger margin than the Civil Rights Act had. Thurmond's opposition to Civil Rights legislation proved no more successful as a Republican than it did as a Democrat. In the Senate, Thurmond had gone from being one of twenty-one Democrats to vote against the Civil Rights Act to being one of only two Republicans to vote in opposition to the VRA."Senate Vote #78 in 1965: To Pass S. 1564, the Voting Rights Act of 1965". govtrack.us. Civic Impulse, LLC. www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/89-1965/s78. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

In 1965, L. Mendel Rivers became chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Commentator Wayne King credited Thurmond's involvement with Rivers as giving Rivers' district "an even dozen military installations that are said to account for one‐third to one‐half of the jobs in the area."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/02/09/archives/federal-funds-pour-into-sunbelt-states.html|title=Federal Funds Pour Into Sunbelt States|date=February 9, 1976|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In 1966, former governor Ernest "Fritz" Hollings won South Carolina's other Senate seat in a special election. He and Thurmond served together for over 36 years, making them the longest-serving Senate duo in American history. Thurmond and Hollings had a very good relationship, despite their often stark philosophical differences. Their long tenure meant their seniority in the Senate gave South Carolina clout in national politics well beyond its modest population.

{{Main|1966 United States Senate election in South Carolina}}

Thurmond faced no opposition in the Republican primary and was renominated in March 1966.{{cite news|date=June 12, 1966|title=Major Democrats Go To Line In Primaries|newspaper=The Santa Fe New Mexican}} Thurmond competed against Bradley Morrah Jr. in the general election campaign.{{cite news|date=February 19, 1992|title=P. Bradley Morrah Jr.|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1992/02/19/p-bradley-morrah-jr/}} Morrah avoided direct charges against Thurmond's record and generally spoke of his own ambitions in the event he was elected.{{cite news|date=May 7, 1966|title=Democratic Hopefuls Seek U.S. Senate Votes|newspaper=The Greenville News}} He referred to Thurmond's time in the Senate as being ineffective.{{cite news|date=November 8, 1966|title=S. C. Voters Face Extra-Long Ballot In Today's Election|publisher=Aiken Standard and Review}} Thurmond won election with 62.2 percent of the vote (271,297 votes) to Morrah's 37.8 percent (164,955 votes).

On January 17, 1967, Thurmond was appointed to the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Constitutional Rights.{{cite news|date=January 18, 1967|title=Thurmond Replaces Javits On a Rights Subcommittee|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/01/18/archives/thurmond-replaces-javits-on-a-rights-subcommittee.html}} In March, as the Senate passed an endorsement of the United States antiballistic missile system, Thurmond engaged in a back and forth with Joseph Clark after Clark mentioned that Charleston, South Carolina would be included in the Pentagon's list of twenty-five American cities that would get priority in their antimissile protection and attributed this to the influence of Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee L. Mendel Rivers. Thurmond then demanded a rule that would bar senators from being able to disparage members of the House of Representatives in addition to preventing them from speaking and having to remain seated. Clark argued that the rule did not apply to him since he had finished speaking, Thurmond rebutting, "If the senator is not going to be man enough to take his medicine, then let him go." Thurmond then won unanimous approval to have Clark's remarks removed from the record.{{cite news|date=March 22, 1967|title=Senate Endorses Defenses, Then Argues About Locale|newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19670322&id=gcxTAAAAIBAJ&pg=5578,2338235}} In July, after the 1967 USS Forrestal fire, Thurmond wrote of his conviction that the outbreak had been precipitated by communists.{{cite news|date=July 31, 1967|title=Thurmond Charges Red-Inspired|publisher=Panama City News-Herald}} In September, Thurmond warned against enacting any of the three proposed Panama Canal treaties, which he said could lead to Communist control of the waterway if enacted.{{cite news|date=September 3, 1967|title=Thurmond Warns of Peril To Panama Canal in Pacts|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/09/03/archives/thurmond-warns-of-peril-to-panama-canal-in-pacts.html}}

In 1969, Time ran a story accusing Thurmond of receiving "an extraordinarily high payment for land". Thurmond responded to the claim on September 15, saying the tale was a liberal smear intended to damage his political influence,{{cite news|date=September 16, 1969|title=THURMOND SCORES AN ARTICLE IN LIFE; Terms Contention on Land Deal a 'Liberal Smear'|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/09/16/archives/thurmond-scores-an-article-in-life-terms-contention-on-land-deal-a.html}} later calling the magazine "anti-South".{{cite news|date=September 20, 1969|title=THURMOND REBUTS THE LIFE ARTICLE; Says Magazine Is Trying to 'Destroy' Him Politically|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/09/20/archives/thurmond-rebuts-the-life-article-says-magazine-is-trying-to-destroy.html}} At a news conference on September 19, Thurmond named executive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party Donald L. Fowler as the individual who had spread the story, a charge that Fowler denied.{{cite news|date=September 22, 1969|title=Thurmond Says Fowler Aided Magazine Team; Latter Denies It|publisher=Aiken Standard|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/aiken-standard-and-review-sep-22-1969-p-1/}}

In June 1967, Johnson nominated Thurgood Marshall to be the first African-American Justice on the Supreme Court.{{cite news|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/thinktank/Supreme-Court-nomination-that-changed-the-nation.html|title=Supreme Court nomination that changed the nation|date=September 28, 2015|first=Wil|last=Haygood|access-date=January 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614094350/http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/thinktank/Supreme-Court-nomination-that-changed-the-nation.html|archive-date=June 14, 2018|url-status=dead}} Along with Sam Ervin, Spessard Holland, and James Eastland, Thurmond was one of four senators noted for calling Marshall a "Constitutional iconoclast" in Senate debate.{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/marshall-confirmed-supreme-court-justice-1967-article-1.2340894|title=Thurgood Marshall is confirmed as Supreme Court Justice in 1967|date=August 29, 2015|newspaper=The New York Daily News}} Thurmond questioned Marshall for an hour "on fine points of constitutional law and history", the move being seen as critics of the nomination turning their inquiry to the subject of Marshall's legal experience.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/07/20/archives/marshall-is-questioned-on-fine-points-of-the-law-thurmond-presses.html|title=Marshall Is Questioned on Fine Points of the Law; Thurmond Presses Nominee to Court With More Than 60 Complicated Queries|date=July 20, 1967|newspaper=The New York Times}} Thurmond stated that Marshall had evaded questions on his legal principles during committee hearings and in spite of his extensive experience, had displayed an ignorance of basic constitutional principles.{{cite news|title=In Hearing Strom Raps Marshall For Ducking Issue|date=August 11, 1967|newspaper=The Greenville News}} Marshall was still confirmed by the Senate at the end of that month.Graham, Fred P. (August 31, 1967), [https://www.nytimes.com/1967/08/31/archives/senate-confirms-marshall-as-the-first-negro-justice-10-southerners.html "Senate Confirms Marshall As the First Negro Justice; 10 Southerners Oppose High Court Nominee in 69-to-11 Vote"], New York Times.

In 1968, Chief Justice Earl Warren decided to retire, and Johnson subsequently nominated Abe Fortas to succeed him.{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-cynicism-on-the-supreme-court-reaches-a-new-low|title=GOP Cynicism on the Supreme Court Reaches a New Low|first=Jay|last=Michaelson|date=February 15, 2016|newspaper=The Daily Beast}} On the third day of hearings, Thurmond questioned Fortas over Mallory v. United States (1957), a case taking place before Fortas's tenure, but for which he was nonetheless held responsible by Thurmond.{{cite book|title=Abe Fortas: A Biography|first=Laura|last=Kalman|pages=340–341|year=1992|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0300052589}} Thurmond asked Fortas if the Supreme Court decision in the Mallory v. United States case was an encouragement of individuals to commit serious crimes such as rape and if he believed in "that kind of justice", an inquiry that shocked even the usually stoic Fortas. Thurmond displayed sex magazines, which he called "obscene, foul, putrid, filthy and repulsive", to validate his charges that Supreme Court rulings overturning obscenity convictions had led to a large wave of hardcore pornography material. Thurmond stated that Fortas had backed overturning 23 of the 26 lower court obscenity decisions.{{cite news|title=Senate Committee Asks Fortas to Testify Again: Thurmond Brandishes Nude Magazines, Assails Justice for Rulings on Obscenity|date=July 24, 1968|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} Thurmond also arranged for the screening of explicit films that Fortas had purportedly legalized, to be played before reporters and his own Senate colleagues.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-03-oe-greenberg3-story.html|title=The Republicans' Filibuster Lie|date=May 3, 2005|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} In September, Vice President Hubert Humphrey spoke of a deal made between Thurmond and Nixon over Thurmond's opposition to the Fortas nomination.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/09/14/archives/humphrey-scores-the-same-nixon-sees-a-deal-with-thurmond-on-fortas.html|title=HUMPHREY SCORES 'THE SAME NIXON'; Sees a Deal With Thurmond on Fortas – Also Chides Opponent on Atom Pact Humphrey Criticizes 'The Same Nixon' |date=September 14, 1968|newspaper=The New York Times}} Both Nixon{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/09/14/archives/nixon-rejects-charge.html|title=Nixon Rejects Charge|date=September 14, 1968|newspaper=The New York Times}} and Thurmond denied Humphrey's claims, Thurmond saying that he had never discussed the nomination with Nixon while conceding the latter had unsuccessfully tried to sway him from opposing Fortas.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/09/14/archives/thurmond-denies-deal.html|title=Thurmond Promotes Nixon's Cause Deep in Wallace Country|date=September 14, 1968|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In December 1968, Thurmond stated that President Johnson had considered calling for a special session of Congress to nominate Arthur J. Goldberg as Chief Justice before becoming convinced there would be problems during the process.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/12/10/archives/thurmond-reports-a-johnson-retreat.html|title=THURMOND REPORTS A JOHNSON RETREAT|date=December 10, 1968|newspaper=The New York Times}}

Thurmond decried the Supreme Court opinion in Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education (1969), which ordered the immediate desegregation of schools in the American South.Woodward, Bob; Scott Armstrong (September 1979). The Brethren, Simon & Schuster. {{ISBN|0-671-24110-9}}. Page 56. This had followed continued Southern resistance for more than a decade to desegregation following the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. Thurmond praised President Nixon and his "Southern Strategy" of delaying desegregation, saying Nixon "stood with the South in this case".

In an April 25, 1969 Senate floor speech, Thurmond stated that The New York Times "had a conflict of interest in its attacks on Otto F. Otepka's appointment to the Subversive Activities Control Board."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/04/26/archives/thurmond-scores-times-on-otepka-charges-newspaper-has-a-conflict-of.html|title=THURMOND SCORES TIMES ON OTEPKA; Charges Newspaper Has a Conflict of Interest|date=April 25, 1969|newspaper=The New York Times}} On May 29, Thurmond called for Associate Justice William O. Douglas to resign over what he considered political activities.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/05/30/archives/thurmond-urges-douglas-to-quit-in-newsletter-he-denounces-political.html|title=THURMOND URGES DOUGLAS TO QUIT; In Newsletter, He Denounces 'Political Activity' |date=May 30, 1969|newspaper=The New York Times}} Douglas remained in office for another six years.{{cite web |title=Members of the Supreme Court of the United States |publisher=Supreme Court of the United States |url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/members.aspx |access-date=April 21, 2010}} In the latter part of the year, President Nixon nominated Clement Haynsworth for associate justice.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/08/22/archives/nixon-submits-nomination-of-haynsworth-to-senate.html|title=Nixon Submits Nomination Of Haynsworth to Senate|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 August 1969 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/11/18/archives/haynsworth-gains-votes-of-2-more.html|title=Haynsworth Gains Votes Of 2 More|date=November 18, 1969|newspaper=The New York Times}} This came after the White House consulted with Thurmond throughout all of July, as Thurmond had become impressed with Haynsworth following their close collaboration. Thurmond wrote to Haynsworth that he had worked harder on his nomination than any other that had occurred since his Senate career began.{{cite book|title=The Origins of the Southern Strategy|year=2001|first=Bruce H.|last=Kalk|page=94|isbn=978-0739102428|publisher=Lexington Books}} The Haynsworth nomination was rejected in the Senate.{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=2355|title=472 – Remarks on the Decision of Judge Clement F. Haynsworth Jr., To Continue as Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit|date=December 4, 1969|first=Richard|last=Nixon|author-link=Richard Nixon}} Years later, at a March 1977 hearing, Thurmond told Haynsworth, "It's a pity you are not on the Supreme Court today. Several senators who voted against you have told me they would vote for you if they had it to do again."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1977/03/15/senate-views-on-haynsworth-changed/7ef35b47-dd26-4402-badc-8b55908f8e92/|title=Senate Views on Haynsworth Changed|date=March 15, 1977|newspaper=Washington Post}}

On October 23, 1966, Thurmond stated that President Johnson could be defeated in a re-election bid by a Republican challenger since the candidate was likely to be less obnoxious than the president.{{cite news|title=Sen. Thurmond Sees Defeat Of Johnson|date=October 24, 1966|publisher=Aiken Standard And Review}}

Thurmond was an early supporter of a second presidential campaign by Nixon, his backing coming from the latter's position on the Vietnam War.Black, p. 474. Thurmond met with Nixon during the Republican primary and promised he would not give in to the "depredations of the Reagan forces."{{cite book|title=Richard M. Nixon: A Life in Full|first=Conrad|last=Black|isbn=978-1586485191|year=2007|publisher=PublicAffairs|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781586485191/page/526 526]|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781586485191/page/526}} At the 1968 Republican National Convention in Miami Beach, Florida, Thurmond, along with Mississippi state chairman Clarke Reed, former U.S. Representative and gubernatorial nominee Howard Callaway of Georgia, and Charlton Lyons of Louisiana held the Deep South states solidly for Richard M. Nixon despite the sudden last-minute entry of Governor Ronald Reagan of California into the race. Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York was also in the race but having little effect. In the fall 1968 general election, Nixon won South Carolina with 38 percent of the popular vote and gained South Carolina's electoral votes. With the segregationist Democrat George Wallace on the ballot, the South Carolina Democratic voters split almost evenly between the Democratic Party nominee, Hubert Humphrey, who received 29.6 percent of the total vote, and Wallace, who received 32.3 percent. Other Deep South states swung to Wallace and posted weak totals for Nixon.

Thurmond had quieted conservative fears over rumors that Nixon planned to ask either liberal Republicans Charles Percy or Mark Hatfield to be his running mate. He informed Nixon that both men were unacceptable to the South for the vice-presidency. Nixon ultimately asked Governor Spiro Agnew from Maryland—an acceptable choice to Thurmond—to join the ticket.

During the general election campaign, Agnew stated that he did not believe Thurmond was a racist when asked his opinion on the matter. Clayton Fritchey of the Lewiston Evening Journal cited Agnew's answer over the Thurmond question as an example of the vice presidential candidate not being ready for the same "big league pitching" Nixon had shown during the 1952 election cycle.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1913&dat=19680921&id=LZwgAAAAIBAJ&pg=2769,2154085|title=Agnew's Worries Are Over|first=Clayton|last=Fritchey|publisher=Lewiston Evening Journal|date=September 21, 1968}} Thurmond participated in a two-day tour of Georgia during October, saying that a vote for American Independent Party candidate George Wallace was a waste, adding that Wallace could not win nationally and would only swing the election in favor of Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey by having the Democratic-majority House of Representatives select him in the event none of the candidates received enough electoral votes to win the presidency outright. Thurmond also stated that Nixon and Wallace had similar views and predicted Nixon would carry Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Texas and Tennessee.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/60323366/|title=THURMOND WOOS WALLACE VOTERS|publisher=The Bridgepost Post|date=October 24, 1968}} Nixon carried each of these states with the exception of Texas.{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?f=0&fips=48&year=1968|title=1968 Presidential General Election Results – Texas|access-date=April 16, 2018}}

File:Nixon Contact Sheet WHPO-2570 (cropped).jpg Richard Nixon in 1969]]

Thanks to his close relationship with the Nixon administration, Thurmond was able to deliver a great deal of federal money, appointments and projects to his state. With a like-minded president in the White House, Thurmond became a very effective power broker in Washington. His staffers said his goal was to be South Carolina's "indispensable man" in Washington, D.C.

In the 1970 gubernatorial election, Thurmond's preferred candidate, U.S. Representative Albert W. Watson, was defeated by his more moderate opponent, Democrat John C. West, the outgoing lieutenant governor, who had opposed Thurmond's initial write-in election to the Senate. Watson had defected to the Republicans in 1965, the year after Thurmond's own bolt, and had been politically close to the senator. Watson lost mainly after several Republican officials in South Carolina shied away from him because of his continuing opposition to civil rights legislation. Watson's loss caused Thurmond slowly to moderate his own image in regard to changing race relations.

In February 1971, Senate Republicans voted unanimously to bestow Thurmond full seniority, the vote being seen as "little more than a gesture since committee assignments are the major item settled by seniority and Senator Thurmond has his."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/02/10/archives/senate-republicans-give-thurmond-full-seniority.html|title=Senate Republicans Give Thurmond Full Seniority|date=February 10, 1971|newspaper=The New York Times}} Later that month, when Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy visited South Carolina to deliver an address in Charleston, Thurmond gave remarks to the Charleston Chapter of the Air Force Association several hours earlier, mocking Kennedy for the Chappaquiddick incident. Thurmond noted that Brigadier General Thomas Kennedy's wife was named Joan, the same first name as Joan Bennett Kennedy, the senator's wife. He added that the Joan married to the Brigadier General had a husband who was a better driver.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/03/01/archives/kennedy-in-visit-to-carolina-cites-calhoun-but-not-sherman.html|title=Kennedy, in Visit to Carolina, Cites Calhoun But Not-Sherman|date=March 1, 1971|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In the 1976 Republican primary, President Ford faced a challenge from former California Governor Ronald Reagan, who selected Richard Schweiker as his running mate.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/04/us/richard-s-schweiker-reagan-confidant-dies-at-89.html|title=Richard S. Schweiker, Former Senator and Reagan Confidant, Dies at 89|first=Robert D.|last=McFadden|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 4, 2015}} Though Thurmond backed Reagan's candidacy, he, along with North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms, led efforts to oust Schweiker from the ticket.{{cite book|title=Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All|page=[https://archive.org/details/reagansrevolutio0000shir/page/302 302]|first=Craig|last=Shirley|year=2005|isbn=978-0785260493|publisher=Thomas Nelson Inc.|url=https://archive.org/details/reagansrevolutio0000shir/page/302}} During the subsequent general election, Thurmond appeared in a campaign commercial for incumbent U.S. President Gerald Ford in his race against Thurmond's fellow Southerner, former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter. In the commercial, Thurmond said Ford (who was born in Nebraska and spent most of his life in Michigan) "sound[ed] more like a Southerner than Jimmy Carter".{{Cite web|url=http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1976/strom-thurmond|title=The Living Room Candidate – Commercials – 1976 – Strom Thurmond|website=www.livingroomcandidate.org}}

A short time after Mississippian Thad Cochran entered the Senate in late 1978, Thurmond gave him advice on how to vote against bills intended to aid African-Americans but not lose their voting support: "Your black friends will be with you, if you be sure to help them with their projects."{{cite book|title=Strom Thurmond & the Politics of Southern Change |publisher=Mercer University Press|pages=16–17|year=1995|isbn=978-0865544468}}

In April 1970, Thurmond was among a group of senators who voted against replacing the electoral college with the popular vote as the determining factor in presidential elections.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/04/24/archives/senate-unit-asks-popular-election-of-the-president-amendment-to.html|title=SENATE UNIT ASKS POPULAR ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT|first=Warren Jr.|last=Weaver|date=April 24, 1970|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In April 1979, during a congressional hearing attended by Coretta Scott King and other witnesses in favor of establishing the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. as a national holiday, Thurmond stated that the Civil Service Commission had estimated that enacting the holiday would cost the government $22 million to cover pay for federal employees. Thurmond furthered that taxpayers would be forced to pay $195 million to accommodate the employees. Ted Kennedy responded to Thurmond by saying that the estimates were not factoring in the revenue that could be generated from sales on the proposed holiday.{{cite news|url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=INR19790407-01.1.1&srpos=17&e=------197-en-20--1--txt-txIN-thurmond------|title=Nat'l day for Dr. King snagged in fiscal argument|date=April 7, 1979|publisher=Indianapolis Recorder}}

In September 1970, Thurmond attended the 10th anniversary meeting of the Young Americans for Freedom at the University of Hartford, delivering a speech on the rise of guerilla warfare in the United States through urban and campus riots and how it could eventually lead to the dissolution of the country. Thurmond stated the riots would have been less likely to occur had more force been used on the part of authorities and the same belief system should have been adapted in American policy toward Vietnam, which he elaborated on by advocating for American forces receiving more resources needed to secure victories.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/09/12/archives/thurmond-tells-youths-nation-is-entering-guerrilla-warfare.html|title=Thurmond Tells Youths Nation Is Entering Guerrilla Warfare|date=September 12, 1970|newspaper=The New York Times}}

On February 22, 1970, Thurmond delivered an address at Drew University defending Julius Hoffman,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/02/23/archives/a-rain-of-marshmallows-pelts-thurmond-at-drew-u.html|title=A Rain of Marshmallows Pelts Thurmond at Drew U.|date=February 23, 1970|newspaper=The New York Times}} a judge who had drawn controversy for his role in the Chicago Seven trial.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/24/us/hoffman-judge-for-trial-of-chicago-7-inches-ungently-toward-retirement.html|title=HOFFMAN, JUDGE FOR TRIAL OF CHICAGO 7, INCHES UNGENTLY TOWARD RETIREMENT|date=June 24, 1982|newspaper=The New York Times}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/02/obituaries/judge-julius-j-hoffman-87-dies-president-at-trial-of-the-chicago-7.html|title=JUDGE JULIUS J. HOFFMAN, 87, DIES; PRESIDENT AT TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7|date=July 2, 1983|newspaper=The New York Times}} Protestors threw marshmallows at Thurmond in response to the speech, Thurmond telling the hecklers that they were cowards for not hearing what he had to say.{{cite news|title=Thurmond pelted by protestors|date=February 23, 1970|newspaper=Arizona Republic}}

On February 4, 1972, Thurmond sent a secret memo to William Timmons (in his capacity as an aide to Richard Nixon) and United States Attorney General John N. Mitchell, with an attached file from the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, urging that British musician John Lennon (then living in New York City) be deported from the United States as an undesirable alien, due to Lennon's political views and activism.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/08/archives/deportation-of-lennon-barred-by-court-of-appeals.html|title=Deportation of Lennon Barred by Court of Appeals|date=October 8, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times}} The document claimed Lennon's influence on young people could affect Nixon's chances of re-election, and suggested that terminating Lennon's visa might be "a strategy counter-measure". Thurmond's memo and attachment, received by the White House on February 7, 1972, initiated the Nixon administration's persecution of John Lennon that threatened the former Beatle with deportation for nearly five years from 1972 to 1976. The documents were discovered in the FBI files after a Freedom of Information Act search by Professor Jon Wiener, and published in Weiner's book Gimme Some Truth: The John Lennon FBI Files (2000).{{cite book |title=Gimme Some Truth: The John Lennon FBI Files |author=Wiener, Jon |year=2000

|isbn=978-0-520-22246-5|publisher=University of California |url=https://archive.org/details/gimmesometruthjo00wien|url-access=registration }} They are discussed in the documentary film, The U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006).

In November, along with fellow southerners James Eastland and Sam J. Ervin Jr., Thurmond was one of three senators to vote against an occupational safety bill that would establish a federal supervision to oversee working conditions.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/18/archives/senate-approves-compromise-bill-on-safety-in-jobs-823-vote-sends-to.html|title=SENATE APPROVES COMPROMISE BILL ON SAFETY IN JOBS|date=November 18, 1970|first=John W.|last=Finney|newspaper=The New York Times}} In December, Thurmond was one of thirty senators to sign a letter to the Interstate Commerce Commission charging the agency with imperiling rail transportation in the United States through ceasing to be a regulatory entity.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/12/08/archives/30-senators-say-icc-rail-moves-will-bring-crisis-senators-assail.html|title=30 Senators Say I.C.C. Rail Moves Will Bring Crisis|date=December 8, 1970|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In March 1971, Thurmond introduced a bill that if enacted would authorize individuals who chose to continue working after the age of 65 to have the option of no longer paying Social Security taxes. Thurmond said, "A worker 65 or over who wishes to continue paying Social Security taxes in order to qualify for greater benefits in the future remains free to do so."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/03/14/archives/option-on-social-security-is-proposed-by-thurmond.html|title=Option on Social Security Is "Proposed by Thurmond|date=March 14, 1971|newspaper=The New York Times}} In December, Thurmond delivered a Senate address predicting that Defense Secretary Melvin Laird would "propose one of the biggest defense budgets in history" during the following year.{{cite news|title=Strom Thurmond: Still A Strong Conservative Voice|publisher=The Call-Leader|date=January 13, 1972}}

In August 1977, Thurmond cosponsored legislation providing free prescription drugs to senior citizens with Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. The bill would cover 24 million Americans over the age of 65 and was meant to augment the Medicare program with prescription drugs being paid for and given to individuals not hospitalized.{{cite news|title=Drugs For Senior Citizens Bill Pushed|date=August 3, 1977|publisher=The Gaffney Ledger}}

Senate sources reported in October 1979 that Ted Kennedy had asked Majority Leader Robert Byrd to bring the Illinois Brick bill to the floor, the controversial antitrust measure attracting the opposition of Thurmond, who joined Orrin Hatch in threatening a filibuster of the bill.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/22/archives/pricefixing-bill-viewed-as-a-test-for-kennedy-pricefixing-bill.html|title=Price-Fixing Bill Viewed As a Test for Kennedy|date=October 22, 1979|newspaper=The New York Times}} In their stance against the bill, Thurmond and Hatch argued the bill's enactment would result in businesses being exposed to endless litigation as well as the possibility of duplicative awards of damages to direct and indirect purchasers.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/05/09/archives/bill-backing-antitrust-suits-gains-consumer-right-in-pricefixing.html|title=Bill Backing Antitrust Suits Gains|date=May 9, 1979|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In September 1972, Thurmond and Democrat Mike Gravel introduced legislation intended to increase American fortune in future Olympic Games through the formation of a National Amateur Sports Foundation that would fund both sports facilities and training programs while developing greater cooperation among existing sports organizations. Thurmond stated that the proposed National Amateur Sports Foundation would "work with the present amateur athletic organizations but is in no way an attempt to supplant or assume control over these organizations" while granting "necessary coordination between the various existing organizations who so often in the past have worked at cross purposes."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/09/28/archives/olympic-bill-introduced-in-senate.html|title=Olympic Bill Introduced in Senate|date=September 27, 1972|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In June 1973, the Senate Commerce Committee approved the Amateur Athletic Act of 1973, legislation that would form the United States Sports Board while ending the power struggle between the Amateur Athletic Union and the National Collegiate Athletic Association by having the board assume powers of both organizations and function as an independent federal agency that would be assigned with protecting the rights of athletes to participate. Thurmond staffers had joined with staffers of Senators James B. Pearson, Mike Gravel, and Marlow Cook in primarily writing the legislation.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/06/29/archives/senate-committee-votes-for-a-us-sports-board-senate-bill-to-form-us.html|title=Senate Committee Votes For a U.S. Sports Board|date=June 29, 1973|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In April 1972, when the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to end the Cheyenne helicopter project with a reduction of $450 million from the Pentagon's weapons programs, Thurmond was the sole Republican senator on the committee to oppose the move to terminate the project.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/27/archives/senate-unit-cuts-military-outlays-disputed-cheyenne-copter-program.html|title=SENATE UNIT CUTS MILITARY OUTLAYS|date=April 27, 1972|newspaper=The New York Times}}

On June 2, 1973, Thurmond attended the launch of the USS L. Mendel Rivers (SSN-686), during which he stated that the Soviet Union was building three submarines for every one built by the U.S. and called for American submarine construction to be accelerated.{{cite news|title=Build More Subs: Thurmond|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|date=June 3, 1973}}{{cite news|title=Thurmond Says Soviet Naval Strength Threatens U.S. Control Of Seas|date=June 3, 1973|newspaper=The Greenville News}} At a July 1973 hearing, Thurmond suggested that the decision made by former Air Force Major Hal M. Knight to testify had to do with Knight's lack of advancement. Knight responded that he did not take an oath to support the military but instead the constitution.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/17/archives/us-confirms-pre1970-raids-on-cambodia-bombing-protected-gis-says.html|title=U.S. CONFIRMS PRE-1970 RAIDS ON CAMBODIA|date=July 17, 1973|first=Seymour M.|last=Hersh|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In August 1974, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a cut of nearly $5 billion in the Defense Department's budget for the current fiscal year, conflicting with President Ford. Thurmond expressed doubt on any major efforts to restore funds being undertaken by Ford administration supporters during the Senate floor debate.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/08/17/archives/senate-votes-appropriations-of-21billion-most-of-it-for-va.html|title=Senate Votes Appropriations Of 21-Billion, Most of It for V.A.|date=August 17, 1974|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In January 1977, Thurmond introduced a bill prohibiting American uniformed military forces having unionization, the measure earning the support of thirty-three senators. Thurmond wrote, "If military unions have proved irresponsible in other countries we can hardly permit them to be organized in the United States on the flimsy hypothesis that they may possibly be more responsible here."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/04/archives/unionization-of-armed-forces-carters-opposition-unlikely-to-cool.html|title=Unionization of Armed Forces|date=March 4, 1977|newspaper=The New York Times}}

During this period, the NSA reportedly had been eavesdropping on Thurmond's conversations, using the British part of the ECHELON project.Total Surveillance, page 176

In January 1975, Thurmond was one of four senators to vote against the creation of a special committee to investigate the Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other government agencies intended to either gather intelligence or enforce the law.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/28/archives/ciafbi-inquiry-voted-by-senate-church-is-expected-to-be-named.html|title=C.I.A.-F.B.I. INQUIRY VOTED BY SENATE|date=January 28, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times}}

After President-elect Carter nominated Theodore C. Sorensen as his choice to become Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Thurmond expressed reservations{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/17/archives/carter-stands-firm-supports-sorensen-as-director-of-cia-calls.html|title=CARTER STANDS FIRM, SUPPORTS SORENSEN AS DIRECTOR OF C.I.A.|date=January 17, 1977|newspaper=The New York Times}} and fellow Senator Jake Garn said he believed Thurmond would not vote for the nomination.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/01/16/sorensen-nomination-in-trouble/f87dfb27-eece-4aa5-a4fe-91e45df23c97/|title=Sorensen Nomination In Trouble|date=January 16, 1977|newspaper=Washington Post}} Sorensen withdrew from consideration days later, before a vote could be had.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/01/18/sorensen-withdraws-as-nominee-for-cia/15e7e124-d5b6-4256-a9ae-7947e8a27952/|title=Sorensen Withdraws As Nominee for CIA|date=January 18, 1977|newspaper=Washington Post}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/01/ted-sorensen-jfk-speechwriter-dies|title=Ted Sorensen, JFK's speechwriter and confidant, dies at 82 |date=November 1, 2010|newspaper=The Guardian}}

In May, Thurmond made a joint appearance with President Carter in the Rose Garden in a show of bipartisan support for proposed foreign intelligence surveillance legislation. Thurmond stated he had become convinced the legislation was needed from his service on the Armed Services Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Intelligence Committee the previous year and lauded the bill for concurrently protecting the rights of Americans, as a warrant would have to be obtained from a judge in order to fulfill any inquiries.{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=7526|title=Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Remarks of the President, Attorney General Bell, and Several Members of Congress on Proposed Legislation.|date=May 18, 1977|first=Jimmy|last=Carter|author-link=Jimmy Carter|publisher=American Presidency Project}}

In July 1977 the Senate voted against terminating the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Project. Arguing in favor of the plant, Thurmond stated that Gulf Oil, Shell Oil, and Allied Chemical gathered "the best brains" in the U.S. to head the plant in anticipation of Gerald Ford's election, and questioned whether it was honorable to discontinue the plant simply because Ford had left office.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=rQKKVauEoioC&dat=19770712&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=Senate, in blow to Carter, backs Clinch River project|date=July 12, 1977|newspaper=Star-News|page=7}}

In March 1973, Thurmond was one of nine Republican senators to vote with the Democratic majority in favor of a measure demanding President Nixon to release the $120 million the Agriculture Department had not used toward water and rural area sewer systems.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/23/archives/senate-sends-white-house-a-bill-for-rural-water-and-sewar-aid-that.html|title=Senate Sends White House a Bill for Rural Water and Sewer Aid That Nixon Opposes|date=March 23, 1973|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In April 1973, Thurmond announced a $3 million grant and $700,000 loan from federal agencies for South Carolina with the Farmers Home Administration granting the loan to the Edgefield County Water and Sewer Authority to complete a rural system serving 2,906 residences in addition to businesses in surrounding areas.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19730404&id=8YEiAAAAIBAJ&pg=651,415486|title=Grant, Loan Are Announced|date=April 4, 1973|publisher=The Sumter Daily Item}}

In January 1976, the Senate voted in favor of expanding American fishing jurisdiction by 200 miles, a bill that Thurmond opposed. Thurmond was successful in implementing an amendment, which passed 93 to 2, postponing the date of its effect by a year. In consulting with President Ford by telephone, the latter confirmed to Thurmond that the added period brought about by his amendment would see him sign the bill in the interim.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/01/29/archives/senate-approves-a-200mile-limit-on-fisning-rights-action-would.html|title=SENATE APPROVES A 200-MILE LIE ON FISHING RIGHTS|date=January 29, 1976|first=David|last=Binder|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In October 1976, Thurmond was informed of President Ford's intent to sign the Congaree National Park bill, authorizing the purchase of 15,200 acres of Beidler Tract. Thurmond said it would be "a great day for all those who have worked so long and hard to see that the Congaree forest will be saved."{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19761016&id=W8goAAAAIBAJ&pg=4523,6044713|title=Ford Signing Swamp Bill|publisher=The Sumter Daily Item|date=October 16, 1976}}

Throughout his entire political career, Thurmond's stance on foreign policy was characterized by his staunch opposition to communism.

In a 1970 speech, Thurmond called on Japan to increase defense spending and take a larger role in resisting communism in Asia. Thurmond requested that Japan exercise restraints in textile exports to the U.S. and stated that he was in favor of trade between the US and Japan with the exception of instances of it closing American textile mills or when it caused textile workers to lose their jobs. He furthered that America intended to hold on to its prior commitments and that an address by President Nixon the previous year in which Nixon called for allies of Asia to play a larger role in their defense demonstrated American trust "in the capacities and growth of our allies." Thurmond also defended the Vietnam policy of the Nixon administration, saying that the president was making the best of the situation that he had inherited from Kennedy and Johnson while admitting he personally favored a total victory in the war.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/09/21/archives/thurmond-urges-japan-to-step-up-defense-effort-senator-speaking-in.html|title=Thurmond Urges Japan to Step Up Defense Effort|date=September 21, 1970|newspaper=The New York Times}}

On April 11, 1971, Thurmond called for the exoneration of William Calley following his conviction of participating in the My Lai Massacre, stating that the "victims at Mylai were casualties to the brutality of war" and Calley had acted off of order.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/04/12/archives/calley-exoneration-urged-by-thurmond.html|title=CALLEY EXONERATION URGED BY THURMOND|date=April 12, 1971|newspaper=The New York Times}} Calley's petition for habeas corpus was granted three years later, in addition to his immediate release from house arrest.Linder, Douglas. "JURIST – The My Lai Massacre Trial", JURIST – The My Lai Massacre Trial. March 2000.

In January 1975, Thurmond and William Scott toured South Vietnam, Thurmond receiving a medal from President of South Vietnam Nguyễn Văn Thiệu. The award was seen as part of an attempt by South Vietnam to court American congressional votes in its favor.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/04/archives/a-gain-in-battle-is-reported-by-saigon.html|title=A Gain in Battle Is Reported by Saigon|date=January 4, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In 1971, Thurmond advocated against lifting the trade embargo on the People's Republic of China, stating that its communist regime had engaged in a propaganda effort to weaken support for the embargo.{{cite news|title=Strom, Nixon rift|date=June 14, 1971|publisher=The Delta Democrat-Times}} Nevertheless, days later, President Nixon ordered an end to the embargo.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/flash/june/china71.htm|title=U.S. Ends Ban on China Trade; Items Are Listed|first=Carroll|last=Kilpatrick|newspaper=Washington Post}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/06/11/archives/president-ends-21year-embargo-on-peking-trade-authorizes-export-of.html|title=PRESIDENT ENDS 21-YEAR EMBARGO ON PEKING TRADE|first=Robert B. Jr.|last=Semple|newspaper=The New York Times|date=11 June 1971 }}

In 1974,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/05/16/archives/storm-over-the-crnal-the-military-and-economic-importance-of-the.html|title=STORM OVER THE CANAL|first=Richard|last=Hudson|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 16, 1976}} Thurmond and Democrat John L. McClellan wrote a resolution to continue American sovereignty by the Panama Canal and zone. Thurmond stated that the rhetoric delivered by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger suggested that the "Canal Zone is already Panamanian territory and the only question involved is the transfer of jurisdiction."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/30/archives/32-senators-back-resolution-opposing-panama-canal-pact-false.html|title=32 Senators Back Resolution Opposing Panama Canal Pact|date=March 30, 1974|newspaper=The New York Times}} In the late 1970s, Thurmond advocated for forging a new relationship with Panama but against the U.S. giving up sovereignty to the Canal Zone. Thurmond doubted Panama's ability to govern alone: "There is no way that a Panarnaniain government could be objective about the administration of an enterprise so large in comparison to the rest of the national enterprise, public and private."{{cite news|title=Keep Sovereignty, Maintains Thurmond|date=August 9, 1977|publisher=Florence Morning News}} In late August 1977, the New York Times wrote "President Carter can be grateful that the opposition to his compromise Panama treaty is now being led by Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina and Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/08/24/archives/carter-panama-and-china.html|title=Carter, Panama And China|first=James|last=Reston|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 24, 1977}} Speaking on the Panama Canal neutrality treaty, Thurmond said it was "the big giveaway of the century."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/17/archives/new-jersey-pages-senate-6832-approves-first-of-2-panama-pacts.html|title=SENATE, 68-32, APPROVES FIRST OF 2 PANAMA PACTS; CARTER HAILS 'COURAGE'|date=March 17, 1978|newspaper=The New York Times}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1978/03/17/senate-votes-1st-canal-treaty-68-32/25bd9307-63f9-4cfb-a03c-0d607b638c0f/|title=Senate Votes 1st Canal Treaty, 68–32|first=Haynes|last=Johnson|date=March 17, 1978|newspaper=Washington Post}} The treaty was ratified by the Senate on March 16, 1978.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1978/03/17/senate-votes-1st-canal-treaty-68-32/3ef6d749-d62f-4705-a610-0dda73f978f7/|title=Senate Votes 1st Canal Treaty, 68–32|newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 17, 1978}}

In June 1974, Senator Henry M. Jackson informed Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee that he had arranged for Thurmond to cosponsor an amendment revising the present export control system and restricting trade with the Soviet Union while granting the Defense Secretary power to veto any export that might "significantly increase the military capability" of either the Soviet Union or other Communist countries. Jackson introduced the amendment after Howard M. Metzenbaum yielded the Senate floor before Majority Leader Mike Mansfield caught on to the proposal and succeeded in preventing an immediate vote.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/06/08/archives/mansfield-stalls-a-jackson-trade-plan-quiet-day-chosen.html|title=Mansfield Stalls a Jackson Trade Plan|date=June 8, 1974|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In June 1975, as the Senate weighed a reduction in a $25 billion weapons procurement measure and to delete research funds to improve the accuracy and power of intercontinental ballistic missiles and warheads, Thurmond and Harry F. Byrd Jr. warned that the Soviet Union was attempting an increase on its missile accuracy and advocated for the United States to follow suit with its own missiles.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/05/archives/senate-rejects-a-12billion-cut-in-arms-budget-it-also-defeats-5242.html|title=SENATE REJECTS $1.2–81 WON CUT IN ARMS BUDGET|date=June 5, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times}} Later that month, Thurmond and Jesse Helms wrote to President Ford requesting he meet with Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn ahead of a speech on June 30 during an AFL–CIO dinner. The White House responded that Ford was too busy to meet with Solzhenitsyn, while later sources indicate Ford declined the meeting at the counsel of his advisors.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/07/17/archives/kissinger-sees-perils-in-solzhenitsyns-views-secretary-says-meeting.html|title=Kissinger Sees Perils in Solzhenitsyn's Views|date=July 17, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In December 1979, Thurmond was one of ten senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee to sign a report urging President Carter Is to delay the vote on proposed treaty with between the US and Soviet Union to limit nuclear arms.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/21/archives/senate-panel-votes-antitreaty-report-armed-services-committee-says.html|title=SENATE PANEL VOTES ANTITREATY REPORT|date=December 21, 1979|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In January 1970, Thurmond asserted that he would work "to reverse the unreasonable and impractical decisions of the Supreme Court", as well as assist with the appointment of "sound judges" and uphold the Nixon administration's position for resumption of tax‐exempt status among all private schools.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/01/16/archives/southern-white-leaders-voice-anger-and-dismay-over-integration.html|title=Southern White Leaders Voice Anger and Dismay Over Integration Ruling|first=Murray|last=Illson|work=The New York Times |date=January 16, 1970}} Thurmond urged Nixon to nominate another South Carolina Republican convert, Joseph O. Rogers Jr., to a federal judgeship; he had been the party's unsuccessful 1966 gubernatorial nominee against the Democrat Robert Evander McNair. At the time Rogers was the U.S. Attorney in South Carolina. When his judicial nomination dragged on, Rogers resigned as U.S. attorney and withdrew from consideration. He blamed the Nixon administration, which he and Thurmond had helped to bring to power, for failure to advance his nomination in the Senate because of opposition to the appointment from the NAACP.{{cite web|url=http://library.sc.edu/scpc/Rogers.pdf|title=Joseph O. Rogers Jr., Papers|publisher=library.sc.edu|access-date=May 3, 2014}}

In May 1971, a Thurmond spokesman confirmed that Thurmond had asked President Nixon to appoint Albert Watson to the United States Court of Military Appeals.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/26/archives/judgeship-opposed.html|title=Notes on People|date=May 26, 1971|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In October 1974, Thurmond was one of five senators to sponsor legislation authored by Jesse Helms permitting prayer in public schools and taking the issue away from the Supreme Court which had previously ruled in 1963 that school prayer violated the First Amendment to the United States Constitution through the establishment of a religion.{{cite news|url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=JPOST19741018-01.1.12&srpos=13&e=------197-en-20--1--txt-txIN-thurmond------|title=School Prayers Bill's Objective|date=October 18, 1974|publisher=Jewish Post}}

In January 1979, Ted Kennedy, in his new position as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, terminated the blue slip system, which had previously allowed senators to veto prospective federal judgeship nominees from their own state. Nevada Senator Paul Laxalt read a statement from Thurmond in which the latter presumed "that the committee will honor the blue slip system that has worked so well in the past".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/01/26/archives/kennedy-says-he-will-end-veto-of-us-judges-by-their-senators-152.html|title=Kennedy Says He Will End Veto Of U.S. Judges by Their Senators|date=January 26, 1979|newspaper=The New York Times}} In March 1979, the Carter administration made an appeal to Congress for new powers to aid with the enforcement of federal laws as it pertains to housing discrimination. Thurmond refused to back the administration as he charged it with "injecting itself in every facet of people's lives" and said housing disputes should be settled in court.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/22/archives/congress-is-asked-for-power-to-fight-housing-bias-an-empty-promise.html|title=Congress Is Asked for Power to Fight Housing Bias|date=March 22, 1979|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In July 1979, as the Senate weighed voting on the nomination of Assistant Attorney General Patricia M. Wald to the United States Court of Appeals in Washington, Thurmond joined Paul Laxalt and Alan Simpson recorded their opposition.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/07/18/archives/senate-panel-approves-13-judges.html|title=Senate Panel Approves 13 Judges|date=July 18, 1979|newspaper=The New York Times}} Later that month, Thurmond asked Attorney General nominee Benjamin R. Civiletti if President Carter had made him give a pledge of loyalty or an assurance of complete independence.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/07/26/archives/civiletti-is-praised-at-senate-hearing-nominee-for-attorney-general.html|title=CIVILETTI IS PRAISED AT SENATE HEARING|first=Philip|last=Taubman|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 26, 1979}} In September, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved 30 of President Carter's nominees, the closest vote being waged against Abner J. Mikva, who the president had nominated for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Thurmond was one of the five Republicans to vote against Mikva.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/12/archives/senate-unit-approves-30-nominees-for-judgeships-rights-group.html|title=Senate Unit Approves 30 Nominees for Judgeships|date=September 12, 1979|newspaper=The New York Times}} In November, President Carter nominated José A. Cabranes to fill a vacancy on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. Thurmond submitted a series of written questions to Cabranes, whose answers were credited with clarifying his views on issues.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/21/archives/a-puerto-rican-for-the-federal-court-jose-alberto-cabranes.html|title=A Puerto Rican for the Federal Court|date=December 12, 1979|newspaper=The New York Times}} Cabranes was confirmed for the position.

In July 1979, after the Carter administration unveiled a proposed governing charter for the FBI, Thurmond stated his support for its enactment, his backing being seen by the New York Times as an indication that the governing charter would face little conservative opposition.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/08/01/archives/carter-administration-unveils-proposed-fbi-charter-plans-to-review.html|title=Carter Administration Unveils Proposed F.B.I. Charter|first=Philip|last=Taubman|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 1, 1979}}

In September 1979, the Senate approved Bailey Brown as Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The nomination was one of the few votes in which Thurmond and Ted Kennedy joined forces in confirming and Thurmond supported an opinion by Kennedy on what the latter hoped would be the precedent for judicial nominees: "It is inadvisable for a nominee for a Federal judgeship to belong to a social club that engages in invidious discrimination." During the hearing, Kennedy had stated that he believed it would have been better for Brown to resign from the all-white club. Thurmond stated afterward that he understood the judge's feeling that a resignation would have been verification of his thirty-three years with the club being improper.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/26/archives/javits-and-kennedy-clash-in-vote-on-judge-tied-to-allwhite-club.html|title=Javits and Kennedy Clash in Vote On Judge Tied to All-White Club|first=Jo|last=Thomas|work=The New York Times |date=September 26, 1979}}

On October 10, President Carter signed the Federal Magistrate Act of 1979, an expansion of the jurisdiction of American magistrates in regards to civil and criminal cases. Carter noted Thurmond as one of the members of Congress who had shown leadership on the measure, without whose efforts it would have never passed.{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=31499|title=Federal Magistrate Act of 1979 Statement on Signing S. 237 Into Law|date=October 10, 1979|publisher=American Presidency Project|first=Jimmy|last=Carter|author-link=Jimmy Carter}} Senate sources reported in October that Ted Kennedy had asked Majority Leader Robert Byrd to bring the Illinois Brick bill to the floor, the controversial antitrust measure attracting the opposition of Thurmond, who joined Orrin Hatch in threatening a filibuster of the bill. In their stance against the bill, Thurmond and Hatch argued the bill's enactment would result in businesses being exposed to endless litigation as well as the possibility of duplicative awards of damages to direct and indirect purchasers.

In July 1973, Thurmond was one of ten Republican senators in a group headed by Carl T. Curtis invited to the White House to reaffirm their support for President Nixon in light of recent scandals and criticism of the president within his own party.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/12/archives/10-at-white-house-conservative-senators-tell-president-they-still.html|title=10 AT WHITE HOUSE|first=R. W. Jr.|last=Apple|work=The New York Times |date=July 12, 1973}} In October, President Nixon ordered the firing of independent special prosecutor Archibald Cox in an event that saw the resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus before Robert Bork fulfilled the president's order. The day after the firing, Democrat Birch Bayh charged Thurmond with "browbeating" Cox during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the firing. Thurmond replied that Bayh was "below a snake" in the event that he had intended to impugn his motives. Thurmond was noted for joining Edward J. Gurney in questioning Cox "at length in an attempt to show that he was biased against" Nixon and his administration. Thurmond asked Cox if eleven members of his staff had worked for Presidents Kennedy and Johnson and was interrupted multiple times by James Eastland to allow for Cox to fully answer questions.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/11/01/archives/senate-panels-hearings-on-dismissal-of-cox-fall-into-partisan.html|title=Senate Panel's Hearings on Dismissal of Cox Fall Into Partisan Bickering|date=November 1, 1973|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In May 1974, the House Judiciary Committee opened impeachment hearings against President Nixon after the release of 1,200 pages of transcripts of White House conversations between him and his aides and the administration became engulfed in the scandal that would come to be known as Watergate. Thurmond, along with William L. Scott and James B. Allen agreed with Senator Carl T. Curtis on the equation of resignation with mob rule and the group declined defending Nixon's conduct. Thurmond opined that Nixon was "the only President we have" and questioned why Congress would want to weaken his hand in negotiating with other countries.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/05/14/archives/leading-senators-refuse-to-press-nixon-on-quitting-conservatives-of.html|title=LEADING SENATORS REFUSE TO PRESS NIXON ON QUITTING|date=May 15, 1974|newspaper=The New York Times}} In August, Newsweek published a list by the White House including Thurmond as one of thirty-six senators that the administration believed would support President Nixon in the event of his impeachment and being brought to trial by the Senate. The article stated that some supporters were not fully convinced and this would further peril the administration as 34 needed to prevent conviction.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/08/05/archives/36-senators-seen-as-nixon-backers-magazine-says-7-democrats-may.html|title=36 SENATORS SEEN AS NIXON BACKERS|date=August 5, 1974|newspaper=The New York Times}} Nixon resigned on August 9 in light of near-certain impeachment.{{cite news| newspaper = The Washington Post| title = Nixon Resigns| series = The Watergate Story | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/watergate/part3.html| access-date = July 16, 2011}}

{{main|United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1978}}

In his general election campaign, Thurmond faced Charles Ravenel, a local banker and former gubernatorial candidate.{{cite news|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/former-charleston-political-figure-charles-pug-ravenel-passed-away-saturday/article_828625f2-122a-11e7-9d23-3bb1f230ff6f.html|title=Former Charleston political figure Charles 'Pug' Ravenel passed away Saturday |first=Schuyler|last=Kropfc|publisher=postandcourier.com|date=March 26, 2017}} Ravenel charged Thurmond with not standing up for South Carolina's educational needs and having been behind the lack of funding. Thurmond responded to the charges by stating that he thought the state had made advancements in its education system.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19781017&id=O1YsAAAAIBAJ&pg=6872,4518017|title=Thurmond Defends Education|publisher=Herald=Journal}} Thurmond and Ravenel made a joint appearance in April, where Thurmond discussed his position on a variety of issues.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/07/archives/thurmonds-years-in-the-nation.html|title=Thurmond's Years|date=April 7, 1978|first=Toni|last=Wicker|newspaper=The New York Times}}

The higher amount of African-Americans voting in elections was taken into account by the Ravenel campaign, which sought to gain this group of voters by reviving interest in older statements by Thurmond. In his courting of black voters, Thurmond was noted to have not undergone "any ideological transformation" but instead devoted himself to making personal contact with members of the minority group. Thurmond's influence in national politics allowed him to have correspondence with staffers from the Nixon administration which gave him "a unique advantage in announcing federal grants and bird-dogging federal projects of particular interest to black voters."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1978/03/17/thurmonds-black-hope/49fe22d8-a223-4e9a-aa07-7d8b452fe395/|title=Thurmond's Black Hope|date=March 17, 1978|newspaper=Washington Post}}

By May 1978, Thurmond held a 30-point lead over Ravenel among double digits of undecided voters.{{cite news|title=Polls Shows Thurmond Is Landsliding Ravenel|date=May 23, 1978|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution}} Thurmond won a sixth term with 351,733 votes to Ravenel's 281,119. The race would later be assessed as the last serious challenge to Thurmond during his career.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-14-mn-35881-story.html|title=Campaign '96 / THE SENATE : Thurmond Thinking of an Eighth Term; Voters Aren't So Sure : Though popular, the 93-year-old Republican risks handing his seat to a Democrat if he runs again, observers say.|date=February 14, 1996|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}

File:Reagan 1980 campaign.jpg in Columbia, South Carolina in 1980]]

Thurmond endorsed the presidential candidacy of John Connally,{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1979/12/27/sc-ex-gov-edwards-thurmond-back-connally/51b5157c-cd2e-43db-876a-1b223be1bbc9/|title=S.C. Ex-Gov. Edwards, Thurmond Back Connally|newspaper=Washington Post|date=December 27, 1979}} on December 27, 1979.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/28/archives/thurmond-and-exgov-edwards-turn-to-connally.html|title=Thurmond and Ex-Gov. Edwards Turn to Connally|date=December 28, 1979|newspaper=The New York Times}} The Republican election cycle that year also featured Reagan,{{cite web|title=Intent to Run for President |date=November 13, 1979 |url=http://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan/speeches/speech.asp?spid=4 |work=Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library |access-date=February 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124210257/http://reaganfoundation.org/reagan/speeches/speech.asp?spid=4 |archive-date=January 24, 2009 }} Thurmond explaining that he had chosen to back Connally this time around because of the latter's wide government experience which he believed would benefit the U.S. in both domestic and foreign matters.{{cite news|title=Reagan heavily favored in South Carolina|date=March 9, 1980|newspaper=Clarion-Ledger}} Thurmond stated that the Iran hostage crisis would have never happened were Connally the sitting president as Iranians were familiar with his strength. The Washington Post noted Thurmond seeming "to cast himself for a role of regional leadership in the Connally campaign similar to the one he played in 1968" for the Nixon campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1979/12/28/connally-criticizes-president-for-inaction-policy-on-iran/f03f6b4f-a223-482f-9cce-f31111109723/|title=Connally Criticizes President For 'Inaction Policy' on Iran|date=December 28, 1979|newspaper=Washington Post}} Connally subsequently was defeated in the South Carolina primary by Reagan, thanking Thurmond and his wife for doing more to support his campaign in the state than anyone else.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/03/09/reagan-crushes-connally-bush-in-sc/f68f2009-19a1-44e2-a4c5-7854187635a3/|title=Reagan Crushes Connally, Bush in S.C.|date=March 9, 1980|newspaper=Washington Post}} In August 1980, Thurmond gave a "tense cross examination" of Billy Carter, the brother of President Carter who had come under scrutiny for his relationship with Libya and receiving funds from the country. The Billy Carter controversy also was favored by Democrats wishing to replace Carter as the party's nominee in the general election.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/08/05/no-impropriety-in-billy-affair-carter-says-no-impropriety-committed-in-billy-affair-president-says/364efcf7-1271-4f8f-bea7-68fb7a2fe549/|title=No 'Impropriety' in Billy Affair, Carter Says, No 'Impropriety' Committed In Billy Affair, President Says|date=August 5, 1980|newspaper=Washington Post}} Thurmond questioned Carter over his prior refusal to disclose the amount of funds he had received from public appearances following the 1976 election of his brother as president,{{cite news|title=Billy Claims $20,000 Not Gift From Libyans|date=August 22, 1980|publisher=Altoona Mirror}} and stated his skepticism with some of the points made.{{cite news|title= Billy: $20,000 was not Libyan gift|date=August 22, 1980|publisher=Ukiah Daily Journal}}

During a November 6, 1980 press conference, days after the 1980 Senate election, in which the Republicans unexpectedly won a majority,{{cite news |first=Nicolas |last=Ashford |title=Democrats aim to regain lost ground |work=The Times |page=10 |date=February 10, 1984 }} Thurmond pledged that he would seek a death penalty law.{{cite news|title=Thurmond returning to power as 'friend' of minority groups|date=November 7, 1980|publisher=Florida Today}} During an interview the following year, Thurmond said, "I am convinced the death penalty is a deterrent to crime. I had to sentence four people to the electric chair. I did not make the decision; the jury made it. It was my duty to pass sentence, because the jury had found them guilty and did not recommend mercy. But if I had been on the jury, I would have arrived at the same decision; in all four of those cases."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1981/04/26/the-four-men-strom-thurmond-sent-to-the-chair/61a15184-fd6a-40df-a6a8-932358d29ef5/|title=The Four Men Strom Thurmond Sent to the Chair|first=David I.|last=Bruck|newspaper=Washington Post}} After the presidential election, Thurmond and Helms sponsored a Senate amendment to a Department of Justice appropriations bill denying the department the power to participate in busing, due to objections over federal involvement, but, although passed by Congress, was vetoed by a lame duck Carter.{{cite news |first=B. Drummond Jr. |last=Ayres |title=Civil Rights Groups Fear a Slowdown In Busing for Desegregation of Schools |work=The New York Times |date=December 21, 1980 |page=28 }}{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Wicker |author-link=Tom Wicker |title=Why Not The Best? |work=The New York Times |date=November 16, 1980 |page=E21 }} In December 1980, Thurmond met with President-elect Reagan and recommended former South Carolina governor James B. Edwards for United States Secretary of Energy in the incoming administration.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/12/16/Sen-Strom-Thurmond-R-SC-said-Tuesday-that-former-South/1735345790800/|title=Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., said Tuesday that former South...|date=December 16, 1980|publisher=UPI}} Reagan later named Edwards Energy Secretary, and the latter served in that position for over a year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/27/us/politics/james-b-edwards-a-long-shot-as-governor-of-south-carolina-dies-at-87.html|title=James B. Edwards, a Long-Shot as Governor of South Carolina, Dies at 87|first=Bruce|last=Weber|newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 27, 2014}}{{cite news | url=http://www.thestate.com/2014/12/26/3894147/former-gov-james-edwards-dies.html | title=Former Gov. James Edwards dies | work=The State | date=December 26, 2014 | access-date=December 26, 2014 | author=Click, Carolyn | archive-date=December 29, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229011716/http://www.thestate.com/2014/12/26/3894147/former-gov-james-edwards-dies.html | url-status=dead }} In early January 1981, the Justice Department revealed it was carrying out a suit against Charleston County for school officials declining to propose a desegregation method for its public schools. Thurmond responded by noting that South Carolina did not support President Carter in the general election and stating that this may have contributed to the Justice Department's decision.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/09/us/us-to-sue-a-school-district-in-carolina-over-racial-bias.html|title=U.S. TO SUE A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CAROLINA OVER RACIAL BIAS|date=January 9, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}} On January 11, Thurmond stated that he would ask the incoming Reagan administration to look into the facts of the case before proceeding.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/11/us/around-the-nation-thurmond-to-ask-review-on-school-segregation-suit.html|title=AROUND THE NATION; Thurmond to Ask Review On School Segregation Suit|date=January 11, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}

File:Margaret Thatcher Strom Thurmond 1981.jpg and Thurmond at a state dinner in 1981]]

In 1970, African-Americans constituted about 30 percent of South Carolina's population.Gibson, Campbell; Jung, Kay (September 2002). [https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/twps0056.html "Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For The United States, Regions, Divisions, and States"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224151538/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/twps0056.html |date=December 24, 2014 }}. U.S. Bureau of the Census – Population Division. After the Voting Rights Act of 1965, African Americans were legally protected in exercising their constitutional rights to register and vote in South Carolina.File:Campbell, Carroll 1986 campaign rally with V-P GHW Bush and Strom Thurmond.jpg at a 1986 gubernatorial campaign rally for Representative Carroll A. Campbell Jr.]]

Thurmond appointed Thomas Moss, an African American, to his Senate staff in 1971. It has been described as the first such appointment by a member of the South Carolina congressional delegation (it was incorrectly reported by many sources as the first senatorial appointment of an African American, but Mississippi Senator Pat Harrison had hired clerk-librarian Jesse Nichols in 1937). In 1983, Thurmond supported legislation to make the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. a federal holiday.{{cite news|last=Noah|first=Timothy|date=December 16, 2002|title=The Legend of Strom's Remorse: a Washington Lie is Laid to Rest|work=Slate|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/chatterbox/2002/12/the_legend_of_stroms_remorse.html|access-date=February 28, 2012}} In South Carolina, the honor was diluted; until 2000 the state offered employees the option to celebrate this holiday or substitute one of three Confederate holidays instead. Despite this, Thurmond never explicitly renounced his earlier views on racial segregation.{{cite news

|last=Stroud

|first=Joseph

|title=Dixiecrat Legacy: An end, a beginning

|work=The Charlotte Observer

|page=1Y

|date=July 12, 1998

|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2075662

|access-date=September 17, 2007}}{{cite news|title=What About Byrd?|work=Slate|date=December 18, 2002|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2075662|access-date=September 17, 2007}}{{cite news

|title=Strom Thurmond's Evolution.

|work=The Ledger

|location=Lakeland, FL

|page=6A

|date=November 23, 1977

|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1347&dat=19771123&id=KL8SAAAAIBAJ&pg=2976,6847917

|access-date=November 29, 2011

}}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news|title=Jesse R. Nichols|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/Nichols_preface.pdf|access-date=April 22, 2010}}

Thurmond became President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate in 1981, and was part of the U.S. delegation to the funeral of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Thurmond being accompanied by Sadat's pen pal Sam Brown.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/10/08/President-Reagan-invited-three-former-presidents-to-the-White/1243371361600/|title=President Reagan invited three former presidents to the White...|date=October 8, 1981|publisher=UPI}}

In January 1982, Thurmond and Vice President George H. W. Bush were met with protestors while Thurmond was being inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame, the protestors holding signs charging Thurmond with racism and attacking the Voting Rights Act.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/01/07/Vice-President-George-Bush-and-Sen-Strom-Thurmond-were/8978379227600/|title=Vice President George Bush and Sen. Strom Thurmond were...|date=January 7, 1982|publisher=UPI}}

In the 1984 presidential election, Thurmond was cited along with Carroll Campbell and South Carolina Republican Party Director Warren Tompkins by Republicans as the forces binding the Reagan-Bush ticket to South Carolina's electoral votes.{{cite news|title=Both sides in presidential battle agree turnout is key|date=October 28, 1984|publisher=The Index-Journal}} Thurmond attended President Reagan's October 15 re-election campaign speech in the Allied Health Building on the Greenville Technical College campus in Greenville, South Carolina.{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=39247|title=Remarks at a Reagan-Bush Rally in Greenville, South Carolina|date=October 15, 1984|first=Ronald|last=Reagan|author-link=Ronald Reagan|quote=And Dr. Thomas Barton, a Clemson Tiger; Mayor Bill Workman, and Senator Strom Thurmond.}}

In June 1986, Thurmond sent a letter to Attorney General Edwin Meese requesting "an inquiry into the activities of former Commerce Department official Walter Lenahan, and expressed concern about an alleged leak of U.S. trade information to textile-exporting nations."{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/06/04/Thurmond-requests-probe-of-former-trade-official/6775518241600/|title=Thurmond requests probe of former trade official|first=Timothy|last=Bannon|date=June 4, 1986|publisher=UPI}}

In January 1987, Thurmond swore in Carroll A. Campbell Jr. as the 112th Governor of South Carolina.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/15/us/south-carolina-inducts-republican-governor.html|title=South Carolina Inducts Republican Governor|date=January 15, 1987|newspaper=The New York Times}}

On February 23, 1988, Thurmond endorsed fellow senator Bob Dole in the Republican presidential primary, acknowledging his previous intent to remain neutral during the nominating process.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/23/us/dole-endorsed-by-thurmond.html|title=Dole Endorsed by Thurmond|date=February 23, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times}} The Thurmond endorsement served to change the Dole campaign's initial plans of skipping the South Carolina primary, where Vice President Bush defeated Dole. The Bush campaign subsequently won other Southern states and the nomination, leading Michael Oreskes to reflect that Dole "was hurt by an endorsement that led him astray."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/27/weekinreview/the-nation-dukakis-and-bush-why-the-candidates-love-to-be-endorsed.html|title=THE NATION; Dukakis and Bush; WHY THE CANDIDATES LOVE TO BE ENDORSED|date=March 27, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times}}

File:President Ronald Reagan Meeting with Senator Strom Thurmond in The Oval Office.jpg with Thurmond in the Oval Office in 1987]]

In August 1988, as the Senate voted on the nomination of Dick Thornburgh as U.S. Attorney General, Thurmond stated that Thornburgh had the qualities necessary for an Attorney General to possess, citing his "integrity, honesty, professionalism and independence." Thornburgh was confirmed, and served for the remainder of the Reagan administration as well as the Bush administration.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/12/us/thornburgh-confirmed-as-attorney-general.html?mtrref=www.nytimes.com&gwh=96E424C69E43A5D1EFC26E9F5EBCC97E&gwt=pay|title=Thornburgh Confirmed as Attorney General|newspaper=The New York Times|date=12 August 1988 |last1=Shenon |first1=Philip }}

Following the 1988 Presidential election, George H. W. Bush nominated John Tower for United States Secretary of Defense. After Tower's nomination was rejected by the Senate, Thurmond asked, "What does it say when the leader of the free world can't get a Cabinet member confirmed?"{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/11/us/an-attempt-to-recover-bush-seeks-to-end-rancor-over-tower.html?mtrref=www.nytimes.com&gwh=21EA011AD667CC8A812319CE918CE471&gwt=pay|title=An Attempt To Recover; Bush Seeks to End Rancor Over Tower|date=March 11, 1989|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In August 1989, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted evenly on the nomination of William C. Lucas for Assist Attorney General for Civil Rights, terminating the nomination that required a majority to proceed to the entirety of the chamber. Among his support, Thurmond noted that Lucas was a minority, and reflected on their lack of opportunities in years prior, adding, "I know down South they didn't and up North either. We had de jure segregation and up North you had de facto segregation. There was segregation in both places, and black people didn't have the chance in either place that they should have had. Now's the chance to give them a chance." Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Joe Biden refuted Thurmond's argument by mentioning that Senate critics of Lucas were civil rights supporters who had a problem with his lack of qualifications.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/02/us/senate-committee-bars-bush-s-choice-from-rights-post.html?mtrref=www.nytimes.com&gwh=3E2FFC8773271D31D56BBF1178BAE3CB&gwt=pay|title=Senate Committee Bars Bush's Choice From Rights Post|date=August 2, 1989|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In September 1989, Hurricane Hugo hit the Southeast United States, causing twenty-seven deaths in South Carolina. In response, Congress approved a $1.1 billion emergency aid package for victims of the hurricane in what was the largest disaster relief package in American history. Before the vote, Thurmond said of the hurricane, "I have never seen so much damage in my life. It looked like there had been a war there. We need all the help we can get."{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-29-mn-279-story.html|title=$1 Billion in Hurricane Aid OKd; Bush to Sign It|date=September 29, 1989|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|access-date=October 14, 2018}} Thurmond accompanied President Bush aboard Air Force One when he visited the state at the end of the month, and revealed that Bush had written a check of $1,000 to South Carolina Red Cross as a showing of personal support for those affected.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-30-mn-190-story.html|title=Bush Tours S. Carolina Storm Wreckage, Defends Federal Emergency Aid Efforts|date=September 30, 1989|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first=James|last=Gerstenzang|access-date=October 14, 2018}}

In 1980, Thurmond and Democratic Representative John Conyers jointly sponsored a constitutional amendment to change the tenure of the President to a single six-year term.{{cite news|title=No Sense Changing Something That Works|newspaper=The Burlington Free Press|date=December 16, 1980}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19801204&id=fC8dAAAAIBAJ&pg=2350,999571|title=Thurmond, Conyers Unite|date=December 4, 1980|newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News}}

At the beginning of 1981, Thurmond as the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and President Reagan were seen as obstacles to any gun laws passing in the Senate. Thurmond publicly stated his belief that any measures introduced would be defeated in his committee.{{cite news|title=Sen. Thurmond predicts gun control bill's defeat|date=February 1, 1981|newspaper=Poughkeepsie Journal}} After the March assassination attempt on President Reagan,{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0103/30/lkl.00.html|title=Remembering the Assassination Attempt on Ronald Reagan|date=March 30, 2001|access-date=December 19, 2007|work=CNN|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219043617/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0103/30/lkl.00.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WIFIAAAAIBAJ&pg=5701%2C5352489 | title=Reagan is shot | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | agency=Associated Press | date=March 31, 1981 | access-date=April 23, 2011 | author=Hunt, Terence | location=Washington DC | page=1}} which ushered in bipartisan support for "legislation that would ban the importing of unassembled gun parts involved in the manufacture of cheap pistols often used by criminals", Thurmond stated his support for legislation imposing a ban on the gun components on a seven-point anti-crime program.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/01/us/a-ban-on-gun-parts-is-urged-in-congress.html|title=A BAN ON GUN PARTS IS URGED IN CONGRESS|date=April 1, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524075316/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/01/us/a-ban-on-gun-parts-is-urged-in-congress.html|archive-date=May 24, 2015|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} He indicated his backing would only be in favor of passing measures to restrict criminals accessing guns, telling reporters, "I still think criminals are going to get guns. But if you take guns away from people who need them to protect their homes, that is unreasonable."{{cite journal|title=Administration unlikely to drop opposition to handgun|journal=Stevens Point Journal|date=April 1, 1981}} Thurmond's announcement indicating his support for gun control legislation in the wake of the assassination attempt was seen as possibly indicating a change in the debate of regulations relating to firearms in the U.S.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/02/us/kennedy-set-to-compromise-to-obtain-gun-control-bill.html|title=KENNEDY SET TO COMPROMISE TO OBTAIN GUN CONTROL BILL|date=April 2, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524075447/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/02/us/kennedy-set-to-compromise-to-obtain-gun-control-bill.html|archive-date=May 24, 2015|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} He announced plans to hold hearings on the seven-point proposal intended to address the questions surrounding the Reagan assassination attempt.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/04/01/Senate-Judiciary-Committee-chairman-Strom-Thurmond-R-SC-said-Tuesday/4627354949200/|title=Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., said Tuesday...|date=April 1, 1981|publisher=UPI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403051830/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/04/01/Senate-Judiciary-Committee-chairman-Strom-Thurmond-R-SC-said-Tuesday/4627354949200/|archive-date=April 3, 2018|url-status=live}} In July 1989, when the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill by Democrat Dennis DeConcini that imposed a ban of three years on sales of several domestic assault rifles, it rejected an amendment by Thurmond that would have substituted the DeConcini bill with the Bush administration's anti-crime package, which did not include a ban on rifles produced in the United States. Failure to implement the Thurmond amendment was seen as "a preliminary test of Senate support for extending President Bush's ban on foreign-made assault weapons to domestic makes" and a loss for the National Rifle Association of America which had previously protested banning domestic assault rifles. Following the vote, Thurmond and NRA officials pledged to bring the same issue up before the full chamber.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-21-mn-4248-story.html|title=Senate Panel OKs U.S.-Made Assault Rifle Ban|date=July 21, 1989|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}

In early 1981, Thurmond stated his support for a balanced budget amendment as he believed Reagan's successor would unbalance the budget in spite of what Reagan did while in office. He added that there was not a timetable for getting it passed and that Congress was ahead of the newly formed Reagan administration.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/02/15/Thurmond-presses-for-balanced-budget-amendment/5043351061200/|title=Thurmond presses for balanced-budget amendment|first=Ed|last=Rogers|publisher=UPI}} Thurmond attended the July 12, 1982 Rose Garden speech by President Reagan on the balanced budget amendment. President Reagan stated the administration was "asking Majority Leader Baker, Senators Thurmond, Hatch, DeConcini, and Helms, as leaders of the 61 cosponsors, to help us secure its passage as rapidly as possible."{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=42725|title=Remarks to Reporters on the Proposed Constitutional Amendment for a Balanced Federal Budget|date=July 12, 1982|publisher=Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum}} On August 4, 1982, the Senate approved adopting a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget in the following years.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/04/nyregion/news-summary-wednesday-august-4-1982.html|title=News Summary; WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1982|newspaper=The New York Times|date=4 August 1982 }} Following the vote, Thurmond said, "This is a great day for America. We feel this is a step that will turn this country around, once it is ratified by the states."{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/08/04/Senate-approves-balanced-budget-amendment/6221397281600/|title=Senate approves balanced budget amendment|first=Robert|last=Mackay|date=August 4, 1962|publisher=UPI}} On January 26, 1983, a constitutional amendment mandating a balanced budget was introduced to the Senate, Thurmond and Utah Senator Orrin Hatch serving as its main cosponsors. Thurmond's remarks included calling for a haste to its enactment: "Congress has shown it is unable to control federal spending and, in doing so, has conceded it must be forced to do so. That is why this amendment is so urgently needed."{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/01/26/A-constitutional-amendment-to-require-a-balanced-budget-was/1743412405200/|title=A constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget was...|date=January 26, 1983|publisher=UPI}} In October 1985, Thurmond supported a plan to require a balanced budget by 1991.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/10/us/how-senate-voted-on-budget-plan.html|title=HOW SENATE VOTED ON BUDGET PLAN|date=October 10, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times}}

Throughout early 1981, Thurmond and Helms urged President Reagan to curb textile imports, with Thurmond saying later that year that the first four months of 1981 had seen a 16 percent increase in textile imports "over a similar period in 1980."{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/06/04/Republican-Sens-Jesse-Helms-of-North-Carolina-and-Strom/7618360475200/ph|title=Republican Sens. Jesse Helms of North Carolina and Strom...|date=June 4, 1981|publisher=UPI}} That year, President Reagan pledged in a letter to Thurmond to help South Carolina textile mills against their foreign competitors. The letter was pulled out by Chief of Staff James Baker during a December 1983 White House Cabinet Council on Commerce and Trade meeting, and was credited by two White House aides with ending "the council debate cold."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1984/04/01/reagan-is-the-real-king-of-special-interest-groups/5d0958ba-3df6-49a7-8988-3b7b0861f91d/|title=Reagan is the Real King Of Special Interest Groups|date=April 1, 1984|newspaper=Washington Post}} President Reagan stated his support for tightening control of textile imports in December 1983.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/17/business/reagan-decides-to-tighten-controls-on-textile-imports.html|title=REAGAN DECIDES TO TIGHTEN CONTROLS ON TEXTILE IMPORTS|date=December 17, 1983|newspaper=The New York Times}} In December 1984, President Reagan vetoed H.R. 1562,{{cite web|url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/archives/speeches/1985/121785d.htm|title=Message to the House of Representatives Returning Without Approval the Textile and Apparel Industries Bill|date=December 17, 1985|first=Ronald|last=Reagan|author-link=Ronald Reagan|publisher=Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072456/https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/archives/speeches/1985/121785d.htm|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=dead}} Thurmond responded to the decision by stating that Reagan had heeded bad advice and predicted the veto would produce "more layoffs, more plant shutdowns and more long-term economic damage to an industry that is crucial to this nation."{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/12/18/President-Reagan-in-a-blow-to-the-import-battered-textile/6904503730000/|title=President Reagan, in a blow to the import-battered textile,...|date=December 18, 1985|publisher=UPI}}

In June 1981, Thurmond stated that MX missiles could potentially disrupt southwest lifestyles and called for a "reassessment of the country's commitment to a joint land, sea and air-based ballistic missile deterrent." Thurmond believed billions of dollars could potentially be saved in the event that military experts look into the sea-based missiles and the missiles would be less likely to attack if not based on land.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/06/27/Sen-Strom-Thurmond-R-SC-said-Saturday-that-the-MX/6390362462400/|title=Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., said Saturday that the MX...|date=June 27, 1981|publisher=UPI}}

In 1983, Thurmond supported legislation for the MX missile, voting for its development being funded by $625 million in May,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/05/26/us/roll-call-in-senate-on-money-for-mx.html|title=ROLL CALL IN SENATE ON MONEY FOR M|date=May 26, 1983|newspaper=The New York Times}} and against the Gary Hart amendment that if enacted would have removed production for the missile from the military authorization bill of 1984 two months later.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/27/us/roll-call-in-senate-on-producing-mx.html|title=ROLL-CALL IN SENATE ON PRODUCING MX|date=July 27, 1984|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In July 1981, Thurmond sent Attorney General William French Smith a twelve-person list of candidates to be considered for federal district judgeship.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19810728&id=VRwyAAAAIBAJ&pg=1302,3541269|title=2 From Area On Judgeship List|publisher=The Sumter Daily Item|date=July 28, 1981}}

The year of 1981 also saw the Voting Rights Act come up for another extension. Thurmond was one of the leaders in opposition to portions of the act,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/08/us/congress-begins-fight-over-extension-of-voting-rights-act.html|title=CONGRESS BEGINS FIGHT OVER EXTENSION OF VOTING RIGHTS ACT|date=April 8, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}} and said parts of the law were discriminatory toward states' rights as well as too strict toward communities that had adhered to it in the past.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/27/magazine/once-again-a-clash-over-voting-rights.html|title=ONCE AGAIN, A CLASH OVER VOTING RIGHTS|date=September 27, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}

On March 11, 1982, Thurmond voted in favor of a measure sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch that sought to reverse Roe v. Wade and allow Congress and individual states to adopt laws banning abortions. Its passage was the first time a congressional committee supported an anti-abortion amendment.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/11/us/abortion-curbs-endorsed-10-7-by-senate-panel.html|title=ABORTION CURBS ENDORSED, 10–7, BY SENATE PANEL|date=March 11, 1982|newspaper=The New York Times}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/28/magazine/howard-baker-trying-to-tame-an-unruly-senate.html|title=HOWARD BAKER TRYING TO TAME AN UNRULY SENATE|date=March 28, 1982|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In July 1982, the House and Senate overrode President Reagan's veto of copyright legislation intended to retain employment in the American printing and publishing industries. Thurmond stated he could not understand President Reagan's authorization of recommendation on the part of what he called "middle-level bureaucrats" and how he could take advice from members of the aforementioned group amid a Labor Department report on the thousands of jobs that would be lost without the bill. Thurmond added that the legislation would retain "jobs for Americans", a rebuff of claims to the contrary on the part of Reagan.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/14/arts/first-override-of-reagan-veto-comes-on-extension-of-printing-copyrights.html|title=FIRST OVERRIDE OF REAGAN VETO COMES ON EXTENSION OF PRINTING COPYRIGHTS|date=July 14, 1982|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In 1983, the National Taxpayers Union, a conservative group that bestowed points to politicians who voted for measures to reduce federal spending, gave Thurmond a 58 percent spending score, three points down from his rating two years prior.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RqEiAAAAIBAJ&pg=1440,5751513 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Sumter Daily Item |title=Group Says Hollings Best of Big Spenders |date=April 2, 1983 }}

In 1984, the Senate voted on a bill granting federal prosecution to weapon-carrying career robbers and giving 15 years of incarceration to those convicted. Along with Senator Ted Kennedy, Thurmond sponsored an amendment limiting the bill to third-time federal offenders. The amendment passed 77 to 12, and was sent to the House.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/24/us/bill-to-permit-federal-prosecution-of-career-criminals-passes-senate.html|title=BILL TO PERMIT FEDERAL PROSECUTION OF CAREER CRIMINALS PASSES SENATE|date=February 24, 1984|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In June 1985, Thurmond introduced legislation providing stiffer federal penalties for individuals and financial institutions engaged in laundering money earned from activities of illegality. The bill, supported by the Reagan administration as it sought to expose the financial activities of criminals, was hailed by Thurmond as "an important step in our continuing war on organized crime and those financial institutions and individuals which hide the ill-gotten assets of law-breakers, especially drug traffickers." American Bar Association, American Bankers Association and American Civil Liberties Union officials charged the proposal with largely removing privacy laws imposed by the federal government and state governments that were established to prevent unchecked examinations of the bank records of individuals from authorities.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/23/us/money-laundering-bill-seen-as-privacy-threat.html|title=MONEY-LAUNDERING BILL SEEN AS PRIVACY THREAT|date=June 23, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In 1988, Thurmond introduced an amendment to a bill by Chris Dodd calling for granting unpaid leaves for workers with either a newborn, newly adopted, or seriously ill child. The amendment called for severe penalties to individuals involved in the selling, transferring of control or buying of a child that could be used in pornography. Thurmond forced a vote and the amendment passed 97 to 0.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/29/us/pornography-measure-passes.html|title=Pornography Measure Passes|date=September 29, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In October 1989, as the Senate approved a bill that made burning of the American flag a federal crime in an attempt to counter a Supreme Court ruling asserting that flag-burning was protected by the First Amendment, Thurmond opined that securing flag burning as a federal crime through a constitutional amendment was "the only sure and foolproof way to protect the integrity of the American flag".{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-06-mn-679-story.html|title=Senate Passes Ban on Burning U.S. Flag, 91 to 9 : Measure Provides for Up to a Year in Jail; Some Still Pressing for Amendment|date=October 10, 1989|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}

In May 1982, Thurmond introduced anti-crime legislation that included provisions altering the bail system to allow a judge to deny bond to defendants the judge considered a danger to society along a "presumption" that defendants charged with drug trafficking or the use of a weapon in a violent crime are a danger to the community in addition to imposing fines and penalties for individuals convicted of dealing "large amounts of the most dangerous drugs." Under the legislation, the acts of killing, kidnapping or assaulting certain White House officials, Cabinet members of Supreme Court justices would be made federal crimes and witnesses and victims would be granted protection during and following a federal trial. The measure was considered a last-ditch effort to push a crime bill through Congress by the end of the year and the White House responded with praise of the legislation as containing "several statutory reforms that are long overdue" within hours of Thurmond unveiling it. Thurmond referred to the measure as a "big step toward controlling the number one threat to organized society – crime."{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/05/26/Chairman-Strom-Thurmond-of-the-Senate-Judiciary-Committee-introduced/7520391233600/|title=Chairman Strom Thurmond of the Senate Judiciary Committee introduced...|date=May 26, 1982|publisher=UPI}}

In 1983, Thurmond served as a sponsor of an anti-crime bill that included a measure that would form a Cabinet-level post to oversee drug investigations. President Reagan pocket vetoed the bill on the grounds that it would have created "another layer of bureaucracy" in attempts to combat narcotics. Though saying he was not angered by the president's opposition, Thurmond admitted Reagan's approval would have been a better alternative and called on the newly commenced 98th United States Congress to compose anti-crime legislation that the administration would support.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/01/15/Congress-to-press-anti-crime-bill/6168411454800/|title=Congress to press anti-crime bill|date=January 15, 1983|publisher=UPI}}

In September 1986, Thurmond sponsored a drug law package that included a provision imposing the death penalty for some drug offenses and federal crimes of "treason, espionage and killing American hostages in a terrorist attack"; it followed another measure passed in the House authorizing introduction of certain evidence in drug-related cases that was seized illegally, and increased the difficulty for criminal defendants to use writs of habeas corpus. The legislation omitted a provision of the House bill that granted American military personnel the authority to arrest individuals in drug-trafficking cases, and the legislation's other sponsors conceded that it would provoke a filibuster and possibly need revising in light of opposition to its more controversial proposals.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/20/us/senate-gop-adds-its-own-drug-bill.html|title=SENATE G.O.P. ADDS ITS OWN DRUG BILL|date=September 20, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}} A week later, the Senate opened debate on proposals aimed at ending both the supply of dangerous drugs as well as their demand. Thurmond offered changes to criminal law in the form of amendments that would include imposing the death penalty for drug traffickers guilty of murder and an expansion of the proposal that would add the death penalty for other federal crimes, such as espionage and hostage taking. Thurmond additionally favored altering rules of evidence so that evidence gathered illegally would not be removed from criminal proceedings if it was obtained in "good faith".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/27/us/senate-takes-up-drug-bill-with-session-waning.html|title=SENATE TAKES UP DRUG BILL WITH SESSION WANING|date=September 27, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}} President Reagan signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 on October 27, 1986, noting Thurmond as one of the "real champions in the battle to get this legislation through Congress".{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=36654|title=Remarks on Signing the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986|date=October 27, 1986|publisher=American Presidency Project|first=Ronald|last=Reagan|author-link=Ronald Reagan|access-date=July 21, 2022|archive-date=April 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410201728/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=36654|url-status=dead}}

In November 1987, Thurmond introduced legislation that if enacted would require "alcoholic beverages to carry health warning labels similar to those on cigarettes", saying the legislation would be effective if it prevented anyone from drinking while being in a compromising position of health.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/11/18/Sen-Strom-Thurmond-R-SC-continued-his-attack-on-alcohol/7822564210000/|title=Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., continued his attack on alcohol...|first=Karen Lee|last=Scrivo|publisher=UPI}} The following year, Thurmond sponsored legislation designed to impose "five rotating warning labels on alcoholic beverages cautioning pregnant women not to drink, warning that alcohol is addictive and can increase the risks of hypertension, liver disease and cancer, that it impairs a person's ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and that alcohol consumption can be hazardous in combination with some drugs."{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/08/10/Health-warning-on-liquor-bottles-urged/1575587188800/ph|title=Health warning on liquor bottles urged|first=Mary Beth|last=Franklin|date=August 10, 1988|publisher=UPI}}

In September 1989, Thurmond was one of nine Republican senators appointed by Senate Republican leader Robert Dole to negotiate a dispute with Democrats over financing of President Bush's anti-drug plan that called for spending $7.8 billion by the following year as part of the president's efforts to address narcotics nationwide and abroad.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/09/14/Senate-drug-funding-dispute-threatens-money-bills/3024621748800/|title=Senate drug funding dispute threatens money bills|first=Steve|last=Gerstel|date=September 14, 1989|publisher=UPI}}

In late 1981, Thurmond presided over the hearings of Sandra Day O'Connor, who President Reagan had nominated for associate justice.{{cite web|last1=U.S. National Archives|title=Reagan's Nomination of O'Connor|url=https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/oconnor.html|access-date=August 19, 2014}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/Audio/|title=News, Photos, Audio | Archives - UPI.com|website=UPI}} Thurmond granted Alabama Senator Jeremiah Denton an hour of questioning of O'Connor, twice the time allotted for other members of the chamber.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/12/us/abortion-foes-assail-judge-o-connor.html|title=ABORTION FOES ASSAIL JUDGE O'CONNOR|date=September 12, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}

Thurmond stated that O'Connor was "one of the choice nominees" for the Supreme Court that he had seen in all of his Senate career, furthering that she had all the qualities he believed "a judge needs."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/16/us/panel-approves-judge-o-connor.html|title=PANEL APPROVES JUDGE O'CONNOR|date=September 16, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}} O'Connor was confirmed by the Senate.{{cite web|title = Reagan's Nomination of O'Connor|url = https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/oconnor.html|publisher = archives.gov|access-date = November 7, 2015}}

In November 1982, President Reagan selected Harry N. Walters as his choice for Administrator of Veterans Affairs;{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/23/us/reagan-picks-pentagon-aide-as-head-of-veterans-agency.html|title=REAGAN PICKS PENTAGON AIDE AS HEAD OF VETERANS AGENCY|date=November 23, 1982|newspaper=The New York Times}}{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/11/22/President-Reagan-Monday-tapped-Assistant-Army-Secretary-Harry-Walters/1012406789200/|title=President Reagan Monday tapped Assistant Army Secretary Harry Walters...|date=November 22, 1982|publisher=UPI}} Thurmond and Wyoming senator Alan Simpson were both critical of the president's lack of consultation with them prior to the announcement. Thurmond shortly afterward stated publicly his support for Walters, citing him as having "the education and experience to fill the position".{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/11/22/President-Reagan-announced-Monday-he-has-nominated-Harry-Walters/8643406789200/|title=President Reagan announced Monday he has nominated Harry Walters,...|date=November 22, 1982|publisher=UPI}} Walters was confirmed for the position.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/24/us/director-of-veterans-administration-steps-down.html|title=DIRECTOR OF VETERANS ADMINISTRATION STEPS DOWN|date=January 24, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In January 1984, President Reagan nominated of Edwin Meese for U.S. Attorney General to replace the resigning William French Smith.{{cite web|url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/research/speeches/12384b|title=Nomination of Edwin Meese III To Be Attorney General of the United States|date=January 23, 1984|publisher=Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum}} Meese agreed for a second round of questioning from the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Thurmond felt "would be productive all the way around" to have another appearance by the nominee.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/03/13/White-House-counselor-Edwin-Meese-under-pressure-from-Democrats/8523448002000/|title=White House counselor Edwin Meese, under pressure from Democrats,...|first=Barbara|last=Rosewicz|date=March 13, 1984|publisher=UPI}} At a news conference that month, Thurmond stated a lack of evident wrongdoing and his confidence in Meese stemming from Reagan having selected him: "Up to now, there's been nothing I've come across that would damage Mr. Meese. If President Reagan nominated the man, then he must be qualified."{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/03/20/Though-Meese-in-trouble-Reagan-stands-by-him/9350448606800/|title=Though Meese 'in trouble,' Reagan stands by him|date=March 20, 1984|publisher=UPI}} Meese was later confirmed by the Senate in February 1985.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/24/us/senate-approves-meese-to-become-attorney-general.html|title=SENATE APPROVES MEESE TO BECOME ATTORNEY GENERAL|date=February 24, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times}} In May 1988, after Meese dismissed spokesman Terry Eastland,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/19/us/some-meese-aides-dispute-his-reasoning-on-assistant-s-dismissal.html|title=Some Meese Aides Dispute His Reasoning on Assistant's Dismissal|date=May 19, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times}} Thurmond stated that Eastland's reputation was fine and that he had concern toward the latest developments, adding "his voice to those of Republican lawmakers who have said they were increasingly concerned over the operations of the Justice Department under" Meese.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/18/us/as-concern-rises-president-restates-confidence-in-meese.html|title=As Concern Rises, President Restates Confidence in Meese|date=May 18, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In November 1985, after President Reagan nominated Alex Kozinski to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit,{{cite news|author1=Jackson, Robert L.|author2=Hager, Philip|title=Senate Narrowly Confirms Kozinski as Appeals Judge|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-08-mn-2758-story.html|access-date=August 11, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 8, 1985}} Thurmond assailed a day-long questioning of Kozinski by Democratic members of the Senate as "the puniest, most nit-picking charges" he had heard from members of that ideology in all of his time in Congress and called Kozinski "a man of integrity and dedication, with a magnificent record".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/03/us/angry-democrats-examine-nominee-6-hours.html|title=ANGRY DEMOCRATS EXAMINE NOMINEE 6 HOURS|date=November 3, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In March 1986, Daniel Anthony Manion, President Reagan's choice for the U.S. Court of Appeals in Chicago, answered a question by Thurmond at the beginning of a session before a Senate panel.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/03/13/nominee-questioned-on-creationist-bill/|title=Nominee Questioned On Creationist Bill|date=March 13, 1986|first=Glen|last=Elsasser|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}} Three months later, Thurmond called for a bipartisan vote for cloture, citing Manion as "entitled to have a vote by the Senate",{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/06/25/senate-gop-leaders-attempting-to-limit-debate-on-manion/4e6c58d9-f08e-4aed-82e1-fb7358ac213d/|title=Senate GOP Leaders Attempting to Limit Debate on Manion|date=June 25, 1986|newspaper=Washington Post}} and predicted there were enough votes to confirm him.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/06/24/judge-nominees-verdict-near/|title=Judge Nominee's Verdict Near|date=June 24, 1986|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}

In August 1986, after President Reagan nominated Associate Justice William Rehnquist for Chief Justice of the United States,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/18/us/burger-retiring-rehnquist-named-chief-scalia-appeals-judge-chosen-for-court.html|title=BURGER RETIRING, REHNQUIST NAMED CHIEF; SCALIA, APPEALS JUDGE, CHOSEN FOR COURT|date=June 18, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/01/us/president-asserts-he-will-withhold-rehnquist-memos.html|title=PRESIDENT ASSERTS HE WILL WITHHOLD REHNQUIST MEMOS|date=August 1, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}} Thurmond said the questions poised toward Rehnquist during his confirmation hearings were disgraceful as well as part of an attempt to smear him.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/08/05/Sen-Strom-Thurmond-R-SC-said-Tuesday-the-questioning-of/9953523598400/|title=Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., said Tuesday the questioning of...|date=August 5, 1986|publisher=UPI}} As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Thurmond voted in favor of recommending Rehnquist's confirmation.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/15/us/senate-unit-backs-rehnquist-13-to-5.html|title=SENATE UNIT BACKS REHNQUIST, 13 TO 5|date=August 15, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}} Thurmond defended Rehnquist against charges of discrimination, saying the nomination would never have been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee if its members felt any credibility to the claims.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/13/us/rehnquist-opponents-warn-that-confirmation-would-be-divisive.html|title=REHNQUIST OPPONENTS WARN THAT CONFIRMATION WOULD BE DIVISIVE|date=September 13, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In July 1987, President Reagan nominated Robert Bork as Associate Justice on the Supreme Court.{{cite web|url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/archives/speeches/1987/070187d.htm|title=Nomination of Robert H. Bork To Be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States|date=July 1, 1987|publisher=Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404200826/https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/archives/speeches/1987/070187d.htm|archive-date=April 4, 2018|url-status=dead}} The Los Angeles Times noted Thurmond as "one of Bork's key supporters on the Judiciary Committee."{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-21-mn-6092-story.html|title=Packwood Opposes Bork, 1st Gop Senator to Defect : Willing to Join Senate Filibuster|date=September 21, 1987|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} In October, after the Senate rejected Bork's nomination,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/24/us/senate-s-roll-call-on-the-bork-vote.html|title=Senate's Roll-Call On the Bork Vote|date=October 24, 1987 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press}} Thurmond stated during a news conference that President Reagan's next nominee should be a person not "as controversial" and concurrently praised Bork as "a great judge who would have adorned the Supreme Court with honor." Thurmond also expressed his view that the next Supreme Court nominee should be someone from the South.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/24/us/bork-s-nomination-is-rejected-58-42-reagan-saddened.html|title=BORK'S NOMINATION IS REJECTED, 58–42; REAGAN 'SADDENED'|date=October 24, 1987|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In April 1981, Thurmond stated that the U.S. could move some of its West Germany soldiers to the East German and Czechoslovak borders in an attempt to improve both morale and combat readiness.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/19/world/us-may-shift-gi-s-in-germany.html|title=U.S. May Shift G.I.'s in Germany|date=April 19, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In October 1983, Thurmond stated his support for the United States invasion of Grenada, saying American efforts with other countries were "providing an opportunity for Grenadan citizens to regain control over their lives" and the U.S. would be forced to watch centuries of progress crumble if the country was unwilling to make sacrifices.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/29/us/required-reading-sampling-of-opinions-on-invasion-of-grenada.html|title=REQUIRED READING; SAMPLING OF OPINIONS ON INVASION OF GRENADA|date=October 29, 1983|newspaper=The New York Times}} Thurmond voted against the Senate resolution declaring that American troops in Grenada would be "withdrawn no more than 60 days later unless Congress authorized their continued presence there".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/29/world/o-neill-criticizes-president-war-powers-act-is-invoked.html|title=O'NEILL CRITICIZES PRESIDENT; WAR POWERS ACT IS INVOKED|date=October 29, 1983|newspaper=The New York Times}} President Reagan sent Thurmond a letter containing a report in line with the War Powers Resolution.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/10/25/Reagan-gives-Congress-war-powers-notice/4017435902400/|title=Reagan gives Congress war powers notice|first=Ira A.|last=Allen|publisher=UPI|date=October 25, 1983}} Thurmond said the "ruling junta in Grenada" was directly threatening American lives.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/10/25/Congress-gave-cautious-support-to-the-invasion-of-Grenada/4533435902400/|title=Congress gave cautious support to the invasion of Grenada...|first=John F.|last=Barton|publisher=UPI|date=October 25, 1983}}

In December 1984, as the United States and Israel moved to negotiate a free-trade pact where tariffs between the two countries would eventually be wiped out following the Reagan administration receiving congressional approval to negotiate such an agreement, Thurmond wrote a letter to United States trade representative Bill Brock calling on Brock to "reformulate" the negotiating position of the US as the senator had been informed by his aides that the American position in the negotiation was "more generous" than the one specified to Congress. Brock replied to Thurmond weeks later, asserting that he had "every intention" of fulfilling his commitment to Congress "to take account of the import sensitivity of specific products" in the agreement and that Israel had acknowledged the irregularity of export subsidy programs "with the concept of a free-trade area."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/10/business/israel-and-us-facing-hurdles-on-trade-pact.html|title=ISRAEL AND U.S. FACING HURDLES ON TRADE PACT|date=January 10, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In September 1985, Thurmond was one of eight members of a delegation that met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. The delegation agreed on viewing Gorbachev as an impressive leader and that he had refused any discussion of human rights issues and repeated Soviet formulas in a response to Afghanistan questions.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/04/world/gorbachev-hints-he-ll-be-flexible.html|title=GORBACHEV HINTS HE'LL BE FLEXIBLE|date=September 4, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In March 1986, after American warplanes took action against Libyan land, Thurmond stated the U.S. "has the right and the duty to protect and defend itself when attacked, as it was today, without provocation." He opposed statements by the Libyan government that the attacks on U.S. ships occurred in international waters and named Muammar Gaddafi as the individual who had orchestrated the acts of aggression toward the U.S.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/25/world/lawmakers-back-actions-on-libya.html|title=LAWMAKERS BACK ACTIONS ON LIBYA|date=March 25, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}}

Thurmond was a supporter of the Nicaragua rebels, saying that support for the group on the part of the United States was central to furthering America's view "in freedom and in protecting ourselves against Soviet totalitarianism."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/19/world/senate-votes-52-48-not-to-block-aid-to-contras.html|title=Senate Votes, 52–48 Not to Block Aid to Contras|date=March 19, 1987|newspaper=The New York Times}} In August 1988, Senator Robert Byrd presented the White House with a modified version of the Democratic proposal on Contra aid. Thurmond responded to the plan by calling it unsatisfactory.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/09/world/republicans-object-to-new-contra-deal.html|title=Republicans Object to New Contra Deal|date=August 9, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In 1988, some members of the Senate gave support to a law that would impose American participation in an international treaty outlawing genocide. Thurmond stated his intent to add a death penalty amendment in the event the bill reached the Senate floor, the maximum punishment of the bill in the United States being incarceration and Thurmond's measure conflicting with the anti-death penalty views of the bill's leading advocates. Democrats charged Thurmond with using parliamentary devices and Senate traditions to prevent a vote.{{cite news|url=https://mobile.nytimes.com/1988/09/27/world/bill-banning-genocide-still-snagged-in-senate.html|title=Bill Banning Genocide Still Snagged in Senate|date=September 27, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times}} Thurmond dropped the death penalty amendment when Democrats agreed to proceed with the confirmation of Republican judges. Several Democrats espoused the view that Thurmond had only been adamant in including the death penalty amendment to get something out of the Senate Democrats during the debate over the treaty.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/15/world/senate-votes-to-carry-out-treaty-banning-genocide.html|title=Senate Votes to Carry Out Treaty Banning Genocide|date=October 15, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times}}

{{main|United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1984}}

In September 1983, President Reagan attended a fundraising dinner for Thurmond's re-election campaign in the Cantey Building at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia, South Carolina. Reagan delivered an address both praising Thurmond and noting the similarities in his views and that of the administration.{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=40487|title=Remarks at a Fundraising Dinner for Senator Strom Thurmond in Columbia, South Carolina|date=September 20, 1983|publisher=American Presidency Project}}{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/09/20/President-Reagan-praised-Sen-Strom-Thurmond-R-SC-Tuesday-as/4567432878400/|title=President Reagan praised Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., Tuesday as...|date=September 20, 1983|publisher=UPI}}

Running for a fifth full term in 1984,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/20/us/campaign-notes-thurmond-will-seek6th-full-term-in-senate.html|title=CAMPAIGN NOTES; Thurmond Will Seek6th Full Term in Senate|date=March 20, 1984|newspaper=The New York Times}} Thurmond faced his first primary challenge in 20 years, from retired CIA agent Robert Cunningham, and won the Republican nomination on June 12, 1984.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/13/us/thurmond-gains-bid-for-6th-term.html|title=THURMOND GAINS BID FOR 6TH TERM|date=June 13, 1984|newspaper=The New York Times}}{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/06/13/Strom-Thurmond-wins-nomination-as-five-states-hold-primaries/3062455947200/|title=Strom Thurmond wins nomination as five states hold primaries|date=June 13, 1984|publisher=UPI}} Cunningham charged Thurmond with being a follower who no one could validate the seriousness of as a candidate since he had not been challenged in eighteen years, furthering that the South Carolina Republican Party had been involved with the decline in his opposition. Cunningham said that Thurmond had a "bad track record" and noted his past comments on race, saying that he would not be crushed like Thurmond's past opponents and was getting much encouragement in his bid to unseat him.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/04/17/Ex-CIA-agent-battles-Thurmond/9425054120006/|title=Ex-CIA agent battles Thurmond|first=Sidney|last=Bedingfield|publisher=UPI|date=April 17, 1984}}

Thurmond addressed the issue of age during the primary, the 81-year-old senator stating that he exercised each day for an hour and a half and that he was in the same shape as a person in their 30s or 40s.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/06/12/Strom-Thurmond-wins-nomination-to-sixth-Senate-term/8026455860800/|title=Strom Thurmond wins nomination to sixth Senate term|date=June 12, 1984|publisher=UPI}} Cunningham received less than 6% of the primary vote. Thurmond then defeated Melvin Purvis III in the general election, the latter receiving half of the votes cast for Thurmond.{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-10-21/news/8603030969_1_strom-thurmond-mr-purvis-minister|title=Melvin Purvis Iii, Minister, Candidate|date=October 21, 1986|publisher=Sun Sentinel|access-date=2022-07-21|archive-date=2018-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329121142/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-10-21/news/8603030969_1_strom-thurmond-mr-purvis-minister|url-status=dead}} Purvis, noted to have few differences in ideology with Thurmond, cited the latter's age as reason to retire him from the Senate.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/21/obituaries/melvin-h-purvis-3d.html|title=MELVIN H. PURVIS 3D|date=October 21, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In 1986, President Reagan nominated Antonin Scalia for Associate Justice to replace William Rehnquist as the latter ascended to Chief Justice of the United States following the retirement of Warren E. Burger.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-18-mn-11107-story.html|title=The Supreme Court: Change at the Top: Opposition Tempered by Sense of Little Change: Senate Republicans Praise Choices|date=June 18, 1986|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first1=Karen|last1=Tumulty|first2=Bob|last2=Secter|access-date=October 2, 2018}} During the hearings held in July, Thurmond questioned Scalia on his view of the Supreme Court's ruling in Miranda v. Arizona, that both inculpatory and exculpatory statements made in response to interrogation by a defendant in police custody would be admissible at trial only if the prosecution can show that the defendant was informed of the right to consult with an attorney before and during questioning and of the right against self-incrimination before police questioning, and that the defendant not only understood these rights, but voluntarily waived them. Scalia told Thurmond, "As a policy matter, I think – as far as I know everybody thinks – it's a good idea to warn a suspect what his rights are as soon as practicable."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/06/us/scalia-returns-soft-answers-to-senators.html|title=Scalia Returns Soft Answers to Senators|date=August 6, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Stuart Jr.|last=Taylor|access-date=October 2, 2018}}

In early 1990, Thurmond sponsored a crime bill concurrent with another measure of the same intent, his version receiving the support of President Bush.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/24/us/senate-backs-curb-on-assault-rifles-by-a-vote-of-50-49.html|title=SENATE BACKS CURB ON ASSAULT RIFLES BY A VOTE OF 50–49|date=May 24, 1990|newspaper=The New York Times}} Thurmond charged the Democratic proposal with aiding criminals and furthering the loss of rights on the part of victims.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/22/us/senate-begins-debate-on-anti-crime-bill.html|title=Senate Begins Debate on Anti-Crime Bill|date=May 22, 1990|newspaper=The New York Times}} In June, the bill was nearly doomed following a procedural vote that forced Senate leaders to work toward modifying its provisions. Thurmond proposed that his fellow senators accept portions of the bill that the Senate had already passed including provisions expanding the number of federal crimes for which the death penalty could apply from 23 to 30 and restrictions on the number of appeals a condemned inmate may file in Federal courts, and the ban on the sale and manufacture of nine types of semiautomatic weapons. Thurmond additionally called for the Senate to oversee a limited number of amendments on outstanding issues in the crime package like the proposal to allow evidence gathered with an improper warrant to be used in trials and the Department of Justice being reorganized.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/08/us/senate-s-leaders-move-to-salvage-crime-measure.html|title=Senate's Leaders Move to Salvage Crime Measure|date=June 8, 1990|newspaper=The New York Times}} In 1992, the Senate voted on an anti-crime bill, Thurmond predicting that it would not pass due to what he considered its lack of strength: "This weak bill expands the rights of criminals. It is a fraud. It is a sham." He stated that President Bush had told him in advance of his intent to veto the bill if it passed.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/03/19/Senate-refuses-to-kill-anti-crime-bill-filibuster/1767700981200/|title=Senate refuses to kill anti-crime bill filibuster|first=Steve|last=Gerstel|date=March 19, 1992|publisher=UPI}}

In March 1990, Thurmond endorsed reducing the number of ways applicants to jobs needed to submit to verify they were legal citizens, as various forms were required to be submitted by all applicants under the Immigration Reform and Control Act.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/31/us/simpler-plan-sought-in-congress-to-identify-all-eligible-for-work.html|title=Simpler Plan Sought in Congress To Identify All Eligible for Work|date=March 31, 1990|newspaper=The New York Times}}

Thurmond joined the minority of Republicans who voted for the Brady Bill for gun control in 1993. He voted against the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 1994.

Thurmond stumped for President Bush during the 1992 South Carolina Republican primary.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/03/07/South-Carolina-momentum-propels-Bush-Clinton/8655699944400/|title=South Carolina momentum propels Bush, Clinton|date=March 7, 1992|publisher=UPI}}

In early 1992, Thurmond stated his intent to become the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, replacing John Warner. He traced his ambitions for the post to an interest in maintaining a strong defense as well as welfare for "the men and women who serve our nation so well."{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/05/03/South-Carolina-delegation-seeks-military-influence/9444704865600/|title=South Carolina delegation seeks military influence|date=May 3, 1992|publisher=UPI}} In October 1992, Hollings stated that Thurmond would learn, in the event of his retirement, that he did not have "a home, a hometown, and would quickly discover he doesn't have any real friends." The comment caused Representative Tommy Hartnett to rebuke Hollings, demanding that he apologize for insulting Thurmond.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/30/us/the-1992-campaign-senate-race-a-bitter-rivalry-in-south-carolina.html|title=THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: Senate Race; A BITTER RIVALRY IN SOUTH CAROLINA|date=October 30, 1992|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In June 1993, after the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission voted to close the Navy base and naval shipyard in Charleston, South Carolina, Thurmond said the decision was "probably the worst disaster that's happened to Charleston in my lifetime", citing that the people of Charleston had stood by the Navy more than any others in the world, and called the decision worse than Hurricane Hugo.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-06-26-mn-7395-story.html|title=Long Beach Navy Shipyard Spared : Military: Base closing panel saves Sacramento's McClellan, but cuts three Bay Area facilities. Local workers cheer, but 4–3 vote may mean bad news in two years.|date=June 26, 1993|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first=James|last=Bornemeier|access-date=October 14, 2018}}

In June 1993, President Clinton nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg for Associate Justice to replace the retiring Byron White. Thurmond had been the only member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to vote against Ginsburg in 1980, prior to her confirmation as Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Thurmond listed concerns about Ginsburg as it pertained to her views on abortion and the death penalty, though he voted to support her, calling Ginsburg "a person of integrity".{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/07/29/Ginsburg-unanimously-approved-by-Senate-panel/9435743918400/|title=Ginsburg unanimously approved by Senate panel|date=July 29, 1993|publisher=UPI|first=Michael|last=Kirkland}}

{{main|United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1990}}

Thurmond launched his campaign for an eighth term on February 12, 1990, citing that he had never before felt "a stronger obligation to continue my work for the future of our state and our nation."{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/02/12/Thurmond-announces-bid-for-seventh-term/1082634798800/|title=Thurmond announces bid for seventh term|date=February 12, 1990|publisher=UPI}} Thurmond, then age 87, billed himself as having the health of a man in his fifties. The South Carolina Democratic Party faced difficulty recruiting a candidate which they believed had a chance of defeating Thurmond.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/02/11/Fiddle-fit-Thurmond-going-after-another-term/9968634712400/|title=Fiddle-fit Thurmond going after another term|publisher=UPI}}

In the general election, Thurmond defeated retired intelligence officer Bob Cunningham, who had been his Republican primary opponent in 1984. (Cunningham had switched parties in 1990.){{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/07/us/the-1990-elections-state-by-state-south.html|title=The 1990 Elections: State By State; South|date=November 7, 1990|newspaper=The New York Times}}

{{see|Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination}}

President George H. W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas for Associate Justice on the Supreme Court to replace the retiring Thurgood Marshall. In a visit with Thurmond, Thomas stated that he had been fortunate as a result of the Civil Rights Movement assisting him in getting out of poverty, a departure from his previous position of African-Americans achieving success through hard work and individual initiative. The New York Times observed, "Judge Thomas's remarks in Mr. Thurmond's office were not in response to reporters' specific questions and were clearly intended to rebut critics, including some by members of civil rights organizations, who say he should not be confirmed because of his vociferous opposition to affirmative action and racial quotas in hiring."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/10/us/court-nominee-gives-credit-to-civil-rights-movement.html|title=Court Nominee Gives Credit To Civil Rights Movement|date=July 10, 1991|newspaper=The New York Times}} In September, as Thomas appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Thurmond interrupted a line of questioning by Howard Metzenbaum to defend Thomas against a complaint that Thomas had answered questions about cases except for abortion, with the assumption that it would harm his nomination's appeal to supporters of Roe v. Wade.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/12/us/the-thomas-hearings-thomas-undergoes-tough-questioning-on-past-remarks.html?mtrref=www.nytimes.com&gwh=DEA24C7A03E5803D59F8E76F62688902&gwt=pay|title=THOMAS UNDERGOES TOUGH QUESTIONING ON PAST REMARKS|date=September 11, 1991|newspaper=The New York Times}} Thurmond voted for Thomas's confirmation, and the latter was confirmed by the Senate in October 1991.

Following the 1994 Republican Revolution, in which the Republican Party gained eight seats in the Senate and gained a majority in both chambers, Senator Bob Dole stated that Thurmond would head the Armed Services Committee.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/10/us/1994-elections-congress-overview-gop-celebrates-its-sweep-power-clinton-vows.html|title=THE 1994 ELECTIONS: CONGRESS THE OVERVIEW; G.O.P. CELEBRATES ITS SWEEP TO POWER; CLINTON VOWS TO FIND COMMON GROUND|date=November 10, 1994|newspaper=The New York Times}} In December, after President Clinton's announcement that he would seek a $25 billion increase in defense spending over the following six years, Thurmond called it a correct move but one which validated claims that the president had hastily cut the Pentagon budget.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/12/01/Thurmond-praises-criticizes-Clinton/6339786258000/ph|title=Thurmond praises, criticizes Clinton|date=December 1, 1994|publisher=UPI}}

In February 1995, during an interview, Thurmond stated that he had survived "a little power play" orchestrated by fellow Republicans, enabling him to continue serving as Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/08/us/power-play-failed-thurmond-says.html|title='Power Play' Failed, Thurmond Says|date=February 8, 1995|newspaper=The New York Times}} At the end of June, when the Senate Armed Services Committee unveiled a bill that would eliminate funding proposed by the House in its version of the 1996 National Defense Authorization Act while purchasing parts and continuing production of B-2 bombers, Thurmond called it an effort to "achieve the appropriate balance of readiness, modernization and quality of life program."{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/06/30/Senate-panel-unveils-defense-bill/8169804484800/|title=Senate panel unveils defense bill|date=June 30, 1995|publisher=UPI}} In late 1995, Thurmond joined a bipartisan coalition of politicians in supporting a petition intending "to loosen the rules governing the prescription drug methylphenidate".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/21/opinion/reading-writing-and-ritalin.html|first=John|last=Merrow|title=Reading, Writing and Ritalin|date=October 21, 1995|newspaper=The New York Times}} Thurmond attended the December 1995 funeral of South Carolina state senator Marshall Williams.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19951231&id=R4pOAAAAIBAJ&pg=2673,5634589|title=Thurmond leads senator's funeral|newspaper=Star-News|date=December 31, 1995}}

On December 5, 1996, Thurmond became the oldest serving member of the U.S. Senate, and on May 25, 1997, the longest-serving member (41 years and 10 months), casting his 15,000th vote in September 1998.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-sep-03-mn-19126-story.html|title=Senate Honors Thurmond, 95, for Casting His 15,000th Vote|date=September 3, 1998|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} In the following month, when astronaut and fellow Senator John Glenn was to embark on the Discovery at age 77, Thurmond, who was his senior by 19 years, reportedly sent him a message saying; "I want to go too."National Geographic, June 1999 edition, p.80

On October 17, 1998, President Bill Clinton signed the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 into law, an authorization of "appropriations for military activities of the Department of Defense, military construction, and defense activities of the Department of Energy." Clinton stated that the bill being named after Thurmond was a "well-deserved and appropriate tribute" due to his thirty-six years in the U.S. Army Reserve and his primary focus in the Senate being on U.S. national defense.{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=55105|title=Statement on Signing the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999|date=October 17, 1998|first=Bill|last=Clinton|author-link=Bill Clinton|publisher=American Presidency Project}}

Toward the end of Thurmond's Senate career, critics suggested his mental abilities had declined. His supporters argued that, while he lacked physical stamina due to his age, mentally he remained aware and attentive, and maintained a very active work schedule, showing up for every floor vote. He stepped down as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee at the beginning of 1999, as he had pledged to do in late 1997.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-05-mn-60950-story.html|title=Sen. Thurmond to Quit Armed Services Post|date=December 5, 1997|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}

{{main|1996 United States Senate election in South Carolina}}

File:Strom Thurmond.jpg

Thurmond received primary opposition from Harold G. Worley and Charlie Thompson. Throughout his 1996 campaign, the question of age appeared again, given that he was 93 years old at the time, with Thurmond even remarking that the issue was the only one expressed by members of the press.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1996/04/08/the-100-year-old-senator/d35cb667-e382-4097-9c81-402a6a469d40/|title=THE 100-YEAR-OLD SENATOR?|first=Lloyd|last=Grove|date=April 8, 1996|newspaper=Washington Post}} Kevin Sack observed, "As Mr. Thurmond campaigns for history, polls show that the vast majority of South Carolinians believe it is far past time for him to retire."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/24/us/thurmond-s-robust-legend-shields-him-at-93.html|title=Thurmond's Robust Legend Shields Him at 93|date=October 24, 1996|newspaper=The New York Times}} Worley stated that the issue of age should be dealt with in the primary as opposed to the general election, encouraging Thurmond to be dropped as the seat's continuous nominee.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9605/09/thurmond/index.shtml|title=South Carolina's Thurmond Still Running At 93|first=Bruce|last=Morton|work=CNN}}

In the general election, Thurmond received 53.4 percent of the vote to the 44 percent of Democrat Elliott Springs Close.

In February 1999, Thurmond introduced legislation barring health messages on wine bottles, the measure intended to reverse what he called "erroneous and irresponsible" action of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The legislation transferred authority over labeling to the Department of Health and Human Services from the Treasury Department and increased taxes on wine. Thurmond admitted that he did not usually "favor increased taxes" but maintained that "the only way in which we will be able to finance adequate, impartial and trustworthy research into alcohol-induced diseases such as hypertension, breast cancer and birth defects is to generate a new revenue flow that will be used specifically for investigating such killers."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/23/us/bill-would-bar-health-referral-on-wine-label.html|title=Bill Would Bar Health Referral On Wine Label|first=David|last=Stout|date=February 23, 1999|newspaper=The New York Times}} On May 26, 1999, the Senate voted on an amendment to a spending bill exonerating Husband E. Kimmel and Walter C. Short of charges of failing to anticipate the attack on Pearl Harbor that led to American involvement in World War II. Thurmond was noted as one of five Senate members to have been a World War II veteran and back the measure and called Kimmel and Short "the last victims" of Pearl Harbor.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/26/us/senate-clears-2-pearl-harbor-scapegoats.html|title=Senate Clears 2 Pearl Harbor 'Scapegoats'|date=May 26, 1999|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Philip|last=Shenon|access-date=May 1, 2018}} In August, Thurmond underwent surgery for an enlarged prostate. In September, Thurmond was admitted to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center for tests, his press secretary John DeCrosta saying in a statement that doctors were interested in the source of Thurmond's fatigue and giving him evaluations.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/13/us/national-news-briefs-thurmond-hospitalized-for-more-tests.html|title=National News Briefs; Thurmond Hospitalized For More Tests|date=September 13, 1999|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In October 2000, Thurmond collapsed while lunching with a staff member and an acquaintance at a restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia and was admitted to Walter Reed; his spokeswoman Genevieve Erny stated that the collapse was found to have been unrelated to previous illnesses.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/01/us/strom-thurmond-in-hospital-after-collapse.html|title=Strom Thurmond in Hospital After Collapse|date=October 1, 2000|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In January 2001, Thurmond endorsed his son Strom Thurmond Jr. for federal prosecutor in South Carolina in a recommendation to the Senate.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/24/us/national-news-briefs-thurmond-recommends-son-for-us-attorney.html|title=National News Briefs; Thurmond Recommends Son for U.S. Attorney|date=January 24, 2001|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In March, Thurmond voted for an amendment to the campaign finance reform bill of John McCain and Russ Feingold. Thurmond had initially opposed the measure and changed his vote at the last minute.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/27/us/senate-extends-restrictions-on-advertising.html|title=Senate Extends Restrictions on Advertising|first=Alison|last=Mitchell|date=March 27, 2001|newspaper=The New York Times}} On the morning of October 2, Thurmond was admitted to Walter Reed after fainting at his Senate desk. He was accompanied in the ambulance by fellow Republican and retired heart transplant surgeon Bill Frist.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101930604/|title=Ailing Strom Thurmond Faints in Senate Chamber|date=October 3, 2001|newspaper=Asheville Citizen-Times}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/03/us/thurmond-taken-to-hospital-after-fainting.html|title=Thurmond Taken to Hospital After Fainting|date=October 3, 2001|newspaper=The New York Times}} Declining to seek re-election in 2002, he was succeeded by then-Representative and fellow Republican Lindsey Graham.

{{external media| float = right| video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?174100-1/senator-thurmond-100th-birthday Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party, held at the Dirksen Senate office building, December 5, 2002], C-SPAN| video2 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?174377-1/strom-thurmonds-political-memorabilia Tour of Thurmond's Senate office prior to his retirement, December 19, 2002], C-SPAN}}

Thurmond left the Senate in January 2003 as the United States' longest-serving senator, a record later surpassed by Senator Byrd. In his November farewell speech in the Senate, Thurmond told his colleagues "I love all of you, especially your wives," the latter being a reference to his flirtatious nature with younger women. At his 100th birthday and retirement celebration in December, Thurmond said, "I don't know how to thank you. You're wonderful people, I appreciate you, appreciate what you've done for me, and may God allow you to live a long time."{{cite news| url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/12/05/thurmond.birthday/index.html |work=CNN|title=Thurmond marks 100th birthday |date=December 5, 2002}}

Thurmond's 100th birthday was celebrated on December 5, 2002. Some remarks made by Mississippi Senator Trent Lott during the event were considered racially insensitive: "When Strom Thurmond ran for president, Mississippi 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 the years, either." Fifteen days later, on December 20, Lott resigned as the Senate Republican leader effective on January 3, 2003, the beginning of the next congressional session.{{cite book|title=Wrong on Race: The Democratic Party's Buried Past|first=Bruce|last= Bartlett|page=182|year=2008|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0230600621}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book|last1=Bass |first1=Jack |author-link=Jack Bass |url=https://archive.org/details/olstromunauthori00bass/mode/2up |title=Ol' Strom |last2=Thompson |first2=Marilyn W. |author2-link=Marilyn W. Thompson |publisher=Longstreet |year=1998 |isbn=9781563525230 |lccn=98066360|ol=392148M |access-date=August 8, 2021 |url-access=registration}}
• {{Cite book|last=Cohodas|first=Nadine|url=https://archive.org/details/stromthurmondpol00coho/page/25/mode/2up|title=Strom Thurmond and The Politics of Southern Change|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=1993|isbn=9780671689353|lccn=92032417|ol=1728173M|access-date=August 8, 2021|url-access=registration}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thurmond, United States Senate career of Strom}}

Senate career

Category:Tenures in U.S. Senate by individual

Category:1956 beginnings

Category:2003 endings