Strom Thurmond

Strom Thurmond c. 1997, photo by US Gov, PD-USGov

Birth Name: James Strom Thurmond

Date of Birth: December 5, 1902

Place of Birth: Edgefield, South Carolina, U.S.

Date of Death: June 26, 2003

Place of Death: Edgefield, South Carolina, U.S.

Ethnicity: German, English

Strom Thurmond was an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party from 1946 to 1964, and the Republican Party from 1964 to 2003, his death. He was also a Dixiecrat in 1948. He was Governor of South Carolina, from January 21, 1947 to January 16, 1951, a U.S. Senator from South Carolina, from December 24, 1954 to April 4, 1956, and again from November 7, 1956 to January 3, 2003, President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, from January 3, 1981 to January 3, 1987, January 3, 1995 to January 3, 2001, and January 20, 2001 to June 6, 2001, and President pro tempore emeritus of the U.S. Senate, from June 6, 2001 to January 3, 2003.

He was the States’ Rights Democratic Party (Dixiecrat) nominee for President of the United States in 1948. The party was a segregationist political party that was both founded and dissolved in 1948, winning 4 states in that year’s presidential election.

Strom was the son of Eleanor Gertrude (Strom) and John William Thurmond. He was married to Jean Crouch and Nancy Moore. Among his five children is politician Paul Thurmond, with Nancy, as well as Essie Mae Washington-Williams, a teacher and author. Strom fathered Essie with his family’s African-American maid, Carrie Butler.

Strom was a cousin of Herman Talmadge, who was a U.S. Senator from Georgia and Governor of Georgia.

Strom’s paternal grandfather was George Washington Thurmond (the son of John Thurmond and Elinor Delaughter). George was born in South Carolina.

Strom’s paternal grandmother was named Mary Jane Felter. Mary Jane was born in South Carolina.

Strom’s maternal grandfather was James Harrison Strom (the son of Samuel C. Strom). James was born in South Carolina. Samuel was the son of William Strom.

Strom’s maternal grandmother was Martha Evelyn Reynolds (the daughter of Lewis Reynolds and Strother J. Morris). Martha was born in South Carolina. Lewis was the son of William Lewis Reynolds and Martha.

Source: Genealogy of Strom Thurmond – https://www.geni.com