Chatterbox

Blurted Out Conviction of the Week: Trent Lott

What’s a little segregationism among friends?

“I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had of followed our lead we wouldn’t have had all these problems over all these years, either.”

—Trent Lott at Strom Thurmond’s 100th birthday party, as reported Dec. 6 in ABC News’ political Weblog, The Note. To watch a video of the festivities, click here.

“I want to tell you, ladies and gentleman, that there’s not enough troops in the army to force the southern people to break down segregation and admit the Nigra race into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes, and into our churches.”

 Strom Thurmond, then-governor of  South Carolina, in a speech from his 1948 “Dixiecrat” presidential campaign. To hear an audio clip, click here.