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Strom Thurmond
Relic of the past overstayed his welcome
By Julian Bond

What would you say about a man who once ran for president on a platform promising to end "social intermingling of the races"?

Or who wrote a manifesto declaring a Supreme Court school integration decision didn't have to be obeyed? Or who served in office for nearly 30 years before voting for a civil rights bill?

And who has yet to say "I'm sorry" for years and years of forceful opposition to granting equality to all Americans?

His unabashed colleagues give him nothing but praise.

"He's a man of iron with a heart of gold," gushed Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.).

"He is not only a great man, he's done great things in his life," lauded Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

"He's not just a witness to the entire 20th century, he was a full participant," enthused Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.).

The "great things" from the "heart of gold" don't include any landmark legislation authored by retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.). Nor did it include ensuring all Americans were "full participants." Instead, Thurmond's sole legacy is durability and opposition to civil rights.

Today, his 100th birthday, Thurmond became the oldest U.S. senator. He is also the longest serving senator. His last vote was cast in favor of confirming a long-time aide opposed by civil rights groups to a federal appeals court judgeship.

In the encomiums heaped upon him as he was guided into the Senate for the last time, his colleagues recalled how he'd been the first Southern senator to hire a black aide.