Southern Strategy Exceptions

Noteworthy exceptions include the following:


 * James Strom Thurmond Jr. and Paul Thurmond: The sons of U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond both went on to become Republican politicians. James Strom Thurmond Jr. was the South Carolina Circuit Solicitor for the 2nd district of South Carolina in 2009 and U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina from 2001-05. Paul Thurmond was a member of the South Carolina State Senate from 2013 to 2017. Although Thurmond was a Democrat U.S. Senator who voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act, he may have changed politically after his mixed-race daughter, Essie-Mae Williams, brought up concerns about his pro-segregation politics. Thurmond paid for his daughter, who was half-African American, to attend college and financially supported her afterwards as well. Following their discussions, Thurmond nominated an African-American Judge, Matthew J. Perry (who his daughter subsequently dated), to the U.S. Court of Military Appeals, becoming the first Southern Senator to nominate an African-American to a federal judgeship.