Strom Thurmond

James Strom Thurmond (December 5, 1902 – June 26, 2003) represented South Carolina in the United States Senate from 1954 to April 1956 and November 1956 to 1964 as a Democrat and from 1964 to 2003 as a Republican. He served as Senator through his 90s, and left office at age 100, as the longest-serving senator ever.

Political timeline

• Governor of South Carolina (1947-1951)
• States Rights Democratic presidential candidate (1948)
• Eight-term Senator of South Carolina, USA (December 1954-April 1956 and November 1956-January 2003)
• Democrat (1954-April 1956 and November 1956-September 1964)
• Republican (September 1964-January 2003)
• President pro tempore (1981-1987; 1995-January 3, 2001; January 20, 2001-June 6, 2001)
• Set record for the longest Congressional filibuster (1957)
• Set record for oldest serving member at 94 years (1997)
• Set record for longest tenure in the Senate at 43 years (1997)
• Became the only senator ever to serve at the age of 100