Strom Thurmond is a classical example of a "good old boy" from the south, has repeatedly voted against social reform and environmental protection, horribly pro-states rights, and ran for the presidential ticket during the sixties with his main goal of reinstating segregation against blacks.

He's also credited with turning the south from Democrat to Republican, through somehow convincing the poor whites that tax breaks for the rich benefit them.

I'm very political, BTW, and in retrospect that last comment was unfair, but I don't feel like deleting it.:fawk:

He does hold several congressional records. One is the longest service. Another two are "the longest filibuster to prevent the passing of a civil right bill" and "longest time in service by a Senator that passed no significant legislation".

Bah... I'll try not to incite anything here on HAN, but he was consistantly an impediement to social progess in the senate.