
In 1948, after Harry S Truman had desegregated the United States Army, Strom Thurmond became a candidate for President of the United States on the third party ticket of the Dixiecrat Party, which had split from the Democrats over the issue of segregation. Thurmond carried four states and received 39 electoral votes. His primary campaign platform was the perpetuation of segregation. In this 1948 campaign speech, Thurmond speaks strongly against desegregation, claiming "there's not enough troops in the army to force the Southern people to break down segregation and admit the Negro [or 'nigra'] race into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes, and into our churches." Thurmond went on to serve in the United States Senate for 49 years, never publicly renouncing segregation.
racism
history
1948
civilrights
segregation
usa
politics
stromthurmond
tranquileyedotnet