I fully recognize and appreciate the many substantial contributions of black Americans and other minorities to the creation and preservation and development of our great nation.

He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party (Dixiecrat) candidate receiving 2. He always insisted he had never been a racist but was opposed to excessive federal authority. In the 1960s he opposed the civil rights legislation of 1964 and 1965 to end segregation and enforce the voting rights of African-American citizens; Thurmond was the only Republican along with 16 Democratic senators to vote against taking up the 1964 bill.