Thurmond's Family Says Woman Was His Daughter
Mon December 15, 2003 06:39 PM ET

MIAMI (Reuters) - The family of late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond released a statement on Monday acknowledging that the former segregationist was the father of a 78-year-old mixed-race woman.
Essie Mae Washington-Williams, a Los Angeles woman whose black mother worked as a maid in Thurmond's parents' home as a teen-ager, went public with her claim that Thurmond was her father in a report published by The Washington Post on Saturday.

The Thurmond family released a statement on Monday through attorney J. Mark Taylor, who represents the senator's estate.

"As J. Strom Thurmond has passed away and cannot speak for himself, the Thurmond family acknowledges Ms. Essie Mae Washington-Williams' claim to her heritage," the statement said. "We hope this acknowledgment will bring closure for Ms. Williams."

Thurmond, who served as a Republican senator from South Carolina for 48 years and died in June at age 100, had said late in life through his office that Williams was a friend.

Williams, a 78-year-old retired school teacher, told the Post that Thurmond privately acknowledged her as his daughter and has provided financial support since 1941. She said she had not disclosed her paternity because of their mutual "deep respect" and her fears that it would embarrass her and harm his political career.

At the time she was born, Thurmond was unmarried and living in his parents' home in Edgefield, South Carolina.

Thurmond was once a strong proponent of segregation, who started his political career as a Democrat and left the party in protest when Democratic President Harry Truman called for a strong civil rights plank in 1948. He later moderated his views and in the 1970s was one of the first southern senators to hire a black staff member.

David K

In my dreams, I slash your tires.

Ms. Williams was later to reply, "Closure? Closure? I'm 73 years old. You think I want closure? I want money! You motherfuckers owe me big time!"