I want to say this about my state. When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn’t have had all these problems over all these years either.

Meaning of the quote

This quote is from a politician named Trent Lott, who was defending his state's decision to vote for Strom Thurmond when he ran for president. Lott is saying that his state is proud of this decision, and if the rest of the country had done the same, they wouldn't have had as many problems over the years. This quote suggests that Lott supported Thurmond's presidential campaign, even though Thurmond had a history of supporting racial segregation, which was a controversial and harmful idea.

About Trent Lott

Trent Lott had a long and influential political career, serving as a U.S. Representative and Senator from Mississippi. He held various leadership positions, including Senate Majority Leader, before resigning in 2007 amid controversy. Lott later became a lobbyist and senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

More about the author

More quotes from Trent Lott

I want to say this about my state. When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn’t have had all these problems over all these years either.

Trent Lott

United States Senator from Mississippi

I’m not a fan of Secretary Rumsfeld. I don’t think he listens enough to his uniformed officers.

Trent Lott

United States Senator from Mississippi

We cannot forget the little things we take for granted in America that remain the disdain of dictators and terrorists throughout the world.

Trent Lott

United States Senator from Mississippi

Freedom is never easily won, but once established, freedom lasts, spreads and chokes out tyranny.

Trent Lott

United States Senator from Mississippi

Most Americans in both red and blue states reject and resent the message being sent by Hollywood and some in the media that values are subjective, to be defined by the individual and not by God.

Trent Lott

United States Senator from Mississippi

The highly motivated young people who comprise the backbone of our military force truly are taking their place as one of America’s greatest generations.

Trent Lott

United States Senator from Mississippi

A poor choice of words conveyed to some the impression that I embrace the discarded policies of the past. Nothing could be further from the truth, and I apologize to anyone who was offended by my statement.

Trent Lott

United States Senator from Mississippi

The vision of a nation formed from many different peoples bound together by a common love of freedom was staked out long before our lifetimes or even our parents’ or grandparents’ lifetimes.

Trent Lott

United States Senator from Mississippi

Racial discrimination does not always violate public policy.

Trent Lott

United States Senator from Mississippi

While it may take generations of nurturing, nations founded on and grounded in freedom will eventually overcome and prosper. Once free, folks rarely accept anything less, and that includes Iraqis.

Trent Lott

United States Senator from Mississippi

The platform we had in Dallas, the 1984 Republican platform, all the ideas we supported there – from tax policy, to foreign policy; from individual rights, to neighborhood security – are things that Jefferson Davis and his people believed in.

Trent Lott

United States Senator from Mississippi