Herding Cats, by Trent Lott: on Civil Rights

Trent Lott: 1962: Turned away racist groups at Ole Miss

I climbed the political ladder at Ole Miss according to a rough plan that built on my status as a cheerleader, my offices as Sigma Nu commander, and president of the Inter-fraternity Council. In 1962, I ran for student body president.

[When I became the frontrunner], a right-wing organization known as the Rebel Underground Network wanted in.

Ole Miss was segregated at the time, and the Rebels wanted to keep it that way. The Rebels published a newspaper filled with crude calls for white supremacy. [They offered a deal]: "You pick a small number of our members for your student body cabinet, and we'll leave you alone. If you don't agree, we'll put out a special edition carrying a front-page headline giving you our unconditional endorsement." I answered, "Go ahead. I'm not making any deal with you or anyone else."

They indeed flooded the dorm rooms, with their leaflet with the headline, "The Troopers are supporting Trent Lott because Trent Lott IS a Trooper." I lost the election by 60 votes

Source: Herding Cats, by Trent Lott, p. 29-33 Aug 29, 2006

The above quotations are from Herding Cats A Life in Politics, by Sen. Trent Lott. Click here for definitions & background information on Civil Rights. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Trent Lott on Civil Rights. Click here for more quotes by Bill Clinton on Civil Rights.
*Candidates and political leaders on Civil Rights:*
*Incoming Obama Administration:* Pres.:Sen.Barack Obama V.P.:Sen.Joe Biden State:Hillary Clinton HHS:Tom Daschle Staff:Rahm Emanuel Treas.:Tim Geithner DoD:Robert Gates A.G.:Eric Holder DHS:Janet Napolitano DoC:Bill Richardson	*Outgoing Bush Administration:* Pres.:George Bush V.P.:Dick Cheney A.G.:John Ashcroft(2005) DEA:Asa Hutchinson(2005) USDA:Mike Johanns(2007) EPA:Mike Leavitt HUD:Mel Martinez(2003) State:Colin Powell(2005) State:Condoleezza Rice HHS:Tommy Thompson(2005)	*2008 Presidential contenders:* AIP: Frank McEnulty Constitution: Chuck Baldwin GOP: Sen.John McCain GOP VP: Gov.Sarah Palin Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney Independent: Ralph Nader Liberation: Gloria La Riva Libertarian: Rep.Bob Barr NAIP: Amb.Alan Keyes Socialist: Brian Moore
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org! Click for details -- or send donations to: 1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140 E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org (We rely on your support!)