Strom Thurmond holds the record for the longest filibuster in Senate history, over 24 hours, in opposition to civil rights legislation. His past (CNN report) is filled with positions on both sides of minority rights.

New information has come out about his youth. As a 22 year old, living in his parents’ house, he had a child with a 16 year old African American maid. The girl was spirited away to live with an aunt, and didn’t meet Thurmond until she was 16.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/12/15/thurmond..paternity/index.html