Strom Thurmond’s 48 presidential run was defined by segregation, and despite his decades of later , he never overcame his reputation as a Southern reactionary.
This reputation was undeserved. The South Carolinian truckled to the civil rights revolution and stopped defending white interests. Though he never apologized for supporting segregation, it was because he thought he didn’t have to. His actions were more important than words. He also wasn’t strongly committed to his positions; he was a politician who adapted to new conditions. Like many Southern leaders, Thurmond “evolved” away from protecting white interests.
[amren.com]