A Daughter Lays Down a Burden of the Past

Re “A 62-Year-Old Secret: ‘Strom Thurmond Was My Father,’ ” Commentary, Dec. 17: I found Essie Mae Washington Williams’ account of her relationship with her father, the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), breathtakingly principled in a world run, it often seems, on the crassest and most grasping basis. Her plain-spoken, cleareyed statement offers a simple lesson for us all, as well as a complex understanding of history -- her own and our country’s.

Williams’ account of her reasons for both keeping quiet and now coming forward is sweet beyond measure and offers an example of the power and quiet dignity of everyday life. It brought me to tears. One hopes the reporters harassing her have decamped. The only thing sensational about this story is Williams herself.

Ann Colburn

Los Angeles

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I understand Williams’ point that had Thurmond been exposed as the hypocrite he was, he would have been replaced by another Dixiecrat or right-wing segregationist. But that doesn’t negate the fact that this buffoon was extolling the virtues of segregation in the movie theaters, boardrooms and on public transportation while exempting -- evidently -- the bedroom. (Let’s not forget that a 16-year-old cannot consent.)

I could never begin to comprehend the conflicts Williams must have held about Thurmond all these years. But the zeal with which he blocked civil rights legislation is shameful and is a 20th century embarrassment to the U.S. Senate, the people of South Carolina and the voters who returned this clown back to that august chamber, term after term.

David Perez

Irvine

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Williams is entitled to live her own life as she wishes. She is to be commended for having done it well, including having successfully raised her children after being widowed. Congratulations, Ms. Washington Williams. We should all have done so well under difficult circumstances.

Neil McClaflin

Los Angeles