(born Sept. 27, 1896, Morganton, N.C., U.S.—died April 23, 1985, Winston-Salem, N.C.) U.S. senator (1954–74). He served on the Supreme Court of North Carolina (1948–54) before being appointed to a vacant U.S.
Senate seat. An eloquent expert on the Constitution, he sat on the Senate committee that censured Sen. Joseph McCarthy, and he helped investigate labour racketeering. In the 1960s he led Southern filibusters against civil-rights legislation while simultaneously acting as a champion of civil liberties. As chairman of the special committee investigating the Watergate scandal, he became something of a folk hero for his unceasing pursuit of evidence in the face of White House claims of executive privilege. His earthy humour, distinctive accent, and unfailing charm contributed to his popularity.
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