Strom Thurmond was born on Dec. 5, 1902

    Thomas Edison took the witness stand to defend his company's right to sell his patented phonograph.

    The Senate Committee of Territories began negotiating a bill to add the state of Oklahoma to the Union.

    The Vatican reported considerations to canonize Joan of Arc.

Also in 1902...

    Theodore Roosevelt was president.

    Edward VII was King of England.

    Miles McSweeney (D) was governor of South Carolina.

    The first teddy bear with movable arms, legs and head introduced.

    Rayon was patented.

    The State reported that "white caps on horseback administered heroic treatment" by whipping a white woman and a black man for living together, and demanding they leave town within 10 days.

    An Acme Royal Top buggy sold for $54.90.

Strom Thurmond's political career spans seven decades, long enough to leave a long paper trail of quotes. Here are some you may have missed.

    "I would not have written him if I knew he was a Negro. Of course, it would have been ridiculous to have invited him."

    On his invitation to Gov. William H. Hastie (Virgin Islands) to be his guest at the Governor's Mansion, 1949

    "Sooner or later, [the United States] is going to have to get out of the United Nations. These small countries will out-vote us, and we will no longer be able to prevail."

    On the entry of many small African nations into the UN, 1961

    "Apathy" and "Indifference"

    Arguing against the Voting Rights Act, Thurmond explains low African-American voter turnout in the South, 1965

    "Put on a train and sent to the front lines."

    Suggesting what to do with Vietnam war protesters, 1965

    "Some laugh, and some hiss and boo. I don't think there is any doubt about it. There is a conspiracy to disrupt colleges."

    On student behavior toward invited speakers, 1969

    "I don't know how I got such a reputation as a segregationist. I think my position was just misunderstood A person can't help the color God made him." 1974

    "She's a very smart girl."

    Describing his 28-year-old wife Nancy, 1975

    "Kooks."

    Describing anti-nuclear demonstrators, 1982

    "Cleanest, cheapest, safest."

    On energy provided by Westinghouse Nuclear Power Plant, 1982

    Wrinkles and the double chin

    What Thurmond requested the sculptor remove from a statue constructed in his honor, 1983

    "Why shouldn't I run? I'm in good health, physically and, I hope, mentally."

    Response to the ever-asked electoral question, 1983

    "I have done more for black people than any other person in the nation, North or South." 1988

    Factoids unearthed by Jill Carroll