Senator Sam Ervin, Last of the Founding Fathers

by Karl E. Campbell

Many Americans remember Senator Sam Ervin (1896-1985) as the affable, Bible-quoting, old country lawyer who chaired the Senate Watergate hearings in 1973. Yet for most of his 20 years in the Senate, Ervin was Jim Crow's most talented legal defender as the South's constitutional expert during the congressional debates on civil rights. The paradox of the senator's opposition to civil rights and defense of civil liberties lies at the heart of this biography of Sam Ervin. Karl Campbell illuminates the character of the man and the historical forces that shaped him. The senator's distrust of centralized power, Campbell argues, helps explain his ironic reputation as a foe of civil rights and a champion of civil liberties.

Genres: Biography, American History, History

425 pages, Hardcover

First published November 5, 2007

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the biography of Senator Sam Ervin most interesting considering the similar problems we face today. I remembered Senator Ervin from the Watergate hearings but knew little about him except he was a southern democrat against civil rights. I learned from this book that I can thank him for his long fight for individual rights to privacy both related to job applications and to police searches. He also led the fight for limiting consolidating power in one area of government which led to his battles with Nixon and the Army surveillance of American citizens. If I had read this book two decade ago, I would not have learned how Senator Ervin’s battles in the past relate to the current times. It is interesting how looking at information from different viewpoints we can learn so much more. I can remember my great-grandmother say don’t wear blinders you are not a horse.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is fourteen hours and fifty-four minutes. David Stampone does a good job narrating the book.

[Bill Sleeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A straightforward political biography. Well researched and well written. Author Karl Campbell does a fine job balancing the idea of Ervin as the "hero" of Watergate with the harsh reality of Senator Sam's racism and misogyny. As Campbell demonstrates the notion of Ervin as the last of the “Founding Fathers” has greater implications and is far more accurate, in a negative way, than when the phrase was first applied to the Senator’s career. The most compelling reason to read this book though is to see in historical fact just how much the Trump campaign and his administration’s behaviors so closely mirrored the steps and missteps of the Nixon years.

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a resident of North Carolina since 1981 I had often heard of the mystique of Senator Sam and his Watergate involvement. I knew about the earlier racist part of his career. I had long been looking for a balanced appraisal of his life. At the suggestion of the Morrison librarian I got this 2007 book about him. The author had access to the recently released Ervin papers. Though extensively researched it is a very readable book that does not get bogged down in details of Senate hearings or Watergate.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough bio of Sam Ervin. He was a very traditional Southerner who based most of his court arguments on the U.S. Constitution. He was very much opposed to legislation that sought to give civil rights to black people. On the other hand, he used to constitution to guide him in the Senate hearings on the Watergate affair.

[Owen Margolis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book about Senator Sam. The focus goes beyond the world's perception of him as the man leading the charge in running Nixon out of office via the Watergate hearings. It details a much more accurate description of him...warts and all.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting points here. And a picture of Fred Thompson with a full head of hair.