“I’m Onboard. It’s About Time.” Senator Support Turns the Tide for Jefferson Davis
There are moments in life when the weight of history and the hope for justice collide in the most unexpected places. For me, one of those moments came as I sat across from Senator Strom Thurmond—one of the most senior and powerful members of the U.S. Senate—determined to fulfill a promise made to my grandmother: to restore the citizenship of our ancestor, Jefferson Davis.
Thanks to a personal introduction from Senator James Eastland, I had the chance to speak directly with Senator Thurmond. He was the longtime chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and I knew that his support could make or break our chances of success.
I looked him in the eye and said, “I’m the great-great-grandson of Jefferson Davis, and I want to get his citizenship restored.” I explained that Senators Hatfield, Cranston, and Lott were already backing the bill, and that Senator Hatfield had agreed to lead it in the Senate.
Senator Thurmond didn’t hesitate.
“I’m onboard. It’s about time. We just did Lee’s; we’ll take care of Jeff.”
That moment—his immediate, wholehearted support—was a turning point. With Thurmond and Hatfield on our side, what once felt like an impossible dream began to feel within reach.
Lining Up the Final Pieces
Next, I turned to Senator Alan Cranston of California. He had already offered quiet encouragement during our earlier phone call. But now the stakes were higher—and so was his influence, as he was poised to become the Senate Whip.
“Senator,” I said, “I’d like your support in the background to help move this citizenship bill for my great-great-grandfather forward.”
He didn’t need convincing.
Cranston’s response was calm but firm: he would support the process and keep me informed. That promise—just a few words—carried immense weight. It meant that not only did I have champions on both sides of the aisle, but I also had a trusted ally to help shepherd the bill through the complex, and often treacherous, political process.
A Legacy of Hope and Healing
Each of these conversations—Thurmond, Hatfield, Cranston, Lott—represented more than political strategy. They were steps toward healing a deep wound in American history. For decades, Jefferson Davis had remained the only person exiled by name in the U.S. Constitution. Restoring his citizenship wasn’t just a symbolic gesture—it was a statement about reconciliation, understanding, and the power of persistence.
For me, it was also personal. A pinky promise made to my grandmother had grown into a national legislative effort. And now, that effort had the attention and backing of some of the most powerful voices in Congress.
Read or Listen to the Full Story—Free
What came next—including how I navigated the final phases of the bill and what happened when President Jimmy Carter signed it into law—is something I’d love to share with you.
Click the orange button below to read or listen to The True Story of Jefferson Davis’s Citizenship Restoration.
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Because this story isn’t just about the past—it’s about family, legacy, and how one voice can make a difference.
—Dr. Howard Edward Haller