Editing Strom Thurmond (section)

=== 1980s ===
In December 1979, Thurmond endorsed the presidential campaign of former [[Governor of Texas]] [[John Connally]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1979/12/27/sc-ex-gov-edwards-thurmond-back-connally/51b5157c-cd2e-43db-876a-1b223be1bbc9/|title=S.C. Ex-Gov. Edwards, Thurmond Back Connally|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=December 27, 1979}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/28/archives/thurmond-and-exgov-edwards-turn-to-connally.html|title=Thurmond and Ex-Gov. Edwards Turn to Connally|date=December 28, 1979|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> In an election cycle that also featured Reagan,<ref>{{cite web|title=Intent to Run for President |date=November 13, 1979 |url=http://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan/speeches/speech.asp?spid=4 |work=Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library |access-date=February 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124210257/http://reaganfoundation.org/reagan/speeches/speech.asp?spid=4 |archive-date=January 24, 2009 }}</ref> Thurmond chose to back Connally because he believed the latter's wide government experience would benefit the U.S. in both domestic and foreign matters.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reagan heavily favored in South Carolina|date=March 9, 1980|newspaper=Clarion-Ledger}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' noted Thurmond seeming "to cast himself for a role of regional leadership in the Connally campaign similar to the one he played in 1968" for the Nixon campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1979/12/28/connally-criticizes-president-for-inaction-policy-on-iran/f03f6b4f-a223-482f-9cce-f31111109723/|title=Connally Criticizes President For 'Inaction Policy' on Iran|date=December 28, 1979|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> After Connally lost the South Carolina primary to Reagan, he thanked Thurmond and his wife for doing more to support his campaign in the state than anyone else.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/03/09/reagan-crushes-connally-bush-in-sc/f68f2009-19a1-44e2-a4c5-7854187635a3/|title=Reagan Crushes Connally, Bush in S.C.|date=March 9, 1980|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> In August 1980, Thurmond gave a "tense cross examination" of President Carter's brother, [[Billy Carter]], who had come under scrutiny for his relationship with Libya and receiving funds from the country. The Billy Carter controversy also was favored by Democrats wishing to replace Carter as the party's nominee in the general election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/08/05/no-impropriety-in-billy-affair-carter-says-no-impropriety-committed-in-billy-affair-president-says/364efcf7-1271-4f8f-bea7-68fb7a2fe549/|title=No 'Impropriety' in Billy Affair, Carter Says, No 'Impropriety' Committed In Billy Affair, President Says|date=August 5, 1980|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Thurmond questioned Carter over his prior refusal to disclose the amount of funds he had received from public appearances after the 1976 Presidential election,<ref>{{cite news|title=Billy Claims $20,000 Not Gift From Libyans|date=August 22, 1980|publisher=Altoona Mirror}}</ref> and stated his skepticism with some of the points made.<ref>{{cite news|title= Billy: $20,000 was not Libyan gift|date=August 22, 1980|publisher=Ukiah Daily Journal}}</ref>

After Republicans won a majority in the [[United States Senate election, 1980|1980 Senate election]],<ref name="Democrats aim to regain">{{cite news |first=Nicolas |last=Ashford |title=Democrats aim to regain lost ground |work=[[The Times]] |page=10 |date=February 10, 1984 }}</ref> Thurmond pledged that he would seek a death penalty law,<ref>{{cite news|title=Thurmond returning to power as 'friend' of minority groups|date=November 7, 1980|publisher=Florida Today}}</ref> and stated his conviction that "the death penalty is a deterrent to crime" in an interview the following year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1981/04/26/the-four-men-strom-thurmond-sent-to-the-chair/61a15184-fd6a-40df-a6a8-932358d29ef5/|title=The Four Men Strom Thurmond Sent to the Chair|first=David I.|last=Bruck|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Following the presidential election, Thurmond and North Carolina senator [[Jesse Helms]] sponsored a Senate amendment to a [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] appropriations bill denying the department the power to participate in [[Desegregation busing in the United States|busing]], due to objections over federal involvement, but, although passed by Congress, was vetoed by a [[Lame duck (politics)|lame duck]] Carter.<ref>{{cite news |first=B. Drummond Jr. |last=Ayres |title=Civil Rights Groups Fear a Slowdown In Busing for Desegregation of Schools |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 21, 1980 |page=28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Wicker |author-link=Tom Wicker |title=Why Not The Best? |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 16, 1980 |page=E21 }}</ref> In December 1980, Thurmond met with President-elect Reagan and recommended former South Carolina governor [[James B. Edwards]] for [[United States Secretary of Energy]] in the incoming administration.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/12/16/Sen-Strom-Thurmond-R-SC-said-Tuesday-that-former-South/1735345790800/|title=Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., said Tuesday that former South...|date=December 16, 1980|publisher=UPI}}</ref> Reagan later named Edwards Energy Secretary, and the latter served in that position for over a year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/27/us/politics/james-b-edwards-a-long-shot-as-governor-of-south-carolina-dies-at-87.html|title=James B. Edwards, a Long-Shot as Governor of South Carolina, Dies at 87|first=Bruce|last=Weber|newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thestate.com/2014/12/26/3894147/former-gov-james-edwards-dies.html | title=Former Gov. James Edwards dies | work=[[The State (newspaper)|The State]] | date=December 26, 2014 | access-date=December 26, 2014 | author=Click, Carolyn | archive-date=December 29, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229011716/http://www.thestate.com/2014/12/26/3894147/former-gov-james-edwards-dies.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> In January 1981, after the Justice Department revealed it was carrying out a suit against [[Charleston County]] for school officials declining to propose a desegregation method for its public schools, Thurmond theorized the Justice Department's decision may have been due to South Carolina not supporting President Carter in the general election,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/09/us/us-to-sue-a-school-district-in-carolina-over-racial-bias.html|title=U.S. TO SUE A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CAROLINA OVER RACIAL BIAS|date=January 9, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> and stated his intent to have the incoming Reagan administration to look into the facts of the case before proceeding.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/11/us/around-the-nation-thurmond-to-ask-review-on-school-segregation-suit.html|title=Around the Nation; Thurmond to Ask Review On School Segregation Suit|date=January 11, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

[[File:Margaret Thatcher Strom Thurmond 1981.jpg|thumb|right|[[Margaret Thatcher]] and Thurmond at a state dinner in 1981]]
Thurmond became [[president pro tempore of the United States Senate]] in 1981, and was part of the U.S. delegation to the funeral of Egyptian President [[Anwar Sadat]], Thurmond being accompanied by Sadat's pen pal Sam Brown.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/10/08/President-Reagan-invited-three-former-presidents-to-the-White/1243371361600/|title=President Reagan invited three former presidents to the White...|date=October 8, 1981|publisher=UPI}}</ref> At the beginning of Reagan's term, Thurmond as the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the new president were seen as obstacles to any gun laws passing in the Senate. Thurmond publicly stated his belief that any measures introduced would be defeated in his committee.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Thurmond predicts gun control bill's defeat|date=February 1, 1981|newspaper=Poughkeepsie Journal}}</ref> After the March assassination attempt on President Reagan,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0103/30/lkl.00.html|title=Remembering the Assassination Attempt on Ronald Reagan|date=March 30, 2001|access-date=December 19, 2007|work=CNN|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219043617/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0103/30/lkl.00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WIFIAAAAIBAJ&pg=5701%2C5352489 | title=Reagan is shot | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | agency=Associated Press | date=March 31, 1981 | access-date=April 23, 2011 | author=Hunt, Terence | location=Washington DC | page=1}}</ref> Thurmond stated his support for legislation imposing a ban on the gun components on a seven-point anti-crime program.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/01/us/a-ban-on-gun-parts-is-urged-in-congress.html|title=A Ban on Gun Parts Is Urged in Congress|date=April 1, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> He indicated his backing would only be in favor of passing measures to restrict criminals accessing guns<ref>{{cite journal|title=Administration unlikely to drop opposition to handgun|journal=Stevens Point Journal|date=April 1, 1981}}</ref> and his announcement was seen as possibly indicating a change in the debate of regulations relating to firearms in the U.S.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/02/us/kennedy-set-to-compromise-to-obtain-gun-control-bill.html|title=Kennedy Set to Compromise to Obtain Gun Control Bill|date=April 2, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Thurmond also announced plans to hold hearings on the seven-point proposal intended to address the questions surrounding the Reagan assassination attempt.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/04/01/Senate-Judiciary-Committee-chairman-Strom-Thurmond-R-SC-said-Tuesday/4627354949200/|title=Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., said Tuesday...|date=April 1, 1981|publisher=UPI}}</ref>

Thurmond and Helms urged President Reagan to curb textile imports, with Thurmond saying later that year that the first four months of 1981 had seen a 16 percent increase in textile imports "over a similar period in 1980."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/06/04/Republican-Sens-Jesse-Helms-of-North-Carolina-and-Strom/7618360475200/ph|title=Republican Sens. Jesse Helms of North Carolina and Strom...|date=June 4, 1981|publisher=UPI}}</ref> President Reagan pledged in a letter to Thurmond to help South Carolina textile mills against their foreign competitors.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1984/04/01/reagan-is-the-real-king-of-special-interest-groups/5d0958ba-3df6-49a7-8988-3b7b0861f91d/|title=Reagan is the Real King Of Special Interest Groups|date=April 1, 1984|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> President Reagan stated his support for tightening control of textile imports,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/17/business/reagan-decides-to-tighten-controls-on-textile-imports.html|title=Reagan Decides to Tighten Controls on Textile Imports|date=December 17, 1983|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> and the following year, vetoed H.R. 1562.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/archives/speeches/1985/121785d.htm|title=Message to the House of Representatives Returning Without Approval the Textile and Apparel Industries Bill|date=December 17, 1985|first=Ronald|last=Reagan|author-link=Ronald Reagan|publisher=Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072456/https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/archives/speeches/1985/121785d.htm|archive-date=April 10, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Thurmond responded to the decision by stating that Reagan had heeded bad advice and added that the veto would produce "more layoffs, more plant shutdowns and more long-term economic damage to an industry that is crucial to this nation."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/12/18/President-Reagan-in-a-blow-to-the-import-battered-textile/6904503730000/|title=President Reagan, in a blow to the import-battered textile,...|date=December 18, 1985|publisher=UPI}}</ref> In late 1981, Thurmond presided over the hearings of [[Sandra Day O'Connor]], who President Reagan had nominated for associate justice.<ref>{{cite web|last1=U.S. National Archives|title=Reagan's Nomination of O'Connor|url=https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/oconnor.html|access-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/Audio/|title=News, Photos, Audio &#124; Archives - UPI.com|website=UPI}}</ref> Thurmond granted Alabama Senator [[Jeremiah Denton]] an hour of questioning of O'Connor, twice the time allotted for other members of the chamber.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/12/us/abortion-foes-assail-judge-o-connor.html|title=Abortion Foes Assail Judge O'connor|date=September 12, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Thurmond stated that O'Connor was "one of the choice nominees" for the Supreme Court that he had seen in all of his Senate career,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/16/us/panel-approves-judge-o-connor.html|title=Panel Approves Judge O'Connor|date=September 16, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> and she was confirmed by the Senate.<ref>{{cite web|title = Reagan's Nomination of O'Connor|url = https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/oconnor.html|publisher = archives.gov|access-date = November 7, 2015}}</ref> Also in 1981, Thurmond was one of the leaders in opposition to extending the Voting Rights Act,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/08/us/congress-begins-fight-over-extension-of-voting-rights-act.html|title=Congress Begins Fight Over Extension of Voting Rights Act|date=April 8, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> and said parts of the law were discriminatory toward states' rights as well as too strict toward communities that had adhered to it in the past.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/27/magazine/once-again-a-clash-over-voting-rights.html|title=Once Again, a Clash Over Voting Rights|date=September 27, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

Thurmond was a supporter of the [[Foreign policy of the Ronald Reagan administration|foreign policy of the Reagan administration]]. In April 1981, Thurmond stated that the U.S. could move some of its [[West Germany]] soldiers to the East German and Czechoslovak borders in an attempt to improve both morale and combat readiness.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/19/world/us-may-shift-gi-s-in-germany.html|title=U.S. May Shift G.I.'s in Germany|date=April 19, 1981|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> In October 1983, Thurmond announced his support for the [[United States invasion of Grenada]], saying American efforts with other countries were "providing an opportunity for Grenadan citizens to regain control over their lives" and the U.S. would be forced to watch centuries of progress crumble if the country was unwilling to make sacrifices.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/29/us/required-reading-sampling-of-opinions-on-invasion-of-grenada.html|title=Required Reading; Sampling of Opinions on Invasion of Grenada|date=October 29, 1983|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Thurmond voted against the Senate resolution declaring that American troops in [[Grenada]] would be "withdrawn no more than 60 days later unless Congress authorized their continued presence there".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/29/world/o-neill-criticizes-president-war-powers-act-is-invoked.html|title=O'Neill Criticizes President; War Powers Act Is Invoked|date=October 29, 1983|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> President Reagan sent Thurmond a letter containing a report in line with the [[War Powers Resolution]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/10/25/Reagan-gives-Congress-war-powers-notice/4017435902400/|title=Reagan gives Congress war powers notice|first=Ira A.|last=Allen|publisher=UPI|date=October 25, 1983}}</ref> Thurmond said the "ruling junta in Grenada" was directly threatening American lives.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/10/25/Congress-gave-cautious-support-to-the-invasion-of-Grenada/4533435902400/|title=Congress gave cautious support to the invasion of Grenada...|first=John F.|last=Barton|publisher=UPI|date=October 25, 1983}}</ref>

In December 1984, as the United States and [[Israel]] moved to negotiate a free-trade pact where tariffs between the two countries would eventually be wiped out following the Reagan administration receiving congressional approval to negotiate such an agreement, Thurmond wrote a letter to United States trade representative Bill Brock calling on Brock to "reformulate" the negotiating position of the US as the senator had been informed by his aides that the American position in the negotiation was "more generous" than the one specified to Congress. Brock replied to Thurmond weeks later, asserting that he had "every intention" of fulfilling his commitment to Congress "to take account of the import sensitivity of specific products" in the agreement and that Israel had acknowledged the irregularity of export subsidy programs "with the concept of a free-trade area."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/10/business/israel-and-us-facing-hurdles-on-trade-pact.html|title=Israel and U.S. Facing Hurdles on Trade Pact|date=January 10, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In 1984, as the Senate voted on a bill granting federal prosecution to weapon-carrying career robbers and giving 15 years of incarceration to those convicted, Thurmond and Democratic Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] sponsored an amendment limiting the bill to third-time federal offenders, which passed 77 to 12.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/24/us/bill-to-permit-federal-prosecution-of-career-criminals-passes-senate.html|title=Bill to Permit Federal Prosecution of Career Criminals Passes Senate|date=February 24, 1984|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In the 1984 presidential election, Thurmond was cited along with [[Carroll Campbell]] and South Carolina Republican Party Director Warren Tompkins by Republicans as the forces binding the Reagan-Bush ticket to South Carolina's electoral votes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Both sides in presidential battle agree turnout is key|date=October 28, 1984|publisher=The Index-Journal}}</ref> Thurmond attended President Reagan's October 15 re-election campaign speech in the Allied Health Building on the Greenville Technical College campus in [[Greenville, South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=39247|title=Remarks at a Reagan-Bush Rally in Greenville, South Carolina|date=October 15, 1984|first=Ronald|last=Reagan|author-link=Ronald Reagan|quote=And Dr. Thomas Barton, a Clemson Tiger; Mayor Bill Workman, and Senator Strom Thurmond.}}</ref>

Running for a fifth full term in 1984,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/20/us/campaign-notes-thurmond-will-seek6th-full-term-in-senate.html|title=Campaign Notes; Thurmond Will Seek6th Full Term in Senate|date=March 20, 1984|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Thurmond faced his first primary challenge in 20 years, from retired CIA agent Robert Cunningham, and won the Republican nomination on June 12, 1984.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/13/us/thurmond-gains-bid-for-6th-term.html|title=Thurmond Gains Bid for 6th Term|date=June 13, 1984|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/06/13/Strom-Thurmond-wins-nomination-as-five-states-hold-primaries/3062455947200/|title=Strom Thurmond wins nomination as five states hold primaries|date=June 13, 1984|publisher=UPI}}</ref> The previous year, at a fundraising dinner for Thurmond's re-election campaign in [[Columbia, South Carolina]], President Reagan delivered an address both praising Thurmond and noting the similarities in his views and that of the administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=40487|title=Remarks at a Fundraising Dinner for Senator Strom Thurmond in Columbia, South Carolina|date=September 20, 1983|publisher=American Presidency Project}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/09/20/President-Reagan-praised-Sen-Strom-Thurmond-R-SC-Tuesday-as/4567432878400/|title=President Reagan praised Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., Tuesday as...|date=September 20, 1983|publisher=UPI}}</ref> Cunningham charged Thurmond with being a follower who no one could validate the seriousness of as a candidate since he had not been challenged in eighteen years, furthering that the South Carolina Republican Party had been involved with the decline in his opposition. Cunningham said that Thurmond had a "bad track record" and noted his past comments on race, saying that he would not be crushed like Thurmond's past opponents and was getting much encouragement in his bid to unseat him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/04/17/Ex-CIA-agent-battles-Thurmond/9425054120006/|title=Ex-CIA agent battles Thurmond|first=Sidney|last=Bedingfield|publisher=UPI|date=April 17, 1984}}</ref> Thurmond addressed the issue of age during the primary, the 81-year-old senator stating that he exercised each day for an hour and a half and that he was in the same shape as a person in their 30s or 40s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/06/12/Strom-Thurmond-wins-nomination-to-sixth-Senate-term/8026455860800/|title=Strom Thurmond wins nomination to sixth Senate term|date=June 12, 1984|publisher=UPI}}</ref> Cunningham received less than 6% of the primary vote. Thurmond then defeated Melvin Purvis III in the general election, the latter receiving half of the votes cast for Thurmond.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-10-21/news/8603030969_1_strom-thurmond-mr-purvis-minister|title=Melvin Purvis Iii, Minister, Candidate|date=October 21, 1986|publisher=Sun Sentinel|access-date=March 29, 2018|archive-date=March 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329121142/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-10-21/news/8603030969_1_strom-thurmond-mr-purvis-minister|url-status=dead}}</ref> Purvis, noted to have few differences in ideology with Thurmond, cited the latter's age as reason to retire him from the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/21/obituaries/melvin-h-purvis-3d.html|title=Melvin H. Purvis 3d|date=October 21, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

Thurmond's support of Reagan's judicial nominees continued into the president's second term. In 1986, [[Daniel Anthony Manion]], President Reagan's choice for the U.S. Court of Appeals in Chicago, answered a question by Thurmond,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/03/13/nominee-questioned-on-creationist-bill/|title=Nominee Questioned On Creationist Bill|date=March 13, 1986|first=Glen|last=Elsasser|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> who cited Manion as "entitled to have a vote by the Senate",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/06/25/senate-gop-leaders-attempting-to-limit-debate-on-manion/4e6c58d9-f08e-4aed-82e1-fb7358ac213d/|title=Senate GOP Leaders Attempting to Limit Debate on Manion|date=June 25, 1986|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> and predicted there were enough votes to confirm him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/06/24/judge-nominees-verdict-near/|title=Judge Nominee's Verdict Near|date=June 24, 1986|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> In 1987, after President Reagan nominated [[Robert Bork]] as Associate Justice on the Supreme Court,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/archives/speeches/1987/070187d.htm|title=Nomination of Robert H. Bork To Be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States|date=July 1, 1987|publisher=Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404200826/https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/archives/speeches/1987/070187d.htm|archive-date=April 4, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' noted Thurmond as "one of Bork's key supporters on the Judiciary Committee."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-21-mn-6092-story.html|title=Packwood Opposes Bork, 1st Gop Senator to Defect : Willing to Join Senate Filibuster|date=September 21, 1987|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Following Bork's nomination being rejected by the Senate,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/24/us/senate-s-roll-call-on-the-bork-vote.html|title=Senate's Roll-Call On the Bork Vote|date=October 24, 1987 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Thurmond stated that President Reagan's next nominee should be a person not "as controversial" and should be someone from the South.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/24/us/bork-s-nomination-is-rejected-58-42-reagan-saddened.html|title=Bork's Nomination Is Rejected, 58-42; Reagan 'Saddened'|date=October 24, 1987|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In June 1985, Thurmond introduced legislation providing stiffer federal penalties for individuals and financial institutions engaged in laundering money earned from activities of illegality. The bill was supported by the Reagan administration in its efforts to expose the financial activities of criminals and was hailed by Thurmond as "an important step in our continuing war on organized crime and those financial institutions and individuals which hide the ill-gotten assets of law-breakers, especially drug traffickers."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/23/us/money-laundering-bill-seen-as-privacy-threat.html|title=Money-laundering Bill Seen As Privacy Threat|date=June 23, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In September 1985, Thurmond was one of eight members of a delegation that met with [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] [[Mikhail Gorbachev]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/04/world/gorbachev-hints-he-ll-be-flexible.html|title=Gorbachev Hints He'll Be Flexible|date=September 4, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> In March 1986, after American warplanes took action against Libyan land, Thurmond stated the U.S. "has the right and the duty to protect and defend itself when attacked, as it was today, without provocation." He opposed statements by the Libyan government that the attacks on U.S. ships occurred in international waters and named [[Muammar Gaddafi]] as the individual who had orchestrated the acts of aggression toward the U.S.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/25/world/lawmakers-back-actions-on-libya.html|title=Lawmakers Back Actions on Libya|date=March 25, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Thurmond was a supporter of the Nicaragua rebels, saying that support for the group on the part of the United States was central to furthering America's view "in freedom and in protecting ourselves against Soviet totalitarianism."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/19/world/senate-votes-52-48-not-to-block-aid-to-contras.html|title=Senate Votes, 52-48 Not to Block Aid to Contras|date=March 19, 1987|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> In August 1988, Senator [[Robert Byrd]] presented the White House with a modified version of the Democratic proposal on Contra aid. Thurmond responded to the plan by calling it unsatisfactory.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/09/world/republicans-object-to-new-contra-deal.html|title=Republicans Object to New Contra Deal|date=August 9, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> A month later, after some members of the Senate gave support to a law that would impose American participation in an international treaty outlawing genocide, Thurmond stated his intent to add a death penalty amendment in the event the bill reached the Senate floor and Democrats charged Thurmond with using parliamentary devices and Senate traditions to prevent a vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mobile.nytimes.com/1988/09/27/world/bill-banning-genocide-still-snagged-in-senate.html|title=Bill Banning Genocide Still Snagged in Senate|date=September 27, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Thurmond dropped the death penalty amendment when Democrats agreed to proceed with the confirmation of Republican judges.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/15/world/senate-votes-to-carry-out-treaty-banning-genocide.html|title=Senate Votes to Carry Out Treaty Banning Genocide|date=October 15, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In September 1986, Thurmond sponsored a drug law package that included a provision imposing the death penalty for some drug offenses and federal crimes of "treason, espionage and killing American hostages in a terrorist attack".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/20/us/senate-gop-adds-its-own-drug-bill.html|title=Senate G.O.P. Adds Its Own Drug Bill|date=September 20, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> A week later, as the Senate opened debate on proposals aimed at ending both the supply of dangerous drugs as well as their demand, Thurmond offered changes to criminal law in the form of amendments that would include imposing the death penalty for drug traffickers guilty of murder and an expansion of the proposal that would add the death penalty for other federal crimes, such as espionage and hostage taking.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/27/us/senate-takes-up-drug-bill-with-session-waning.html|title=Senate Takes up Drug Bill With Session Waning|date=September 27, 1986|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> President Reagan signed the [[Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986]] on October 27, 1986, noting Thurmond as one of the "real champions in the battle to get this legislation through Congress".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=36654|title=Remarks on Signing the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986|date=October 27, 1986|publisher=American Presidency Project|first=Ronald|last=Reagan|author-link=Ronald Reagan|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410201728/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=36654|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:President Ronald Reagan Meeting with Senator Strom Thurmond in The Oval Office.jpg|thumb|left|President [[Ronald Reagan]] with Thurmond in the Oval Office in 1987]]
In November 1987, Thurmond introduced legislation that if enacted would require "alcoholic beverages to carry health warning labels similar to those on cigarettes", saying the legislation would be effective if it prevented anyone from drinking while being in a compromising position of health.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/11/18/Sen-Strom-Thurmond-R-SC-continued-his-attack-on-alcohol/7822564210000/|title=Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., continued his attack on alcohol...|first=Karen Lee|last=Scrivo|publisher=UPI}}</ref> The following year, Thurmond sponsored legislation designed to impose "five rotating warning labels on alcoholic beverages cautioning pregnant women not to drink, warning that alcohol is addictive and can increase the risks of hypertension, liver disease and cancer, that it impairs a person's ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and that alcohol consumption can be hazardous in combination with some drugs."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/08/10/Health-warning-on-liquor-bottles-urged/1575587188800/ph|title=Health warning on liquor bottles urged|first=Mary Beth|last=Franklin|date=August 10, 1988|publisher=UPI}}</ref>

On February 23, 1988, Thurmond endorsed fellow senator [[Bob Dole]] in the Republican presidential primary, acknowledging his previous intent to remain neutral during the nominating process.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/23/us/dole-endorsed-by-thurmond.html|title=Dole Endorsed by Thurmond|date=February 23, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> The Thurmond endorsement served to change the Dole campaign's initial plans of skipping the South Carolina primary, where Vice President Bush defeated Dole. The Bush campaign subsequently won other Southern states and the nomination, leading Michael Oreskes to reflect that Dole "was hurt by an endorsement that led him astray."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/27/weekinreview/the-nation-dukakis-and-bush-why-the-candidates-love-to-be-endorsed.html|title=The Nation; Dukakis and Bush; Why the Candidates Love to be Endorsed|date=March 27, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525093208/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/27/weekinreview/the-nation-dukakis-and-bush-why-the-candidates-love-to-be-endorsed.html|archive-date=May 25, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the 1988 Presidential election, George H. W. Bush nominated [[John Tower]] for [[United States Secretary of Defense]]. After Tower's nomination was rejected by the Senate, Thurmond asked, "What does it say when the leader of the free world can't get a Cabinet member confirmed?"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/11/us/an-attempt-to-recover-bush-seeks-to-end-rancor-over-tower.html|title=An Attempt To Recover; Bush Seeks to End Rancor Over Tower|date=March 11, 1989|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525114345/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/11/us/an-attempt-to-recover-bush-seeks-to-end-rancor-over-tower.html|archive-date=May 25, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 1989, when the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill by Democrat [[Dennis DeConcini]] that imposed a ban of three years on sales of several domestic assault weapons, it rejected an amendment by Thurmond that would have substituted the DeConcini bill with the Bush administration's anti-crime package, which did not include a ban on rifles produced in the United States. Failure to implement the Thurmond amendment was seen as "a preliminary test of Senate support for extending President Bush's ban on foreign-made assault weapons to domestic makes" and a loss for the [[National Rifle Association of America]] which had previously protested banning domestic assault weapons.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-21-mn-4248-story.html|title=Senate Panel OKs U.S.-Made Assault Rifle Ban|date=July 21, 1989|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807201520/https://articles.latimes.com/1989-07-21/news/mn-4248_1_assault-weapon|archive-date=August 7, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In August, after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted evenly on the nomination of William C. Lucas for Assist Attorney General for Civil Rights and thereby terminated the nomination that required a majority to proceed to the entirety of the chamber,  Thurmond noted the different forms of segregation in the North and South and added that "black people didn't have the chance in either place that they should have had. Now's the chance to give them a chance." Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee [[Joe Biden]] refuted Thurmond's argument by mentioning that Senate critics of Lucas were civil rights supporters who had a problem with his lack of qualifications.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/02/us/senate-committee-bars-bush-s-choice-from-rights-post.html|title=Senate Committee Bars Bush's Choice From Rights Post|date=August 2, 1989|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525104901/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/02/us/senate-committee-bars-bush-s-choice-from-rights-post.html|archive-date=May 25, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In September, Thurmond was one of nine Republican senators appointed by Senate Republican leader [[Robert Dole]] to negotiate a dispute with Democrats over financing of President Bush's anti-drug plan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/09/14/Senate-drug-funding-dispute-threatens-money-bills/3024621748800/|title=Senate drug funding dispute threatens money bills|first=Steve|last=Gerstel|date=September 14, 1989|publisher=UPI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125162802/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/09/14/Senate-drug-funding-dispute-threatens-money-bills/3024621748800/|archive-date=November 25, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>