In his 70 years in public office, the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond put together numerous networks of supporters. One of the most important was made up of people who worked for him in political campaigns and in his Senate office. Many went on to hold key posts on the state and national level, where they continued to support Thurmond. Here is a sampling:

Joe Anderson: Thurmond intern; chief U.S. judge in South Carolina

The late Lee Atwater: Campaign worker for Thurmond; later White House political operative

David Beasley: Thurmond staffer; former S.C. governor

John Courson: Chaired Thurmond political campaigns; S.C. senator

Tucker Eskew: Thurmond page; former White House director of the Office of Global Communication; now runs private political firm

Henry Herlong: Thurmond staffer; U.S. district judge

Jim Lockemy: Thurmond staffer; S.C. circuit judge

Bob McAlister: Thurmond staffer; chief of staff to then-Gov. Carroll Campbell

Henry McMaster: Thurmond staffer; S.C. attorney general

John Napier: Thurmond staffer; former 6th District congressman

Mark Sanford: Thurmond intern; S.C. governor

Sam Stillwell:Thurmond staffer; judge on S.C. Court of Appeals

Billy Wilkins Jr.: Thurmond campaign manager; judge on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

David Wilkins: Thurmond campaign worker; speaker of the S.C. House

Joe Wilson: Thurmond staffer; 2nd District congressman