COLUMBIA -- Former Gov. Robert E. McNair, whose term included the Orangeburg Massacre, told hundreds of well-wishers Thursday, "We have a long way to go in race relations."

McNair made the comments as hundreds gathered at the University of South Carolina's Thomas Cooper Library to have him sign a copy of a new book about McNair's life and civil rights.

The 83-year-old former governor accepted responsibility for the Orangeburg Massacre in the book but said nothing about the tragedy in his remarks at the book signing.

"We have a long way to go in race relations, a terribly long way to go in education, health care and economic development," he told the audience.

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"I just hope we can all join together now and dedicate ourselves to making this state an even better place, profit from the mistakes we've made along the way and join forces to try and build a better South Carolina."

Three black students were shot to death in February 1968 by state troopers on the campus of South Carolina State University after protesters returned from a march on a segregated bowling alley.

In the book, "South Carolina at the Brink: Robert McNair and the Politics of Civil Rights," McNair offered no apology, but reiterated his acceptance of responsibility "with all the heaviness it entails for all those years" and a vow that "we must never allow another such tragic moment."

He said in the book it was "unthinkable" that "something as devastating as the shooting deaths of three young men on a college campus could happen in South Carolina, particularly on my watch."

McNair said the tragedy occurred "in spite of the fact that all of our efforts had been directed toward avoiding just such an incident."

The former governor recapped his call for outside investigations because the state couldn't adequately investigate its own official actions.

"Following the investigation, the findings were adjudicated in the federal court system and all of those proceedings are matters of public record," McNair said.

After a 10-day trial, a biracial federal jury acquitted nine Highway Patrol troopers of violating the rights of the slain and wounded students. Later, in a civil trial, an all-white jury returned a similar verdict for the defense. Cleveland Sellers, who served seven months in jail on a charge of inciting a riot and was pardoned 25 years later, was among those attending the book signing.

He said he likes Grose's book on McNair but said the former governor was "disingenuous" in saying the matter had been thoroughly investigated.

"There needs to be an investigation," he said. "For some 30 years he has made me the one responsible for the deaths of those three students. I think we need a commission set up by the Legislature or the governor, or he can set it up himself, so we can get to the truth."

But Carl "Pedro" Stokes, a former State Law Enforcement Division agent who helped the FBI in its probe and escorted Sellers to jail, disagreed. Stokes, also at the book-signing, said he saw no reason for another investigation.

Sen. John Drummond, who was a freshman senator at the time of the Orangeburg Massacre and also attended the book signing, said he remembered a group from S.C. State coming to the Statehouse days after the tragedy to talk to McNair. He said some lawmakers, upon hearing about the group, pulled pistols out of their desks.

Drummond said he helped the group speak to McNair.

"I think he handled it well," Drummond said of McNair's leadership concerning the tragedy.

Thursday's book signing drew former staff members of McNair, as well as current office holders such as U.S. District Senior Judge Matthew Perry, U.S. District Chief Judge Joseph Anderson Jr., state Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal, State Attorney General Henry McMaster and USC board members, including Mack Whittle of Greenville.

USC officials also announced Thursday that McNair's papers have become part of USC's South Carolina Political Collections.