orig. Samuel James Ervin, Jr.
born Sept. 27, 1896, Morganton, N.C., U.S.
died April 23, 1985, Winston-Salem, N.C.
U.S. senator (195474).
He served on the Supreme Court of North Carolina (194854) before being appointed to a vacant U.S. Senate seat. An eloquent expert on the Constitution, he sat on the Senate committee that censured Sen. Joseph McCarthy , and he helped investigate labour racketeering. In the 1960s he led Southern filibusters against civil-rights legislation while simultaneously acting as a champion of civil liberties. As chairman of the special committee investigating the Watergate scandal , he became something of a folk hero for his unceasing pursuit of evidence in the face of White House claims of executive privilege. His earthy humour, distinctive accent, and unfailing charm contributed to his popularity.