James F. Byrnes
1879-1972: From Charleston, earned the title "Assistant President" because of his service to President Frankin D. Roosevelt. A member of the Supreme Court (from which he resigned during World War II to serve as Director of the Office of Economic Stabilization and later as Director of the Office of War Mobilization, ) he was later appointed Secretary of State. He also served as Governor of South Carolina from 1951-1955.
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John C. Calhoun
1782-1850: Born near Abbeville. He served as Vice President of the United States from 1825-1832. He was also a member of the House of Representatives and Senate and was appointed Secretary of State in 1845.
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Andrew Jackson
1767-1845: He was not only the first United States President born in a log cabin, but he was also the first South Carolinian to be elected President. Jackson was the founder of the Democratic Party. He began practicing law at the age of 20, became a U.S. Senator at 30 and a judge at 31.
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The Reverend Jesse Jackson
1941-Present: Born in Greenville, has been a leader in the Civil Rights Movement since the 1960's. Following in the footsteps of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, he is an active clergyman, civic leader and founder of the Rainbow Coalition.
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Strom Thurmond
1902-2003: Born in Edgefield, became the first-and-only United States Senator to be elected by a write-in vote in 1948, and has returned to office ever since.
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