Lauch Faircloth
Encyclopedia
Duncan McLauchlin "Lauch" Faircloth (born January 14, 1928), served one term as a Republican U.S. Senator
from North Carolina
.
Before his Senate service, Faircloth was a prominent and wealthy hog farmer. One impetus for his political activism was his disagreement with the increasing regulations targeting large hog farming operations such as his, fueled by an environmentalist and populist backlash.
An active Democrat for many years, Faircloth began his political career as a driver for North Carolina U.S. Senator Kerr Scott, who later helped Faircloth get a hardship discharge so he could cut short his draft obligation. An early supporter of Terry Sanford
's 1960 gubernatorial bid, Sanford rewarded him with an appointment to the state highway commission. After helping Robert W. Scott
in his bid for the governorship in 1968, Scott named Faircloth chairman of the commission, and he later went on to serve as Secretary of Commerce during Jim Hunt
's time as governor. Faircloth aspired to the governor's office himself, but was defeated in the Democratic primary in 1984. He also considered running for the Senate seat being vacated by Senator John East
in 1986, but was discouraged by the entry of Sanford, the eventual victor, into the race.
In 1990, after 40 years as a Democrat, Faircloth switched his party registration and began preparations to seek the Republican Senate nomination in 1992. Enjoying the support of Senator Jesse Helms
's political organization, Faircloth defeated Charlotte mayor Sue Myrick and former congressman Walter E. Johnston, III
in the primary. His opponent in the general election was his former ally Terry Sanford, who, although helping Faircloth raise money for his failed gubernatorial bid in 1984, provoked Faircloth's anger two years later when Sanford allegedly denigrated Faircloth's earlier bid for the Senate with alleged comments dismissing Faircloth's chances in a statewide contest against him. Faircloth attacked Sanford as a tax-and-spend liberal, and despite a poor performance in a September televised debate, Faircloth won the seat by a 100,000-vote margin.
Faircloth served in the Senate from 1993 to 1999. He once joked that he wanted to be known as the conservative senator from North Carolina; in comparison to the state's other seat held by the very conservative Helms.
Faircloth was defeated in his 1998 re-election bid by wealthy Democrat John Edwards
. Despite originally being the marginal favorite, Faircloth was beaten by Edwards by 51.2% to 47.0%—a margin of some 83,000 votes. When conceding to Edwards, Faircloth stated to his supporters, "I feel that I let you down...because we should have won."
That night, Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry
, with whom Faircloth had had longstanding disagreements about home rule
issues, said Faircloth had been "so busy picking on me and the residents of the District of Columbia that he neglected his constituents in North Carolina. Now he can go back and deal with the pigs. Goodbye, Faircloth."
|+ North Carolina Senator (Class III) results: 1992–1998
!|Year
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|1992
|
| |Terry Sanford
| align="right" |1,194,015
| |46%
|
| |
| align="right" |1,297,892
| |50%
|
| |Bobby Yates Emory
| |Libertarian
| align="right" |85,948
| align="right" |3%
| |*
|-
|1998
|
| |
| align="right" |1,029,237
| |51%
|
| |Lauch Faircloth
| align="right" |945,943
| |47%
|
| |Barbara Howe
| |Libertarian
| align="right" |36,963
| align="right" |2%
|
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Before his Senate service, Faircloth was a prominent and wealthy hog farmer. One impetus for his political activism was his disagreement with the increasing regulations targeting large hog farming operations such as his, fueled by an environmentalist and populist backlash.
An active Democrat for many years, Faircloth began his political career as a driver for North Carolina U.S. Senator Kerr Scott, who later helped Faircloth get a hardship discharge so he could cut short his draft obligation. An early supporter of Terry Sanford
Terry Sanford
James Terry Sanford was a United States politician and educator from North Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, Sanford was the 65th Governor of North Carolina , a two-time U.S. Presidential candidate in the 1970s and a U.S. Senator...
's 1960 gubernatorial bid, Sanford rewarded him with an appointment to the state highway commission. After helping Robert W. Scott
Robert W. Scott
Robert Walter "Bob" Scott was the 67th Governor of the state of North Carolina from 1969 to 1973. He was born in Haw River, North Carolina.The son of North Carolina Governor W...
in his bid for the governorship in 1968, Scott named Faircloth chairman of the commission, and he later went on to serve as Secretary of Commerce during Jim Hunt
Jim Hunt
James Baxter Hunt Jr. is an American politician who was the 69th and 71st Governor of the state of North Carolina . He is the longest-serving governor in the state's history.-Early life:...
's time as governor. Faircloth aspired to the governor's office himself, but was defeated in the Democratic primary in 1984. He also considered running for the Senate seat being vacated by Senator John East
John Porter East
John Porter East was a Republican U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina from 1981 until his suicide in 1986....
in 1986, but was discouraged by the entry of Sanford, the eventual victor, into the race.
In 1990, after 40 years as a Democrat, Faircloth switched his party registration and began preparations to seek the Republican Senate nomination in 1992. Enjoying the support of Senator Jesse Helms
Jesse Helms
Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr. was a five-term Republican United States Senator from North Carolina who served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1995 to 2001...
's political organization, Faircloth defeated Charlotte mayor Sue Myrick and former congressman Walter E. Johnston, III
Walter E. Johnston, III
Walter Eugene Johnston III, usually known as Gene Johnston was a member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and attended local public schools...
in the primary. His opponent in the general election was his former ally Terry Sanford, who, although helping Faircloth raise money for his failed gubernatorial bid in 1984, provoked Faircloth's anger two years later when Sanford allegedly denigrated Faircloth's earlier bid for the Senate with alleged comments dismissing Faircloth's chances in a statewide contest against him. Faircloth attacked Sanford as a tax-and-spend liberal, and despite a poor performance in a September televised debate, Faircloth won the seat by a 100,000-vote margin.
Faircloth served in the Senate from 1993 to 1999. He once joked that he wanted to be known as the conservative senator from North Carolina; in comparison to the state's other seat held by the very conservative Helms.
Faircloth was defeated in his 1998 re-election bid by wealthy Democrat John Edwards
John Edwards
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...
. Despite originally being the marginal favorite, Faircloth was beaten by Edwards by 51.2% to 47.0%—a margin of some 83,000 votes. When conceding to Edwards, Faircloth stated to his supporters, "I feel that I let you down...because we should have won."
That night, Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry
Marion Barry
Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing DC's Ward 8. Barry served as the second elected mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991, and again as the fourth mayor from 1995...
, with whom Faircloth had had longstanding disagreements about home rule
District of Columbia home rule
District of Columbia home rule is a term to describe the various means by which residents of the District of Columbia are able to govern their local affairs...
issues, said Faircloth had been "so busy picking on me and the residents of the District of Columbia that he neglected his constituents in North Carolina. Now he can go back and deal with the pigs. Goodbye, Faircloth."
Electoral history
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"|+ North Carolina Senator (Class III) results: 1992–1998
!|Year
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|1992
|
| |Terry Sanford
Terry Sanford
James Terry Sanford was a United States politician and educator from North Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, Sanford was the 65th Governor of North Carolina , a two-time U.S. Presidential candidate in the 1970s and a U.S. Senator...
| align="right" |1,194,015
| |46%
|
| |
| align="right" |1,297,892
| |50%
|
| |Bobby Yates Emory
| |Libertarian
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
| align="right" |85,948
| align="right" |3%
| |*
|-
|1998
|
| |
| align="right" |1,029,237
| |51%
|
| |Lauch Faircloth
| align="right" |945,943
| |47%
|
| |Barbara Howe
Barbara Howe
Barbara Howe is the chair of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina and is a two-time Gubernatorial candidate. In 2000 Howe ran as the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of North Carolina receiving 42,674 vote for 1.45% of the vote. In 2004 Howe made a second run for Governor receiving...
| |Libertarian
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
| align="right" |36,963
| align="right" |2%
|
External links
- Oral History Interviews with Lauch Faircloth http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/I-0069/menu.html, http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/I-0070/menu.html from Oral Histories of the American South