We recently witnessed Trent Lott being hailed as a great visionary statesman during the impeachment proceedings William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States of America. However, there is a hidden aspect of Trent Lott’s reality that involves his long association with a well-known white supremacist group, the Council of Conservative Citizens, also known as the CCC.

The Council of Conservative Citizens is an outgrowth of the notorious White Citizens' Councils—referred to during the civil rights era as the "uptown Klan." Back then, their members held documented white supremacist views and involved themselves in racist actions, however, they also occupied official legislative and judicial positions, which enabled them to work legally to establish discriminatory practices aimed at non-whites. Gordon Lee Baum, head of the CCC, states that the organization is "pro-white but not racist."

In this current day and time, the CCC appears to be following the same membership patterns with many members holding politically influential government positions as evidenced by the recent truths that have been uncovered.

The purpose of this writing is not to validate the views of Senator Trent Lott or those held by the Council of Conservative Citizens, nor to condemn them. The purpose of this factual analysis is to show another side of this controversy that many may not be aware of.

When charges surfaced at the end of last year suggesting that Senator Trent Lott supported the organization and had strong ties to the organization, the Senate Majority Leader’s spokesman deliberately lied and misled the media, the country, and others, downplaying his ties to the organizations and denying Lott’s knowledge of their views.

The Los Angeles Times reported on 12/13/98:

According to John S. Cwartacki, Lott's spokesman, the senator only vaguely remembers that, while serving in the House of Representatives, he was invited to an event in his Gulf Coast district by two acquaintances who, it turned out, had ties to the group. "That was over a decade ago," Cwartacki said. "His recollection isn't that straightforward."

Czwartacki went on to say that Lott "doesn't consider himself a member, nor does he have first-hand familiarity or knowledge of their (CCC) views."

That is their version of the story, now what is the TRUTH of the matter?

Here are the facts.

The truth of the matter is that Mr. Lott is on record as praising the group, its members and mission.

According to December 1998 news advisories from the media and journalism advocacy group Fairness and Accuracy in Media Reporting (FAIR) there is more than enough evidence, circumstantial and otherwise, to show that Lott was very much affiliated with the CCC and well aware of their views. FAIR reports:

Trent Lott addressed the national conference of the CCC in Greenwood, Mississippi on April 11, 1992—as Senator, not while a member of the House of Representatives. His appearance before the group is documented as taking place seven years ago – not over ten years ago, as stated by his spokesperson. His appearance is documented in the CCC's official publication, Citizens Informer, which published pictures and a report on the event and his activities, in its Spring 1992 edition.

After urging those at the gathering to increase their recruiting efforts for the "conservative" cause, Lott concluded his address praising CCC members stating, "The people in this room stand for the right principles and the right philosophy. Let's take it in the right direction and our children will be the beneficiaries!"

Senator Lott also addressed an event sponsored by the Carrol County (Mississippi) chapter of the CCC on July 22, 1995, according to a article and photos in the Summer 1995 edition of Citizens Informer.

According to their sources, Lott is "one of the leading political figures promoting the Neo-Confederate cause—a movement said to be filled with racism and other forms of bigotry."

Lott has been instrumental in leading the fight for tax breaks for Bob Jones University and other segregated schools and according to FAIR "was the leading advocate for the successful drive to reinstate the citizenship of Confederate States of America President Jefferson Davis." Davis was a staunch secessionist for the Confederate South, and indicted for treason in 1866.

Trent Lott’s history of involvement with the CCC:

• In 1997 Lott met held a private meeting with CCC leaders in his Washington, D.C. office, a photo and account of the meeting appeared in the CCC's publication, Citizens Informer, later that year.
• In 1997 the CCC used an endorsement quote from Lott for a direct mailing campaign.
• In 1995 Lott addressed an audience in attendance at a Mississippi-based CCC event
• In 1992 Lott was the featured speaker and issued strong praise of the CCC at its national conference.
• The Spring 1989 edition of Citizens Informer, features a photo of Lott with his uncle, who is identified as an executive of the CCC, and his cousin, who's identified as a CCC general member.
• Lott's column has been a regular feature of Citizens Informer for several years.

The difficulty is not that Lott, his spokesmen, and others lied about his involvement in the group, it was that their efforts to obfuscate the reality of his association with the group, was allowed to take place.

It defies logic that Mr. Lott, being a native of Mississippi, born in 1941, raised during the time of forced segregation in the South would have no knowledge of the aims and goals of the CCC.

It is highly unlikely that he would be totally ignorant of the CCC’s strong beliefs and core ideology, since he began his political career in 1968 as an administrative assistant to then -- US Representative for the Mississippi William Colmer.

Being a politician, Lott would understand and reflect the beliefs, values, and morals of those who made up his electoral constituency, who in fact voted him into office, electing him to the House of Representatives in 1972.

(*FAIR News Advisory and Media Alert 12/11/98 and 12/15/98)

What is the Council of Conservative Citizens and what do they stand for?
The official online presence of the Council of Conservative Citizens
http://www.cofcc.org

The official web site created and maintained by the office of Senator Trent Lott
The official online presence for Senate Majority Leader of the United States of America
http://www.senate.gov/~lott/