Critics of Thurmond’s daughter change tune
The State
by JENNIFER TALHELM and AARON GOULD SHEININ
Essie Mae Washington-Williams apparently has won over some of her harshest critics.
On Thursday, Thurmond friends and political proteges — who earlier had questioned her story and criticized her motives — complimented Washington-Williams on her poise and grace.
Washington-Williams, 78, revealed that she is the biracial daughter of the late Strom Thurmond Wednesday in a news conference in downtown Columbia.
Since then, her face has rarely been absent from local and network news shows, including appearances on CBS’ “60 Minutes II” on Wednesday and NBC’s “Today” on Thursday morning.