Reactions to the Thursday death of former Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C.:

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"Even though we ended up on other sides of the aisle, there was never any doubt about the interest of South Carolina." — U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings (search), D-S.C.

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"This man, your friend, my friend, South Carolina's favorite son is gone, but he will never be forgotten, and his biggest legacy is in the small things he did not the large things he did, and there's so many large things he's accomplished." — Sen. Lindsey Graham (search), R-S.C., who won Thurmond's seat last November.

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"In South Carolina, there are leaders and then there was Strom, there are public servants and then there was Senator Thurmond." — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (search).

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"We have just lost our greatest statesman." — South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson.

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The state "has lost its greatest citizen. He cannot be replaced." — Senate Majority Leader Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence.

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"Constituent service became his middle name — whatever you wanted, whatever you needed, Senator Thurmond made it happen." — U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C.

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"Out state, nation and world are better places because of Strom Thurmond." — South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster.

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"He was our living legend." — U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.

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"Senator Thurmond was symbolic of the Old South, but his willingness to change over time set an example for many South Carolinians." — U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C.