An attorney for the former senator 's family confirmed in 2003 that Thurmond fathered a child with a teenage black housekeeper in 1925 . Essie Mae Washington-Williams kept her father 's identity secret until his death . `` I never wanted to do anything to harm him , '' she said . Thurmond fathered the child with a teenage black housekeeper in 1925 , family lawyer confirmed . The girl was named after Thurmond's mother and he did not know about it for years.
Essie Mae Washington-Williams kept her father 's identity secret until his death . `` I never wanted to do anything to harm him , '' she said . Thurmond fathered the child with a teenage black housekeeper in 1925 , family lawyer confirmed . The girl was named after Thurmond's mother and he did not know about it for years.