And served as the chairman of several committees. S the running mate in the 1952 presidential election, but they were defeated by the. Known as a segregationist proponent during the Civil Rights era, Sparkman was a regular voter against civil rights legislation and condemned the "judicial usurpation" of the. Which pledged opposition to racial integration and promised to use "all lawful means" to fight the ruling that put court power behind the integration of public institutions.
He became the longest-serving Senator from Alabama in 1977. Sparkman chose not to seek re-election in 1978 and retired from public office the following year.