Page 144 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023 LISBON EDITION

organton, N.C. – It could be the
most famous gavel in American
M political history. Drawing the
attention of millions around the world,
its commanding slap 50 years ago sig-
naled a Constitutional crisis that ulti-
mately would lead to the downfall of a
president and raise questions on the al-
lowed scope of presidential power, a
theme still being played out today.
And now here I was in a most unlikely
place for such an important piece of his-
tory to reside – at knee level within a
glass display case, along with many other
fascinating pieces of memorabilia from
the Watergate era.
I was admiring this carved piece of
wood in the Senator Sam J. Ervin Jr. Li-
brary & Museum, a series of rooms next
to the student library of the Western
Piedmont Community College in Mor-
ganton, N.C. Ervin today remains the big-
gest hero of the small county seat, his
hometown and where he was known as
just Senator Sam. With a folksy style and
engaging wit, it would be a deep mistake
to write off Ervin, who had a deep love
for North Carolina as “a good old boy.”
Said his colleague, Sen. Howard Baker, of
Ervin:”The chairman is fond of pointing
out from time to time that he is just a
country lawyer. He omits to say that
he graduated from Harvard Law
School with honors.”

144 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023