Senator Samuel James "Sam" Ervin Jr. (1896-1985) (D-N.C.) was a former lawyer and judge, who graduated from Harvard Law School. Ervin was a something of a paradox. He supported Jim Crow and segregation, and helped lead southern opposition to civil rights on constitutional grounds. But in other contexts, he was seen as a champion of liberal causes, opposing Senator Joseph McCarthy's House Un-American Activities Committee and leading the Watergate investigation that led to President Nixon's resignation. After his retirement from politics in 1974, Ervin returned to the practice of law.

in 1973, CBS records published the LP "Senator Sam at Home" which consists of Ervin delivering an assortment of anecdotes, pithy observations, jokes, and songs. His version of Simon & Garfunkel's song "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was unexpectedly popular, and was released as a 45, with the B-side "Zeke and the Snake." Here is the track list of "Senator Sam at Home":

A1Zeke And The Snake1:40

A2Friendship1:50

A3Bridge Over Troubled Water Written-By – Paul Simon 2:32

A4The Fault Of Conformity1:50

A5Southern Heroes ("Defeat May Serve") Written-By – Edwin Markham 1:50

A6If Written-By – Rudyard Kipling 1:50

A7.1Grow Tall, My Son Words By – Loonis McGlohon

A7.2Through The Years Music By – Al Ham

A8Cousin Sue And The U.D.C.1:23

A9The First Amendement1:05

A10John And Mandy And The Strikin' Clock2:53

A11Myself Written-By – Edgar A. Guest* 0:33

A12Philosophy Of Life2:02

B1The Hymn Book And Link Shaw's Singin'2:06

B2The Old Rugged Cross Arranged By – Al Ham Written-By – George Bennard 3:45

B3Thoughts On Religion ("More Faith In Honest Doubt") Written-By – Alfred Lord Tennyson 2:18

B4.1If I Had A Hammer Written-By – Lee Hays, Pete Seeger

B4.2America The Beautiful Arranged By – Al Ham

B5Comments: Elbert Hubbard, W. C. Fields, Josh Billings0:47

B6General Jim Leach And The Mount Vernon Hotel3:10

B7Country Ham0:10

B8Jus' Right Likker0:34

B9The Greatest Hunger Of The Human Heart2:56

B10Thoughts On Shakespeare0:30

B11Joshua1:34

B12The Drunk Driver1:04

B13God Give Us Men Written-By – Josiah Gilbert Holland 1:20

B14The Last Verse Of Our National Anthem Arranged By – Al Ham Written-By – Francis Scott Key 1:25

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