in 1948, democrats alienated white southerners in two ways. the democratic national convention adopted a strong civil rights plank, leading to a walkout by southerners. two weeks later, president harry truman signed executive order 9981 ending discrimination against blacks in the armed forces. in 1948, the deep south walked out, formed a temporary regional party and nominated j. strom thurmond. thurmond carried the deep south, but the outer south stayed with truman and most "dixiecrats" returned to the democratic party, and there were no permanent membership losses.