Rep. Jim Clyburn

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Rep. Jim Clyburn
Date: November 14, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Stephen Colbert sits down with Congressman Jim Clyburn, the seasoned representative of South Carolina’s 6th district. Their conversation weaves together the urgent state of politics in Washington following a lengthy government shutdown, Clyburn’s reflections on his legendary civil rights colleagues, and the inspirational stories from his new book, The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation. Through anecdotes, historical insights, and personal reflections, Clyburn gives listeners a heartfelt reminder of America’s unfinished business and enduring hope.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. State of South Carolina and Colbert’s Personal Connection

• [01:30] Colbert opens with local banter, mentioning he hasn’t visited South Carolina since August, to which Clyburn responds, “It’s doing great. But, you know, come back a little more often.”
• Colbert points out his nightly monologue map of South Carolina, emphasizing his roots.

2. The End of the Government Shutdown

• [01:52] Colbert shifts to pressing politics, asking about the newly-passed Senate deal to end the 41-day government shutdown.
  • Clyburn: “Everybody got some of what they wanted. The other side got more of what they wanted than we of what we wanted. We got some protections for SNAP, WIC… However, when it comes to the Affordable Care Act… we did not get unrest.” [02:16]
• He stresses the ongoing struggle for health care access and affordability:
  • Clyburn: “If at first you don’t succeed, you keep trying… this is not the end of this fight.” [02:44]
• Discussion about legislative promises and the prospects of a Senate floor vote:
  • Colbert jokes, “You wanna lay some money on that? Cause I can make some quick cash right now, I think.”
  • Clyburn: “Not from me. Cause I will not bet on the Senate by any means.” [03:43]

3. Clyburn’s New Book: The First Eight

• [03:47] Colbert introduces Clyburn’s newest book and asks about the “First Eight.”
• Clyburn: “These were eight African Americans that served in the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina before me. They served first from December 12, 1870. Joseph Rainey was absolutely the first African American ever elected to Congress from the little town of Georgetown, South Carolina.” [04:02]
• Shares stories of the First Eight, detailing their backgrounds and impact, including litany of names: Litany Delarge, Richard Kane, Robert Brown Elliott, and Robert Smalls.

4. The Remarkable Story of Robert Smalls

• [05:16] Colbert prompts Clyburn to recount the life of Robert Smalls.
  • Clyburn: “Robert Smalls was born into slavery. Around the age of 17, he started working on the waterfront... Here he was prancing around the ship one day, he threw on the captain’s cap, and one of his buddies said to him, you know, when you put that cap on, you look exactly like the captain. This set off something in his head, and he started making a plan…” [05:28]
• Clyburn tells the thrilling story of Smalls’ ingenious escape by commandeering a Confederate ship, passing through Charleston Harbor’s defenses, and surrendering it to the Union with his family and friends aboard.
  • Clyburn: “His wife had brought along a white bedsheet, and they took that bedsheet and put up the flag of surrender and delivered that ship to the Union Army. And he got his freedom.” [07:08]
• Smalls’ post-war achievements:
  • Served in Congress for 10 years.
  • Championed free public education—South Carolina became the first state to offer this because of his resolution.
  • Clyburn: “Robert Smalls, who did not have an education himself… when he did that, South Carolina became the first state in the Union to provide free public education for all.” [07:47]
  • Smalls refused offers to relocate North, remained in South Carolina until his death.

5. Reflections on Civil Rights and Friendship with John Lewis

• [08:39] After the break, Colbert brings up Clyburn’s relationship with John Lewis.
• Clyburn: “John Lewis and I met the weekend of October 15, 1960. It was the second meeting of SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee… That’s the weekend I met Martin Luther King Jr. for the first time. The same weekend I met John Lewis. We were both 19-year-old college students at the time and we formed a fast relationship that lasted right up until his death.” [09:17]
• Speaks to Lewis’s core of nonviolence and their deep, lifelong friendship, including their wives’ friendship.
  • Clyburn: “I always said that he among us all was the only one that internalized nonviolence. Some of us practiced it. I never internalized it. John Lewis did. One of the most remarkable human beings I ever encountered.” [10:33]
• Moving account of last conversation:
  • Clyburn: “I spoke with him the night before he passed away… his chief of staff said to me, ‘Why don’t you tell him he can hear.’ And he took the phone and put it on his shoulder and I talked to John that night and he passed away the next day.” [11:15]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Colbert: “People may not know, I pointed out to you… I do the monologue every night on a little map of South Carolina over there.” [01:41]
• Clyburn on Robert Smalls’ daring escape: “He started the whistles to going. And they took the Planter, that ship, out of the Charleston harbor past Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began.” [06:30]
• Colbert on legislative odds: “You wanna lay some money on that? Cause I can make some quick cash right now, I think.” [03:36]
• Clyburn on John Lewis: “Among us all, he was the only one that internalized nonviolence. Some of us practiced it. I never internalized it. John Lewis did.” [10:33]
• Clyburn on the unfinished work of progress: “If at first you don’t succeed, you keep trying… this is not the end of this fight.” [02:44]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:30 — Colbert welcomes Clyburn, South Carolina banter
• 01:52 — Shutdown deal discussion: who won, what was won/lost
• 03:47 — Introduction to The First Eight and stories of pioneering Congressmen
• 05:16–08:33 — The story of Robert Smalls: from slavery to groundbreaking legislator
• 08:39–11:32 — Memories of John Lewis, the origins of their friendship, and Lewis’s passing

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Takeaway

This episode offers listeners an uplifting, illuminating journey through Black history, the perseverance required in Washington, and the power of enduring civil rights leadership. Congressman Clyburn spotlights forgotten giants of American progress and movingly honors his dear friend John Lewis, reminding us all of the work still ahead—delivered in the warm, witty rapport that defines Colbert’s show.

Transcript

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[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

Poncho with Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, everybody. Welcome back. Ladies and gentlemen. My next guest has represented South Carolina's 6th congressional district for over 30 years. Please welcome to LATE SHOW Congressman Jim Clyburn. Congressman, thanks so much for being here.

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

Thank you very much for having me.

[Stephen Colbert]

I haven't been down to South Carolina since August. How is Palmetto State doing?

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

It's doing great. But you know, come back a little more often.

[Stephen Colbert]

I know. I agree. That's, that's what my wife says, too.

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

It's a great spot to stand upon there.

[Stephen Colbert]

People may not know I pointed out to you is that I do the monolith every night on a little map of South Carolina over there.

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

Great foundation.

[Stephen Colbert]

So I feel like I'm at home.

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

That's great.

[Stephen Colbert]

Last night I want to get to your book right here, the first eight. We will talk more about that in just one moment. But last night the Senate passed a deal and Speaker Johnson is finally calling the House back to vote. Yes on the end of the longest government shutdown after 41 days. Did anyone get anything they wanted? Who benefited here?

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

Well, I think everybody got some of what they wanted. The other side got more of what they wanted than we of what we wanted. We got some protections for snap, wic. These are not unimportant programs. However, when it comes to the Affordable Care act, making health care not only accessible for everybody but affordable by everybody, that we did not get unrest.

[Stephen Colbert]

That was the stated goal.

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

Absolutely. And it's still the goal. If at first you don't succeed, you keep trying. And I think that we are going to stay in this fight. Hakeem Jefferson made it very clear that this is not the end of this fight. And who knows what was the vote? Are they promising to put the bill on the floor, or are they promising, let us bring the bill to a vote? I don't know that I've been listening for that.

[Stephen Colbert]

In the House, you mean?

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

Yes, and the Senate. You see, the Senate has promised a vote, but we give them outside 8 votes to bring a bill to the floor. That's how they got to 60 to cut off the filibuster. Now, are they gonna give us the votes we need to cut off the filibuster so that we can have a direct vote on the bill.

[Stephen Colbert]

What is your. You wanna lay some money on that? Cause I can make some quick cash right now, I think.

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

Not from me. Cause I will not bet on the Senate by any means.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right, now, as I said, you've got the new book, the First A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressman who Shaped a Nation comes out today. Who were the first eight, and why did you want to write this book?

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

Well, these were eight African Americans that served in the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina before me. They served first from December 12, 1870. Joseph Rennie was absolutely the first African American ever elected to Congress from the little town of Georgetown, South Carolina. And we go right down through Litany. Delarge was from Aikens, South Carolina. We got Richard Kane, who came to South Carolina from New York. He was born in West Virginia, came to New York to pastor Bridge Street AME Church. And he went to Charleston to reestablish a church that has come into the consciousness of everybody in the country. Emmanuel AME Church. It's where he first pastored and he moved into politics from there. Now, I can go through things like Rancia, Robert Brown Elliot, and then there was a guy named Robert Smalls.

[Stephen Colbert]

You write that Robert Smalls lived the most consequential life of any South Carolinian. In memory, I know who Robert Smalls was. Tell the people about this man's extraordinary story.

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

Robert Smalls was born into slavery. Now, around the age of 17, he started working on the waterfront. Here he was prancing around the ship one day, he threw on the captain's cap, and one of his buddies said to him, you know, when you put that cap on, you look exactly like the captain this set off something in his head, and he started making a plan. He started studying the currents. He knew how the currents flowed in the Charleston harbor. He then listened to all of the whistles. He knew what the whistles meant. And then he hatched a plan to escape from slavery. He brought his family into the plan and a few of his close friends, because he noticed that on every Friday night, the three guys who ran the ship would go into Charleston and would not come back until Saturday. He picked the Friday night that he was going to wait for them to go in. And when he thought that it was safe, he put that captain's cap on and he fired up the engines. He started the whistles to going. And they took the planter, that ship, out of the Charleston harbor past Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began. He did the right whistles, and the sentry yelled out, go blow those damn Yankees out the water. And he said, I kept going. Got beyond any capture. His wife had brought along a white bedsheet, and they took that bed sheet and put up the flag of surrender and delivered that ship to the Union Army. And he got his freedom.

[Stephen Colbert]

And he went on to become a congressman as well.

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

Absolutely. He became, for 10 years, a member of the House of Representatives in South Carolina. In fact, it was Robert Smalls that put up the resolution to have free public education for everybody. And Robert Smalls, who did not have an education himself, when he did that, South Carolina became the first state in the Union to provide free public education for all. He became such a celebrity. The people here in New York tried to get him to move here. They really wanted him to be a New Yorker, but he never. He stayed in the south until he died in. In 1915. Great guy.

[Stephen Colbert]

Take a lesson from him and go back to South Carolina is what you're saying.

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

I'm trying to tell you. Listen, we have to take a quick break.

[Stephen Colbert]

We'll be right back with more Congressman Jim Clyburn, everybody. Hey, everybody. Welcome back to the show. We're here with the author of the new book, the first eight. Congressman Jim Clyburn, I want to ask you. This is the great Representative John Lewis. And when you were sworn into the House, you joined your friend John Lewis. We were lucky enough to talk to him a few times. And I'm just curious. What do you remember about meeting John Lewis for the first time?

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

John Lewis and I met the weekend of October 15, 1960. It was the second meeting of SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. And we were having a disagreement. Those of us who were students felt like we hear today that the adults were not active enough. And so we were really in disagreement with Martin Luther King Jr. Who agreed to come meet with us in Atlanta. That's the weekend I met Martin Luther King Jr. For the first time. The same weekend I met John Lewis. We were both 19 year old college students at the time and we formed a fast relationship that lasted right up until his death. And John and I sat there on the floor of the house just before he went on for the last time. He told me that day that he was going home. He did not think he would ever come back to congress. John was one of the most remarkable people. I always said that he among us all was the only one that internalized nonviolence. Some of us practiced it. I never internalized it. John Lewis did. One of the most remarkable human beings I ever encountered. And we sort of went through life. We both met and married librarians. Our wives became great friends. And I spoke with him the night before he passed away. I called because the rumor had floated around that John had passed away. So I called his chief of staff and told him what I'd heard. He said, no, he is still alive. I said, well, please tell him that I called and I'm still praying for him. And Michael, his chief of staff said to me, why don't you tell him he can hear. And he took the phone and put it on his shoulder and I talked to John that night and he passed away the next day.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, congressman, thank you so much for being here.

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

Thank you for having me.

[Stephen Colbert]

His book the first eight is out now. Congressman Jim Clyburn, everybody. Thank you for listening to the late show pod show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to the late show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.

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[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

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[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

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