Politics

Family Ties

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 23, 2001 / 1:48 PM EST / CBS

Sen. Strom Thurmond on Tuesday nominated his 28-year-old son, Strom Thurmond Jr., to be the top federal prosecutor in South Carolina.

Thurmond, 98, the oldest and longest-serving senator in U.S. history, submitted his son's nomination for U.S. attorney, along with five others, to President George W. Bush.

The moves comes a day after Mr. Bush, another son of a famous political father, appointed Secretary of State Colin Powell's oldest son Michael to be the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

The younger Thurmond is an assistant state prosecutor and a 1998 University of South Carolina law school graduate. He has endorsements from both Republican and Democratic leaders for the job; he has no official affiliation.

CBS News.com Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen says: "It's not frequent that someone under 35 is nominated. It doesn't necessarily mean he's not qualified, it is just that most people his age are still learning the practice of law."

The elder Thurmond is the second-ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would review his son's nomination.

"I feel that each is uniquely qualified and will serve with integrity and distinction," the senator said of his six recommendations.

Since they are political appointees, most U.S. attorneys around the country will be replaced in the coming months under the Bush administration. Traditionally, whichever party wins the White House lets its senators recommend candidates in their respective states.

South Carolina's outgoing U.S. attorney, J. Rene Josey, who has served since 1996, was recommended by the state's other senator, Democrat Ernest Hollings.

The younger Thurmond is banking on endorsements to show he's earned the job.

He worked at the Savannah River Site's Ecology Laboratory while a law student, among other jobs. After graduating from law school, he worked in private practice for former U.S. Attorney Pete Strom before becoming an assistant prosecutor.

Michael Powell, Secretary Powell's son, is currently a commissioner on the five-member panel that shapes how Americans get their telephone, broadcast and cable services.

Top lawmakers and industry lobbyists say Powell is a thoughtful policy-maker who will advance the goals of deregulating communications markets as they become more competitive.

But some public interest groups fear he won't push for greater requirements on broadcasters in exchange for their free use of the airwaves.

Mr. Bush's selection of Powell doesn't require Senate confirmation because his term runs out in 2003.