U.S.

S.C. Senator Thurmond Turns 98

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

December 5, 2000 / 6:55 AM EST / CBS

The nation's oldest senator says he's not slowing down -- and he still keeps an eye out for "pretty women."

"Do you know some you want me to meet?" he asked. "Life wouldn't be worth living if we didn't have pretty women. That's natural. Any normal man likes to be around pretty women."

South Carolina Republican Strom Thurmond turned 98 Tuesday. He's the longest-serving senator in U.S. history.

His schedule included opening the Senate at noon, attending a Republican Senate organizational session, and attending a Supreme Court dinner.

But as third in line for succession to the presidency — Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, born abroad, is not eligible — his health and alertness have been questioned.

In an interview with a South Carolina paper Wednesday, Thurmond said he was turning 88 and had to be corrected by an aide.

Last week, he told a reporter he might quit three or four months before his term ends in January 2003 so his estranged wife, Nancy, could take over his seat. They separated in 1991 after 22 years of marriage.

The next day his office issued a statement saying he didn't mean to say that. Senior aides attributed the remark to a failing memory.

He has gone to hospitals for various ailments this year. The last time was in October when he passed out in a restaurant, and missed his first national political convention in 36 years.

"There's no question" Thurmond has slowed physically, said Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C. "That's understandable. He seems to be mentally alert, but physically he has slowed down tremendously."

But Thurmond says he intends to finish his term then retire to Aiken and continue helping his constituents. He'll be 100.

"I'm coming to work as usual. I don't want to ever be put in the position of doing nothing," he said.

Thurmond said he still exercises every morning, doing calisthenics and pedaling a stationary bike. "Watch your diet," he says. "Exercise reasonably and develop an optimistic attitude toward life.

"I feel much younger than I really am. ... I feel like I'm 68, about 30 years younger."

His political career has mirrored 20th Century South Carolina. He was first a Democrat who left the party as a segregationist, and ran for president as a Dixiecrat in 1948.

He then became a Republican and was the first Southern senator to hire black staffers.