Thurmond honored on 97th birthday

Longest-Serving U.S. Senator Landed With 82nd Airborne on D-Day

A national senior citizens group has bestowed the title "Senator of the Millennium" on Strom Thurmond (R.-S.C.) in commemoration of his 97th birthday on December 5, to go along with naming him "Senior Solon of the Century."

"Senator Thurmond is known for his longevity in the United States Senate and for his contributions to a strong armed forces, support for veterans, and preserving the Social Security system for not only seniors but their children and grandchildren," said James L. Martin, president of the 60 Plus Association.

"When I first arrived on Capitol Hill in 1962, Senator Thurmond had just turned 60 and I was in my 20s," Martin observed. "Now, I am in my 60s and head of a national senior citizens group and Strom is still going strong.

"The term 'been there, done that' so aptly describes Senator Thurmond's lifetime of public service as teacher, lawyer circuit court judge, highly decorated World War II Army officer, general in the Reserves, governor, presidential candidate, and U.S. senator."

Thurmond has the distinction of being the only person ever elected as a write-in candidate to the U.S. Senate in 1954. Keeping a promise made to the voters, Thurmond resigned in 1956 and ran in the regular election. Voters reelected him.

Thurmond has broken a number of records throughout his long and distinguished career, including:

* Oldest person ever to serve in-the U.S. Senate, a record he set at the age of 93 years and 94 days old on May 8, 1996.

* The longest-serving United States Senator at 41 years and 10 months, on May 25,1997.

* The most times a U,S. senator (9) has taken the oath of office.

* The oldest person (age 93 in 1996) ever reelected to the U.S. Senate (1996 at the age of 93).

* The longest filibuster ever conducted by a U.S. senator-24 hours, 18 minutes; in 1957.

"We were pleased to award Senator Thurmond our 'Senior Solon of the Century Award' in 1997," noted Martin. "We are now especially proud to give him our 'Senator of the Millennium' Award for his continued dedicated role in public service. He has previously been accorded the highest honor of the 60s Plus Association, its 'Guardian of Seniors' Rights' award, for the 103rd, 104th and 105th Congresses and he is well on his way to receiving it for the 106th Congress."

Martin noted that he first met Thurmond when Martin covered Congress from 1962-64 for news outlets in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, including the State (Columbia, S.C.) Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.) and Independent (Anderson, S.C.). Also at the same bureau at the time was Lee Bandy, now the State's political columnist. Philosophy

And Fitness

Martin Later worked for then-U,S. Representative Edward I Gurney (R.-Fla.), who ran successfully for the U.S. Senate in 1968,

"Senator Thurmond campaigned for Representative Gurney," said Martin, "and many Floridians reminded Thurmond they had voted for him for President in 1948 when he ran on a third-party ticket. A key campaign aide to the Gurney Senate race back then was a young Harry B. (Buck) Limehouse of Charleston, later South Carolina's secretary of transportation."

Another campaign assistant was a 21-year-- old fresh out of college named George W. Bush, then Texas Congressman George Bush's son and now governor of Texas and candidate for the Republican nomination for President. And Harry Dent was Thurmond's chief of staff and Thurmond's helpmate in devising the famous "Southern Strategy" for Richard M. Nixon's victory in the presidential race of 1968."

Martin said Thurmond is not only to be admired for his political philosophy---of less government, more individual freedom, and a strong national defense-but also for his health habits and reputation as a fitness buff. He is truly a role model for every senior who wants to stay active and productive and healthy into their 90s and beyond."

Martin recalled that at the 1968 Republican National Convention in Miami Beach, Sen. Thurmond sat at a table next to Congressman Gurney. At the next table was John (Duke) Wayne, the movie star. "When Sen. Thurmond left the hotel," said Martin, I was to escort him to his quarters. As I hailed a cab for him, he said, 'Let's walk.' To my mortification, I soon discovered his hotel was two miles away. I took a cab back to the convention hall."

Martin noted that Sen. Thurmond is held in high regard by members of both political parties, as evidenced by the tribute paid to him in 1997 on the occasion of becoming the longest-serving U.S. senator in history.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R.-Ala.), a former Democrat himself, hailed Thurmond as one "who knows all too well that when one tails to stand for his principles, those principles will perish" and credited Thurmond as "one, who stands-sometimes all alone-- for the greatest principles on which America was founded."

Sen. Larry Craig (R.-Idaho) credited Thurmond with being "dynamic enough to make history" and also as "a real force in building and guiding America during that [20th] Century."