[Moose4]

For the last few years of his term, he was indeed living at either Walter Reed or Bethesda Naval Hospital, I forget which (heck, for all I know, they're the same thing).

People gave South Carolina loads of crap for returning Thurmond to the Senate at age 94 in 1996, but from everything people told me (I didn't move here until 1997) Strom was still sharp mentally in '96, but sliding physically. I bet people were expecting him to retire, and it's possible that he might've had SC kept a Republican governor in office. But in 1998 we got Democrat Jim Hodges, so Strom stuck it out four more years.

I would like to have met the man. He's led a fascinating, full life.

}:-)4

[ewing]

I think Strom only started sliding mentally in his last years..amazing that he could stay that long in the Senate and still contribue..