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Strom Thurmond

In his home state of South Carolina, they call him "the Living Legend." He has had quite a life.

In 1948, Strom stormed out of the Democratic National Convention over a civil rights plank in the platform and ran that year as the segregationist Dixiecrat Party candidate. He carried four Southern states and won 39 electoral votes.

In 1954, he first won election to the U.S. Senate -- as a write-in candidate! No American candidate has ever done that -- ever.

In 1957, he set the all-time record for filibustering -- against a civil rights bill, what else! He spoke nonstop for 24 hours and 18 minutes.

In 1964 the conservative Democrat switched to the Republican Party and endorsed Barry Goldwater for president.

And now Strom holds U.S. Senate records for both the longest time served (since 1955) and for being the oldest senator (born in 1902). If he finishes out his current term, he will reach 100.

Now here's the scary part: he's the Senate's President Pro Tem, which means he's third in the line of succession to the Presidency -- right behind the Vice President and House Speaker.

But Strom has also made a name for himself on the sexual front. In 1947, the 44-year-old bachelor governor married his first wife, Jean, when she was 21. She was his secretary, and he proposed to her by dictating a letter. After 12 years of marriage, she died of a brain tumor at age 33.

Then he caused a stir in 1968 when he married his second wife, 21-year-old Nancy Moore, a former Miss America contestant. Strom was 66. His advisers were afraid it would make him look like a dirty old man and cost him the next election. Well, the frisky old geezer is still there.

Then Strom and Nancy had not just one, but four children. Some folks called him "Sperm Thurmond" after that, although probably not to his face.

But now, after over 22 years of marriage, Strom and Nancy have separated. Maybe she wanted somebody younger -- or maybe he did.

So watch out ladies! This frisky nonagenarian stud with the orange hair transplants is back on the prowl. His courting skills may be a little rusty, though. According to one report, he came on to a female security guard by inviting her into his hotel room as he sat on the bed in his drawers giving her that come-hither look.

And now a book has come out (Ol' Strom by Jack Bass and Marilyn Thompson) that explains how this former segregationist has kept secret for decades his illegitimate daughter, Essie Mae, born in 1925. And who was her mother? A black servant employed by Strom's daddy. According to the book, Strom apparently helped put her through college.

Strom! You ol' rascal, you! And to think we called you a racist. You are color-blind after all. They're all pink on the inside, huh, Strom?