He may read a speech from notes. But these days, scrutiny of the longest-serving senator's comings and goings has become a daily ritual. More than idle curiosity, the Strom watch is driven by basic, raw politics. With a 50-50 split in the Senate, the GOP can't afford to lose a single seat. And should Senator Thurmond step down or need to be replaced, the choice of a successor would fall to South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges, a Democrat.
Nothing motivates Washington like the prospect of losing one's power.
Thurmond's staff insists his health has not undermined his ability to carry out his duties. He has yet to miss a floor vote in the 107th Congress, and he shows up in his office every day, whether the Senate is in session or not. Aides say he still works out every morning, as he has for most of a century. Strom Thurmond looked over a bust of himself at a Capitol Hill luncheon in 1997. He is the longest-serving senator in history.