Subject: GOP Honey Seeks Job for Stud
 

I thought you'd want to comment on the story that the senior Senator from
the great state of South Carolina -- well, the state's not so great, but the
Senator is as senior as they come -- is being victimized by his estranged wife.
Of course, I speak of Strom Thurmond, Republican, 98 years young,
whose wife Nancy is exactly your age -- 54.  (Imagine -- she married a man
old enough to be Lew's father!)  Nancy Thurmond tried to make a deal with
the state's Democratic governor, so that he would appoint her to replace her
husband if Ol' Strom doesn't finish his term.  Paul Harvey reported that
such a deal was made, but Mr. Harvey lied -- I mean, Mr. Harvey forgot to
check with Governor Hodges, who turned down the deal, and Strom himself,
who's still in office.

Nancy's not the type to give up easily.  Although she's not a real Senator
(any more than you're a real doctor), she's now in training to become one.
(Senator Clinton made it look so easy.)  Nancy started preparing herself for
her new career by writing a letter, just as if she were the Senator.  "A
senior Bush official" received "a Feb. 19 handwritten letter on Thurmond's
Senate stationery", signed by "Strom Thurmond."  The letter endorses a job
interview for a person who just happens to be Nancy's "constant social
companion" (that's what Republicans call a middle-aged stud).  Strangely
enough, the people in Senator Thurmond's office disavow the letter!  My
goodness, what do you think -- did Nancy try to hoodwink the Bush
administration with a forgery, or is Strom backing off from his attempt to
get a federal job for his wife's "male companion"?

I'm sure you'd like to comment on these machinations.  You're such an honest
person (cough, hack -- forgive me, I'm choking), that I'm sure it doesn't
matter to you that this story makes a Republican politician look like a
befuddled cuckold, and his wife look like a common criminal.  There must be
a veritable black truffle of morals and ethics buried in this story, and
you're just the one to sniff it out and root it up, while we, your loyal
listeners, wait to snatch the treasure you've found for us.  Please comment.
(Neither the honey nor the stud nor the dupe nor the dupe's staff is
talking.  That would be called "stonewalling" if Democrats did it.)

Here's the March 8, 2001 story, from the website of "The State"
(ask Keven or Corny to call it up for you on the mysterious Internet):

http://web.thestate.com/content/columbia/2001/03/08/politics/nancy08f.htm
 

Strom tosses issue to wife
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
By LEE BANDY
54Staff Writer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond's office on Wednesday washed its hands of the
controversy involving his wife and efforts to get her male companion a job
in the Bush administration.

"Mrs. Thurmond has requested that any media inquiries involving her be
directed to her attention and that the office not comment on them. We are
honoring that request," said Genevieve Erny, spokeswoman for the senator.

Nancy Thurmond could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that a woman identifying herself as a
Thurmond staffer phoned the White House a few weeks ago and requested a job
interview for Dr. Robert Oldham, chairman of the South Carolina
Biotechnology Association. Oldham is a business partner and constant social
companion of Nancy Thurmond. She is executive director.

Left unanswered Wednesday were questions about a Feb. 19 handwritten letter
on Thurmond's Senate stationery to a senior Bush official. The writer asks
the official to give "prompt attention and assistance" in scheduling an
appointment for Oldham.

The letter said, "If we can be of further help, please call Nancy and me at home,
not at the office, concerning this matter. Highest personal regards.Strom Thurmond."

Thurmond's Senate staff was asked if the senator wrote the letter.
If not, did he authorize someone else to write it and sign his name?
If he didn't, is he concerned that someone is forging his name and using his office letterhead?

The office remained tight-lipped.

Staffers, who saw the letter, say it is not Thurmond's handwriting.

Asked if the White House is giving any consideration to an appointment of
Oldham to a federal job, Bush media adviser Tucker Eskew said, "The
administration routinely declines to discuss specific names in the appointment process."
Oldham, a 59-year-old divorcee with five grown children, did not return phone calls.

He told The (Charleston) Post and Courier that he, not Nancy Thurmond, wrote
to a White House contact volunteering his service. He said he was not seeking a job.

A source with close ties to the Bush administration said no one who gets
recommended in a "bogus letter" is a serious candidate for an administration job.

The controversy comes on the heels of published reports last month that
Nancy Thurmond, 54, tried to broker a deal with Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges
in which the senator would agree to step down early if the governor would
appoint her to finish the term. Hodges declined .

Thurmond, 98, says he will not seek re-election but insists he has every
intention of serving out his term, which expires in January 2003.

The senator and his wife separated in 1991, after 22 years of marriage and four children.

Lee Bandy covers politics.
You can reach him at (803) 771-8648 or by e-mail at lbandy@thestate.com