Strom Thurmond hospitalized for dehydration

May 9, 2000
Web posted at: 10:46 p.m. EDT (0246 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Strom Thurmond, the eight-term Republican senator from South Carolina, was hospitalized Tuesday for dehydration after complaining of a stomach ache, an aide said.

Thurmond, 97, will remain at Walter Reed Army Hospital for observation overnight and is expected to be released Wednesday morning, according to aide John DeCrosta.

Thurmond, who had a hearing Tuesday morning and then attended about a half-dozen appointments, complained of a stomach ache in the afternoon.

He went to the attending physician at the Capitol, who said he believed the senator was dehydrated and might have a stomach bug, DeCrosta told CNN.

Thurmond then checked into Walter Reed. He was hospitalized several times last year for prostate and dehydration problems, DeCrosta said.

Thurmond, who ran for president in 1948 as a "Dixiecrat," is the Senate's oldest-ever and longest serving member. He was first elected in 1954.