Who was the oldest person to serve as a member of the US Congress?

James Strom Thurmond (born December 5, 1902 – died June 26, 2003) was an American politician, well-known for his long tenure in the US Congress, which lasted 48 years. Leaving the office at the age of 100, Thurmond became the oldest Senator in the history of the US. He represented the state of South Carolina, starting as a Democrat and continuing as a Republican since 1964.

Though Thurmond was famous for his segregation policies, an amazing thing was revealed several month after his death. As it turned out, 22 years old Thurmond had fathered a daughter, and an African-American woman was the mother of the girl. She was a domestic worker in his family. The Senator and his biracial daughter kept in touch throughout his career, he was financially supporting her and even invited her to visit his offices.