Tongues began to wag across South Carolina in the late ’60s as the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond corresponded with a young beauty queen.

Thurmond was 64, and the young woman, Nancy Moore, was 20 — barely out of her teens.

“It seems disgusting to me that people seem to thrive on rumors,” one of Thurmond’s relatives, cousin-in-law Addie Elise Byrd, wrote to him on May 17, 1967. “Anyhow, I’m assuming that the reports of you and Nancy Moore are false.”

Six days later Thurmond wrote back, saying, “With regard to the rumor that you have heard, it seems that this rumor has gone all over the State. I am not engaged to anyone, but it seems that some people are intent upon spreading rumors to this effect.”

Thurmond was not engaged. But he was in close contact with Nancy Moore, who in 18 months would become his second wife.

Newly discovered letters in the Clemson University archives shed light on that early relationship between Thurmond and the then-Nancy Moore.

And the letters show they began writing each other about mutual experiences several years earlier than previously known.

Thurmond’s marriage in 1968 helped his political career by immunizing him against charges he was getting too old. Over the next eight years, the couple had four children.

The couple separated in the early ’90s but remained married. Nancy Moore Thurmond did not return phone calls seeking comment on their courtship.

Nancy Moore had grown up in Aiken, where Thurmond had practiced law. In the fall of 1964, she enrolled in Duke University.

In July 1965, after her freshman year at Duke, she won the title of Miss South Carolina, based on beauty, talent and swimsuit competitions.

In August, weeks after winning Miss South Carolina, Nancy visited Washington and spent time with Thurmond.

She was 18, a rising Duke sophomore.

He was 62, a widower, a diehard segregationist, a former governor, a war hero, and, for 10 years, a U.S. senator. A magazine that month noted Thurmond kept barbells behind his desk, did 59 pushups a day and cycled 20 miles every weekend.

That summer, according to letters at Clemson, Thurmond was telling people that he had “no plans to marry again. I am giving my whole life to my work of trying to preserve our Constitutional form of government and to save our people from tyranny.”

But about the time Thurmond wrote that letter, he also was taking small steps that would ensure he wouldn’t remain a bachelor.

Thurmond always had given little mementos and photos to visitors to his office. That August, he gave Nancy an apron from Portugal and a knife, tips on health food and a photo of himself.

On Aug. 13, 1965, Moore sent the veteran politician a two-page handwritten letter, thanking him for the gifts and gushing with enthusiasm over the “fabulous 24 hours I spent in Washington.”

She wrote, “You might be interested to know that I am planning to learn to prepare protein breakfasts in your apron from Portugal and I keep my hands clean for ‘politicking’ with your knife — so many thanks!”

She added, “It is unbelievable when I think of all the things we did — and I really learned a great deal about our Capital!”

She finished, “And thank you, Senator, for your time and hospitality. Someday I shall repay you for your kindnesses. I shall be following you in the news and I hope to see you soon!”

Moore and Thurmond stayed in touch over the winter.

In the summer of 1966, Nancy worked in Thurmond’s Washington office as a clerk.

That fall, she returned to Duke, planning to work at Thurmond’s office again in the summer of 1967. Letters show Thurmond took a personal interest in her summer job.

On March 16, 1967, Thurmond wrote the 20-year-old Duke student to say he had made arrangements for her to stay “at the Young Women’s Christian Home during your tenure on my staff this summer. ... I will arrange to place you on the payroll effective June 1, but I understand that you will be reporting for duty on Monday, June 5.”

That summer, rumors flew that Thurmond might be getting married.

In an Aug. 4, 1967, letter, a friend wrote Thurmond, “I heard you were getting married. ... If so the very best to you.”

Six days later, Thurmond wrote back. “I have no marriage plans, by the way.”

At the end of the summer, Moore dropped out of Duke and transferred to the University of South Carolina in Columbia. In leaving Duke, Moore gave up a spot at one of the nation’s top colleges for a less academically prestigious institution.

Thurmond himself broke the news of Moore’s decision to her brother, Paul, then living in Alaska.

In a Sept. 7, 1967, letter, Thurmond wrote, “She has decided to leave Duke and enter the University of South Carolina this fall, and I think she will like it there. She is very happy over the idea of going to Carolina.”

After Nancy entered USC, Thurmond wrote her a two-sentence letter on Sept. 18, 1967.

“Dear Nancy: Mr. Taylor wanted you to have the box that is being forwarded to you under separate cover for your cooperation and assistance in the matter of the towels. I hope you are doing nicely, and with best wishes, Sincerely, Strom Thurmond.”

On Dec. 8, 1968, Thurmond announced his engagement to Moore. They were married two weeks later, on Dec. 22, 1968.

Reach Monk at (803) 771-8344 or jmonk@thestate.com.