Power is an aphrodisiac. And some people know how to use it: An erstwhile-nerdy political hopeful becomes the life of the party;a young actress leaves a trail of broken hearts more impressive than her film credits, a playboy breaks every possible social rule and still gets every possible invitation. The best lovers of our time recognize the sensual potential hidden in thier power. But more than that, they know how to exploit to get what they want, when and how they want it.

The greatest lovers in Hollywood are those in permanently active pursuit of romance. Let's call it thier second job. And the're always employed. Wealth and looks are fine, but fame seems to be the real magnet here. When you're with someone famous, a little of the stardust rubs off on you; the fantasy might become your reality. If Jack Nicholson was the pharmacist in your local drug-store, you might not look twice at hi. But he's impossibly famous, so there are countless young beauties standing in line for him, all impressed with his enourmous... aura.

The greatest lovers in Washington,D.C., are more mysterious than in Hollywood, simply because, in the interest of continued political success, thier virtue must go unquestioned. That mystery can work in thier favor. Perhaps the young White House aide isn't movie-star handsome, but the intellectually stimulating conversation, the occassion bottle of champagne, the exclusive Capitol coaktail parties with political heavyweights of tommorrow and the tantalizing prospect of one day sleeping in the President's house more than make up for it.

The greatest lovers on the society scene have it easiest of all-they're so far above the routine of everyday life that even breakfast seems fabolous.

Who are the greatest lovers of the western world? They are those vital personalities who seems always just out of reach, bigger than life, and, to those who have known them, the one memory that will never fade.

THE QUANTITY BOYS-Prince,Sylvester Stallone, Eddie Murphy

I group them together because thier mating habits are so similar: They go out to clubs with a multitude of bodyguards, send them out to gather all the prettiest girls in the place, then invite them back to thier spacious abodes to "party." Eddie Murphy carefully interviews girls he'd like to know better, asking them about thier sexual history, education, drug use and hygiene. After a date, he also reportedly likes to sleep alone. The Quantity Boys have thier pick of new faces every night, preferring the cafeteria style of dating to anything more focused. They'd hate to miss anything.

Sherilyn Fenn

The most beguiling female star since Ava Gardner, men can't resist her. She's a drop-dead beauty who is at once alluring and innocent. She's already snagged Johnny Depp, Prince and at least a few Twin Peaks costars. She had a red-hot romance with one handsome Peaks hunk who was heartbroken when she showed up one Monday with a different costar, as if the first guy never existed. Though Fenn has posed in the buff in Playboy, there's still a lot we don't know about her.

Michelle Pfeiffer

One married to thirtysomething's Peter Horton, Pfeiffer made her mark during Dangerous Liasisons. She had then-boyfriend Michael Keaton visiting her on the set, yet secretly took up with then-married costar John Malkovich. Thier liaison left him with a busted-up marriage and a near-nervous brakdown. Every dangerous indeed. She could have gone out with any man in the world after The Fabolous Baker Boys, but has chosen instead to seattle into safety with steady Fisher Stevens. She's not a vamp-but she sure could be.

Bob Kerrey

At 47, BOb Kerrey is an everygreen,Petr lpan-type Democratic senator from Nebraska who is tipped as a possible future president. His Vietnamera limp-he lost right leg below the knee in battle but still runs marathons-adds a touch of heroism to a performance that is rated as one of the finest in Washington, D.C A divorce who quickly gets up to speed on the issues, Kerrey has spent little time in coaktail rooms since he came to the nation's capital in 1998. He prefers more intimate settings for exchanging ideas. Although he has squired reporters, perhaps in hopes of getting his message circulated for a possible 1992 presidential bid, Kerry is kept on a short leash by actress Debra Winger. This heartthrob met the notoriously hard-to-please Winger when he was Nebraska's governor. The two have kept thier relationship going in between her filming and trips to Cambodia. Winger obviously hopes to add some color to the White House. The accommodations would be a lot more luxurious than the small apartment the wealthy Kerry keeps in Washingto.