Who are the greatest senators from your state (of all time)?

[elperromagico]

Here in Arkansas, it seems the pickings are pretty slim. I'd probably go with Dale Bumpers, who was also a great progressive governor, and with J. William Fulbright (somewhat grudgingly, because of his opposition to civil rights) for being one of the first Senators to stand up in opposition to the war in Vietnam.

What about your state?

[NMDemDist2]

1. Barry Goldwater I guess

he was more libertarian than repug

[elperromagico]

5. Goldwater was probably the last true conservative

to win the Republican nomination for President. Dead wrong on civil rights and the use of nuclear force, but he was by no means wrong on every issue.

[Zomby Woof]

83. never mind lol

oops. wrong post.

[2Design]

2. VA = none

[jjmalonejr]

3. John Kerry and Ted Kennedy

A pair to be proud of!

I live in CA, but I'm originally from MA, so I'll go with that.

[Yupster]

93. I'll add

Charles Sumner who was a great Massachusetts senator until he got the crap beaten out of him by a South Carolina Senator with a cane.

[Worst Username Ever]

4. WELLSTONE

[elperromagico]

7. Minnesota's had some great ones, hasn't it?

Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy, Walter Mondale, Paul Wellstone... those are some senators you can be proud of. :)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. But look what we have now...

That weasel Norm Coleman isn't worthy to shine any of those guys' shoes.

[elperromagico]

34. Oh, but he thinks he is.

His ego is appalling.

[scarletwoman]

39. Mark Dayton is really finding his voice -- I give him ALOT of credit!

You should have heard him at the state DFL Convention -- he was on FIRE! I am definitely falling in love with Dayton, and I'll do everything I possibly can to make sure he's re-elected. He's a gem -- not a Wellstone, but a damn good human being.

sw

[Lindacooks]

65. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coleman isn't fit to lick the shoes of Wellstone, Mondale, Humphrey, etc.

[stevebreeze]

96. I have a Wellsone for pres 2000 button

Got it at a coference sponsered by the Nation, at which Wellsotone spoke.

[DemWitch]

6. New York here

Senator Patrick Moynahan was a true statesman.

And well, Hillary just friggin' rocks... I love it when the Repubs get her dander up! She gets that "I havn't forgotten what you bastards did" look and ka-pow... there stands some right wingnut Senator wondering where his nuts went...

[Yupster]

92. William Seward

I was born in New York so I get to name a great New York Senator.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. Paul Simon

the greatest Senator from Illinois-and a great human being as well.

[bushwakker]

12. I have a great campaign button from his 1988 Prez bid*

[mantis49]

66. Ditto. n/t

[terrya]

97. I completely agree. Simon was the best. And may Barack Obama...

be a worthy successor to the legacy of Senator Paul Simon.

[bushwakker]

9. Edward Moore Kennedy

Prior was good Sen from Ark and Bumpers was fantastic.

[freetobegay]

10. Bob Graham.

[JohnLocke]

59. Second that.

[peekaloo]

89. Claude Pepper, Spessard Holland

Pepper served in both Houses and Holland also served as Governor.

[Doctor_J]

11. I can think of 3 really good ones

Everett Dirksen (R)
Paul Simon (D)
Adlai E Stevenson (D)

Richard Durbin will become one if he's there long enough.

[elperromagico]

16. Was Stevenson a senator?

I thought he was just a governor.

On edit: You're talking about his son, aren't you?

[Yupster]

90. Can I suggest

Stephen Douglas?

[GreenInNC]

13. from NC

The Honorable Samuel J. Ervin. Led the Watergate hearings against Nixon.

[jmowreader]

45. Terry Sanford was supposed to be excellent too

And then there is John Edwards, the next vice-president of the United States.

From Idaho, where I was raised: Frank Church.

[GreenInNC]

57. didn't serve very long

Terry Sanford is more known as a great Governor than senator. He only served one term in the Senate and while Edwards will make a good VP and someday a good President, he really has not shined as a senator. He has not had time to build the relationships, plus the Dems are not in power in the Senate and that makes his job much harder.

[HFishbine]

61. Yep.

He gets my vote. Brilliant with all that "Now I'm just a country lawyer" stuff.

[yardwork]

81. Plus, good senators from NC get extra credit

for not being Jesse Helms.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

14. I'm a tad pissed off at one of mine right now, see I'm from Connecticut

grrrrrrrrrrrrr :mad:

[calico1]

23. Hey, I know....

But we also had Abe Ribicoff whom I have heard good things about although I don't remember anything first hand about him. I have lived in CT since 1987 and have voted since 1988. We have Chris Dodd though, and unlike "you-know-who" he is a real Democrat.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

25. Agreed - I've met Dodd - seems nice

"You know who" gets a cock-punch from me!

[MisterP]

15. Calif.--probably Boxer

[Bluzmann57]

17. Here in Iowa

Our current Senator, Tom Harkin and another guy, Harold Hughes, who was also a wonderful Governor. In fact, he was the last Democratic Governor until Vilsack. Mr. Hughes was a truck driver who later got into politics. A regular guy, in other words.

[yardwork]

82. Tom Harkin is very supportive of improving health care access.

I'm hopeful that he will play an important role if Kerry is elected.

[Cuban_Liberal]

18. Paul Simon, Paul Douglas, Adlai Stevenson III and Dick Durbin...

And those are just the Democrats. IL manages to send some decent talent to the Senate, usually...

:)

[LSdemocrat]

19. Harry Truman is the best from my state

[elperromagico]

21. What about Stuart Symington? n/t

[depakid]

20. Wayne Morse of Oregon!

He took on Joe McCarthy and was one of only two senators to vote against the Gulf of Tonkin resolution that formalized America's entry into the Vietnam war. He was a true maverick and he earned his nickname- the conscience of the Senate.

[roguevalley]

32. He and Sam Rayburn were the greatest ever.

[louis-t]

22. Carl Levin

[5thGenDemocrat]

67. Carl Levin's a fine Senator, yes

But, in Michigan's 167 years, I'd say Zachariah Chandler and Arthur Vandenberg were the most important (though Levin's not done,yet). Senator Chandler was one of Lincoln's most important allies during the Civil War, while Vandenberg (a rabid isolationist pre-WWII) represented the United States (at Harry Truman's personal request) at the 1945 conference in San Francisco where the United Nations was founded.
John
Phil Hart deserves to be on the short list, too.

[louis-t]

73. Great Job!

And you're right about Phil Hart.

[HawkerHurricane]

24. I don't know about best Senator...

but we had a Senator who had the best SONG about a Senator...

George Murphy
During the last election we had a good deal of fun back east following your senatorial contest out here. I'm from Massachusetts and I feel we have a certain right to gloat over the other states because Massachusetts is after all the only state with three senators. Anyway, here's a salute to your new junior senator.

Hollywood's often tried to mix
Show business with politics,
From Helen Gahagan
To Ronald Reagan,
But Mister Murphy is the star
Who's done the best by far.

Oh gee, it's great,
At last we've got a Senator who can
Really sing and dance!
We can't expect America
To win against its foes
With no one in the Senate who
Can really tap his toes.

The movies that you've seen
On your television screen
Show his legislative talents at a glance.
Should Americans pick crops? George says "No,
'Cause no one but a Mexican would stoop so low."
And after all, even in Egypt, the pharaohs
Had to import
Hebrew braceros.

Think of all the musicals we have in store.
Imagine: Broadway Melody of 1984.
Yes, now that he's a Senator, he's really got the chance
To give the public
A song and dance!

by Tom Lehrer

[dryan]

74. Question

How can Massachusettes have 3 senators?

[HawkerHurricane]

77. The song was written in the mid 1960's...

One of the Kennedy Bros. was Senator from New York. So, the songwriter was claiming Mass. had 3 senators, the two regulars and the Kennedy. It was a joke, and got laughs at the time.

[leyton]

26. none come to mind for NC...

the past few years have been jesse helms (racist), elizabeth dole (hack), lauch faircloth (ugh), and john edwards.

about Edwards - he's a great guy, great candidate, all that, but he's simply not been a great Senator because he ran for president so early on. I have nothing against him, so don't flame me, but to be a great senator you have to be in the senate for a while first.

[comsymp]

51. See 13 & 45

If not great, then damn good ones. Ervin was really something- He and Barbara Jordan *owned* the Watergate hearings. I give Sanford extra points for also being a damn good Governor.

[Sporadicus]

27. Kentucky: Alben Barkley

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000145

[Yupster]

91. Kentucky has some great ones

Henry Clay and John Crittenden come quickly to mind.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

28. Robert Byrd

it's really no contest. WV had had some pretty lackluster guys. Byrd is the only real one.

[DaveSZ]

33. Texas (of all time?):

Ralph Yarborough and Lyndon Johnson without a doubt.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Yarborough


Ralph Webster Yarborough (June 8, 1903- January 27, 1996) was a Texas politician who served in the United States Senate and was a leader of the progressive or liberal wing of the Democratic party in Texas in his many races for statewide office. As a U.S. senator, he was a staunch supporter of "Great Society" legislation that encompassed Medicare and Medicaid, the War on Poverty, federal support for higher education and veterans. He co-wrote the Endangered Species Act and was the only southern senator to vote for all civil rights bills from 1957 to 1970 (including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act). Yarborough was known as "Smilin' Ralph" Yarborough and used the slogan "Let's put the jam on the lower shelf so the little people can reach it" in his campaigns.


LBJ also had an amazingly radical domestic agenda.

[Bettie]

29. William Proxmire, Wisconsin

I grew up in Wisconsin and remember him well. A man of great integrity.

[scarletwoman]

30. WELLSTONE!!!!

Need I say more?

sw

[Brian_Expat]

Rick Santorum!

;)

[Pepperbelly]

69. as B. Kerrey noted: isn't that Latin for 'asshole'? nt

[RoyGBiv]

35. Robert S. Kerr and Thomas P. Gore

Gore is probably a more controversial choice because he was notable for opposing FDR's social initiatives, although not entirely for the same reasons Republicans at the time, and currently, oppose them. He was a principled politician who truly feared the evils of massive government centralization, which caused him to fail to see the necessities of the new age into which the nation was moving. He was not against the programs, rather the source of their organization and of the deficit spending required to fund them.

Still, he did a lot of good during his tenure as Senator and was one of the few Congressmen in this nation's history who ever made a stand against big oil and its ravenous appetite. He was part of a filibuster in Congress seeking to prevent legislation giving drilling rights to oil companies, in effect stealing property rights from private individuals, particularly Indians. He was also essential in demanding that the US government adhere to its obligations to treaties with Indian nations, securing in one instance a payment of 30 million dollars (in the 1930's) that had been withheld by previous administrations.

Gore was known as the "Blind Orator," the first totally blind man ever to serve in the US Senate, and man whose skills of oration were legendary in his time. And, he is the grandfather of Gore Vidal. That has to count for something.

Kerr's many accomplishments are legendary to Oklahomans. He, too, has some controversial matters in his past, as do all Oklahoma politicians it seems. But, he, more than any national representative of the state, was instrumental in conservation, maintaining clean water supplies, establishing and maintaining parks and recreation areas. Many of the states parks and water-related installations are named after him.

And, as a side note, his mansion near Poteau, OK has been turned into a B&B and museum where, for a very reasonable charge, you can sleep in the same room as such people as LBJ, JFK, and others have slept. It also overlooks some of the most beautiful land this country has to offer. Kerr's estate made sure the mansion was preserved so that all people who wanted to do so could enjoy it as much as he had.

[bobbieinok]

41. I really couldn't stand Kerr

Kerr-McGee oil company........wasn't that the co with the nuclear problem and the woman whistle-blower who died/was killed

in 56 as a good Southern Baptist, Kerr led the fight against the convention choosing JF Kennedy as vice-presidential candidate

....I was fascinated by Kennedy and watched the whole thing avidly and was furious with Kerr

....Kerr as a big name politician always came around for the church vote during elections

NOTE: see my later suggestion of Fred Harris from OK

[RoyGBiv]

48. Good point...

Well, Kerr himself was dead by the time of the Karen Silkwood controversy, but I get your point. I admit to a bit of bias because his company started in my old hometown, and pretty much everything that town had was due in some way to Kerr. In effect we, a little town of about 12,000 people, had our own Senator.

And, I do appreciate his conservation efforts, which, in my view, seemed genuine, despite his associations with the oil company. I don't think, at that time, that people who ran oil companies were inherently bad, just that a lot of them ended up that way. Anyway...

I had a mental blip and forgot about Harris when I responded. He was a good one. He's endorsed Kaylan Free I understand.

[Solly Mack]

36. Lyman Hall. Hey! It was the Continental CONGRESS..so it counts! :o)

well, ok..he doesn't count

Max Cleland

Wyche Fowler

Sam Nunn

Joe Brown (1880-1890) wasn't at all fond of jeff davis

Vacant (1861-1871..true!...and as no one there means no harm caused...vacant makes for one hell of a senator!)a little humor never hurts.

I'd rather list greatest governors ;)

[elperromagico]

42. I've put up a thread for greatest governors.

Just for you. :) Knock yourself out.

[Solly Mack]

43. Thank you!!!!

off to cast my vote :hi:

[elperromagico]

44. Here's a link for you,

if you have trouble finding it:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2045410

[Nlighten1]

37. G. V. "Sonny" Montgomery. (R) MS

I don't live in MS anymore but I still like this guy.

[NewJerseyDem]

49. He was a Democrat

And he wasn't a senator.

[Nlighten1]

55. Woops

No wonder I liked him so much.

[NewJerseyDem]

56. Well, he voted like a Republican

So, I could see how it could get confusing.

[Gothmog]

38. Texas-LBJ

LBJ was clearly the greatest Texas Senator of recent memory. Rayburn was very powerful in his era.

[bobbieinok]

40. IA Harold Hughes (was gov and senator), OK Fred Harris

[mark414]

46. Russ Feingold!

i'm so proud of him

[NewJerseyDem]

47. Probably Clifford Case

He was a Republican, but he was more liberal than most Democrats. We have two really good ones now in Lautenberg and Corzine (even though I really don't like that Corzine spent his money on his campaign) and Bradley was pretty good. The only ones recently that I don't like are the Torch and Harrison Williams, the two corrupt ones. I don't know much about any senators pre-1950s but none of them seem particularly brilliant or are well-known.

[MaineDem]

50. Edmund S Muskie

Although I do admire Margaret Chase Smith, a Republican.

[Brian_Expat]

52. Joseph McCarthy

He saved us from the commies. ;)

[Solly Mack]

53. hmm...ahhh...

:spank:

bad, Brian! bad, Brian! no cookies for you!

[MrsMatt]

58. Jesse Helms

He became good friends with Paul Wellstone.

[stavka]

54. Carl Levin - Michigan

Hate his blanket support for Israel, but hey what can one expect? (and he even comes off a bit moderate on the issue)

I'll trade 97% votes I agree with for 3% I don't, (yet understand) any day. DREAD the day he and his brother (Sander) have to put their seats in the ring. ;(

[Jackpine Radical]

60. Wisconsin: Robert LaFollette.

No contest.

[Cheesehead]

72. Yup, Fighting Bob for sure

with Feingold and Gaylord Nelson in the running for second.

[Poiuyt]

80. Wisconsin has had some GREAT senators

LaFollet, Proxmire, Feingold.

Our reps sometimes leave something to be desired.

[Bucky]

62. TX - Ralph Yarborough

[NoPasaran]

76. I'd add LBJ and Sam Houston to the list

[OKNancy]

63. Fred Harris

Robert S. Kerr
Thomas P. Gore ( our blind Senator and grandfather of Gore Vidal)

[stevedeshazer]

64. Wayne Morse - not even close

One of only two to vote against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
<snip>
The black-and-white TV footage is grainy and faded, but it still jumps off the screen – a portentous clash between a prominent reporter and a maverick politician. On the CBS program Face the Nation, journalist Peter Lisagor argued with a senator who stood almost alone on Capitol Hill, strongly opposing the war in Vietnam from the outset.

"Senator, the Constitution gives to the president of the United States the sole responsibility for the conduct of foreign policy," Lisagor said.

"Couldn't be more wrong," Wayne Morse broke in. "You couldn't make a more unsound legal statement than the one you have just made. This is the promulgation of an old fallacy that foreign policy belongs to the president of the United States. That's nonsense."

Lisagor: "To whom does it belong then, senator?"

Morse: "It belongs to the American people.... And I am pleading that the American people be given the facts about foreign policy."

Lisagor: "You know, senator, that the American people cannot formulate and execute foreign policy."

Morse: "Why do you say that?...I have complete faith in the ability of the American people to follow the facts if you'll give them. And my charge against my government is – we're not giving the American people the facts."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wish Wayne Morse had been elected President.

[OnionPatch]

68. Barbara Boxer!

Gotta love her. (Most of the time.)

[KamaAina]

70. This is easy: Daniel Inouye, Spark Matsunaga.

There have only been three others since statehood in 1959: Daniel Akaka, who sponsors a native Hawaiian recognition bill but little else, one-termer Oren Long, and repuke Hiram Fong.

[nini]

71. Calif - Alan Cranston

thought that Keating thing at the end probably ruined all the good things he did while in office.

great environmentalist and fighter for the worker.. AND anti nukes

[genius]

98. You're probably right

[lukasahero]

75. Not from RI but I grew up there and

I have to say two of the better senators ever hailed from RI - John Chaffee and Claiborne Pell.

[claudiajean]

78. Henry "Scoop" Jackson and Warren Magnuson...

...for Washington.

Our state kicked some serious butt when we had that pair serving simultaneously.

[AntiCoup2K4]

85. Scoop's not looking too good these days unfortunately....

...seems some of the PNAC'ers currently destroying the world got their start in his office. (which embarrasses the Hell out of me as a native Washingtonian) :(

[ThomWV]

79. Here In West Virginia

We have Robert Byrd right now. Of course he has been in the Senate since its first day, so how you going to beat that? The best we have had is what we have.

[mtnester]

84. John Glenn

All around good, solid Dem

[democratreformed]

86. Ha! Dale Bumpers was my answer too!

Hello, fellow Arky!

[depakid]

87. Maggie!

Warren Magnuson of Washington was one of the greatest senators ever. He authored the Civil Rights Act and created legislation to protect Puget Sound and establish the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

He may well have been the greatest consumer advocate to ever sit in the Senate (the Magnuson-Moss warranty act is still one of the consumer protection statutesever written). "Maggie" was also a champion of federal aid to education and helped to establish the National Institutes of Health.

[SaveElmer]

88. Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, & Paul Wellstone

In that order !!

HHH is my personal political hero of all time!!!

[agates]

94. Here in SD that would have to be George McGovern

[stevebreeze]

95. I have two...states that is.

From WI, the state where I spent the first half of my life, it would be fightin Bob LaFollete and Proxmire. From IL, where I now reside Simon and Durbin.
:kick:

[ljm2002]

99. Montana:

Jeanette Rankin -- first woman representative to serve in the U.S. Congress, before women even had the vote. She fought for the cause of women's votes too. Okay, so she was a Representative, not a Senator (she tried, but failed to win a Senate seat) -- still one of my all time favorites. She foughtA committed pacifist, she voted against our entering both World Wars.

Mike Mansfield -- longtime Senator, served in WWI, then was a miner in Butte, then, prodded by his wife, went to college, got a degree and became a Senator. He was by all accounts one of the most well-liked Senators. When he retired from the Senate he served as the U.S. ambassador to Japan for many years.