“Party Leadership”
Majority and Minority Leaders and Party Whips
Introduction
The positions of party floor leader are not included in the Constitution but developed gradually in the 20th century.
The first floor leaders were formally designated in 1920 (Democrats) and 1925 (Republicans).
The Senate Republican and Democratic floor leaders are elected by the members of their party in the Senate at the
beginning of each Congress. Depending on which party is in power, one serves as majority leader and the other as
minority leader. The leaders serve as spokespersons for their parties' positions on issues. The majority leader
schedules the daily legislative program and fashions the unanimous consent agreements that govern the time for
debate.
The majority leader has the right to be called upon first if several senators are seeking recognition by the presiding
officer, which enables him to offer motions or amendments before any other senator.
Majority and Minority Leaders
Elected at the beginning of each Congress by members of their respective party conferences to represent them on
the Senate floor, the majority and minority leaders serve as spokesmen for their parties' positions on the issues. The
majority leader has also come to speak for the Senate as an institution. Working with the committee chairs and
ranking members, the majority leader schedules business on the floor by calling bills from the calendar and keeps
members of his party advised about the daily legislative program. In consultation with the minority leader, the majority
leader fashions unanimous consent agreements by which the Senate limits the amount of time for debate and divides
that time between the parties. When time limits cannot be agreed on, the majority leader might file for cloture to shut
off debate. Occupying the front desks on the center aisle, the two leaders coordinate party strategy and try to keep
their parties united on roll-call votes.
The leaders spend much of their time on or near the Senate floor, to open the day's proceedings, keep legislation
moving, and protect the rights and interests of party members. When several senators are seeking recognition at the
same time, the presiding officer in the Senate will call on the majority leader first, then on the minority leader, and
then on the managers of the bill being debated, in that order. This right of first recognition enables the majority leader
to offer amendments, substitutes, and motions to reconsider before any other senator. Former Majority Leader Robert
C. Byrd called first recognition "the most potent weapon in the Majority Leader's arsenal."
The posts of majority and minority leader are not included in the Constitution, as are the president of the Senate (the
vice president of the United States) and the president pro tempore. Instead, party floor leadership evolved out of
necessity. During the nineteenth century, floor leadership was exercised by the chair of the party conference and the
chairs of the most powerful standing committees. In 1913, to help enact President Woodrow Wilson's ambitious
legislative program, Democratic Conference chairman John Worth Kern of Indiana began functioning along the lines
of the modern majority leader. In 1919, when Republicans returned to the majority, Republican Conference Chairman
Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. also acted as floor leader. Not until 1925 did Republicans officially designate Senator
Charles Curtis of Kansas as majority leader, separate from the Conference chair. (Five years earlier, the Democrats
had specifically named Oscar Underwood of Alabama as minority leader.)
Although party floor leadership posts carry great responsibility, they provide few specific powers. Instead, floor
leaders have largely had to depend on their individual skill, intelligence, and personality. Majority leaders seek to
balance the needs of senators of both parties to express their views fully on a bill with the pressures to move the bill
as quickly as possible toward enactment. These conflicting demands have required majority leaders to develop skills
in compromise, accommodation, and diplomacy. Lyndon Johnson, who held the post in the 1950s, once said that the
greatest power of the majority leader was "the power of persuasion."
The majority leader usually works closely with the minority leader so that, as Senator Bob Dole explained, "we never
surprise each other on the floor." The party leaders meet frequently with the president and with the leaders of the
House of Representatives. The majority leader also greets foreign dignitaries visiting the Capitol.
Majority and Minority Whips (Assistant Floor Leaders)
Both parties in the Senate elect whips. The term "whip" comes from a fox-hunting expression -- "whipper-in" -referring to the member of the hunting team responsible for keeping the dogs from straying from the team during a
chase.
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Established early in the 20th century, the development of party whips coincided with the evolution of party leaders in
the Senate. Democrat James Hamilton Lewis of Illinois became the first party whip in 1913, and the Republicans
established their own whip position two years later. These assistant leaders are mainly responsible for counting
heads and rounding up party members for votes and quorum calls, and they occasionally stand in for the majority or
minority leaders in their absence. List of Party Whips
Complete List of Majority and Minority Leaders
Congress
66th Congress (1919-1921)
[1]
67th Congress (1921-1923)
68th Congress (1923-1925)
Majority Leader
Minority Leader
None
Oscar W. Underwood(D-AL)
None
[3]
69th Congress (1925-1927)
[2]
Oscar W. Underwood(D-AL)
Charles Curtis (R-KS)
Joseph T. Robinson (D-AR)
Charles Curtis (R-KS)
70th Congress (1927-1929)
Charles Curtis (R-KS)
Joseph T. Robinson (D-AR)
[4]
Joseph T. Robinson (D-AR)
James E. Watson (R-IN)
[5]
Joseph T. Robinson (D-AR)
72th Congress (1931-1933)
James E. Watson (R-IN)
[6]
Joseph T. Robinson (D-AR)
73rd Congress (1933-1935)
Joseph T. Robinson (D-AR)
Charles L. McNary (R-OR)
74th Congress (1935-1937)
Joseph T. Robinson (D-AR)
Charles L. McNary (R-OR)
75th Congress (1937-1939)
Joseph T. Robinson (D-AR)
[8]
Alben Barkley (D-KY)
Charles L. McNary (R-OR)
76th Congress (1939-1941)
Alben Barkley (D-KY)
Charles L. McNary (R-OR)
77th Congress (1941-1943)
Alben Barkley (D-KY)
Charles L. McNary (R-OR)
78th Congress (1943-1945)
Alben Barkley (D-KY)
Wallace H. White, Jr. (R-ME)
79th Congress (1945-1947)
Alben Barkley (D-KY)
Wallace H. White, Jr. (R-ME)
80th Congress (1947-1949)
Wallace H. White, Jr. (R-ME)
71st Congress (1929-1931)
81th Congress (1949-1951)
Scott W. Lucas (D-IL)
[12]
Alben Barkley (D-KY)
[7]
[9]
[11]
Kenneth S. Wherry (R-NE)
Ernest W. McFarland(D-AZ)
Kenneth S. Wherry (R-NE)
Styles Bridges (R-NH)
Robert A. Taft (R-OH);
William F. Knowland (R-CA)
Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX)
84th Congress (1955-1957)
Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX)
William F. Knowland (R-CA)
85th Congress (1957-1959)
Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX)
William F. Knowland (R-CA)
86th Congress (1959-1961)
Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX)
82nd Congress (1951-1953)
83rd Congress (1953-1955)
[13]
[14]
[17]
[16]
[15]
Everett M. Dirksen (R-IL)
87th Congress (1961-1963)
Mike Mansfield (D-MT)
88th Congress (1963-1965)
Mike Mansfield (D-MT)
Everett M. Dirksen (R-IL)
88th Congress (1963-1965)
Mike Mansfield (D-MT)
Everett M. Dirksen (R-IL)
89th Congress (1965-1967)
Mike Mansfield (D-MT)
Everett M. Dirksen (R-IL)
90th Congress (1967-1969)
Mike Mansfield (D-MT)
Everett M. Dirksen (R-IL)
91th Congress (1969-1971)
Mike Mansfield (D-MT)
Everett M. Dirksen (R-IL)
[18]
Hugh D. Scott, Jr. (R-PA)
92nd Congress (1971-1973)
Mike Mansfield (D-MT)
Hugh D. Scott, Jr. (R-PA)
93rd Congress (1973-1975)
Everett M. Dirksen (R-IL)
Mike Mansfield (D-MT)
Hugh D. Scott, Jr. (R-PA)
94th Congress (1975-1977)
[19]
Mike Mansfield (D-MT)
Hugh D. Scott, Jr. (R-PA)
95th Congress (1977-1979)
[20]
Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
Howard H. Baker, Jr. (R-TN)
Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
Howard H. Baker, Jr. (R-TN)
96th Congress (1979-1981)
[10]
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97th Congress (1981-1983)
Howard H. Baker, Jr. (R-TN)
98th Congress (1983-1985)
Howard H. Baker, Jr. (R-TN)
99th Congress (1985-1987)
Robert Dole (R-KS)
[22]
Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
101st Congress (1989-1991)
George J. Mitchell (D-ME)
102nd Congress (1991-1993)
George J. Mitchell (D-ME)
104th Congress (1995-1997)
[26]
Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
[23]
100th Congress (1987-1989)
103rd Congress (1993-1995)
Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
[21]
George J. Mitchell (D-ME)
Robert Dole (R-KS)
[24]
Robert Dole (R-KS)
Robert Dole (R-KS)
[25]
Robert Dole (R-KS)
Robert Dole (R-KS)
Thomas A. Daschle (D-SD)
Trent Lott (R-MS)
Thomas A. Daschle (D-SD)
Trent Lott (R-MS)
Thomas A. Daschle (D-SD)
Thomas A. Daschle (D-SD)
Trent Lott (R-MS)
108th Congress (2003-2005)
William H. Frist (R-TN)
Thomas A. Daschle (D-SD)
109th Congress (2005-2007)
William H. Frist (R-TN)
110th Congress (2007-2009)
Harry M. Reid (D-NV)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
111th Congress (2009-2011)
Harry M. Reid (D-NV)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
112th Congress (2011-2013)
Harry M. Reid (D-NV)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
105th Congress (1997-1999)
106th Congress (1999-2001)
107th Congress (2001-2003)
[27]
[29]
[28]
Harry M. Reid (D-NV)
1
Oscar W. Underwood became the first elected party leader on April 27, 1920. There was no elected Republican
floor leader prior to 1925. During the 66th Congress, Henry Cabot Lodge (R-MA) was the party conference chairman
and served as an unofficial party leader.
2
Henry Cabot Lodge (R-MA) continued to serve as unofficial Republican leader.
3
Henry Cabot Lodge (R-MA) died on November 9, 1924. Charles Curtis was elected Republican floor leader on
March 5, 1925. The Democratic party elected Joseph T. Robinson as floor leader on December 3, 1923.
4
Charles Curtis resigned his Senate seat on March 3, 1929, having been elected vice president of the United States.
5
James E. Watson was elected Republican leader on March 5, 1929.
6
James E. Watson lost his reelection bin in 1932 and left office on March 3, 1933.
7
Charles L. McNary was reelected Republican leader on March 7, 1933.
8
Joseph T. Robinson died on July 14, 1937. Alben Barkley was elected Democratic leader on July 22, 1937.
9
In 1940, at the request of Senator McNary, Senator Warren R. Austin (R-VT) served as acting leader.
10
Although Charles McNary continued to be officially listed as minority leader until his death on February 25, 1944,
Wallace H. White, Jr. served as acting leader during McNary's illness and was elected Republican leader on January
4, 1945. He retired from the Senate on January 3, 1949.
11
Alben Barkley resigned his Senate seat on January 19, 1949, having been elected vice president of the United
States.
12
Scott W. Lucas was elected Democratic leader on December 31, 1948, to be in effect on January 20, 1949. Lucas
lost his bid for reelection in 1950 and left office on January 3, 1951. Kenneth W. Wherry was elected Republican
leader on January 3, 1949.
13
Ernest W. McFarland was elected Democratic leader on January 2, 1951. He lost his bid for reelection in 1952, and
left office on January 3, 1953. Kenneth Wherry died on November 29, 1951. Styles Bridges was elected Republican
leader on January 8, 1952. He chose not to continue as party leader in the 83rd Congress, instead of becoming
president pro tempore and chair of the Committee on Appropriations.
14
Robert Taft was elected Republican leader on January 2, 1953. He died the following July 31. William Knowland
was elected Republican leader on August 4, 1953. Lyndon Johnson was elected Democratic leader on January 2,
1953. William Knowland was the youngest majority leader in Senate history, being elected to the position at the age
of 45 years old, ranking him second behind Knowland. Johnson was the youngest Democratic floor leader.
15
William Knowland retired from the Senate at the end of the 85th Congress.
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16
Lyndon Johnson resigned his Senate seat on January 3, 1961, having been elected vice president of the United
States. Everett Dirksen was elected Republican leader on January 7, 1959.
17
Mike Mansfield was elected Democratic leader on January 3, 1961, and served until January 3, 1977, making him
the longest-serving majority leader in Senate history.
18
Everett Dirksen died on September 7, 1969. Hugh Scott was elected Republican leader on September 24, 1969.
19
Mike Mansfield and Hugh Scott both retired from the Senate at the end of the 94th Congress.
20
Robert C. Byrd was elected Democratic leader on January 4, 1977. Howard H. Baker, Jr., was elected Republican
leader on January 4, 1977.
21
Howard Baker Retired from the Senate at the end of the 98th Congress.
22
Robert Dole was elected Republican leader on November 28, 1984, effective January 3, 1985.
23
Robert Byrd resigned as majority leader to become chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations in the 101st
Congress and was elected president pro tempore on January 3, 1989.
24
George Mitchell was elected Democratic leader on November 29, 1988, effective January 3, 1989.
25
George Mitchell retired from the Senate at the end of the 103rd Congress.
26
On December 22, 1995, Senator Robert Dole broke Charles McNary's record as longest-serving Republican
leader, having served since January 3, 1985, ten years, eleven months and nine days. Dole resigned from the Senate
on June 11, 1996, to devote time to his presidential campaign. Trent Lott was elected Republican leader on June 12,
1996. Thomas Daschle was elected Democratic leader on December 2, 1994.
27
From January 3 to January 20, 2001, with the Senate divided evenly between the two parties, the Democrats held
the majority due to the deciding vote of outgoing Democratic Vice President Al Gore. Senator Thomas A. Daschle
served as majority leader at that time. Beginning on January 20, 2001, Republican Vice President Richard Cheney
held the deciding vote, giving the majority to the Republicans. Senator Trent Lott resumed his position as majority
leader on that date. On May 24, 2001, Senator James Jeffords of Vermont announced his switch from Republican to
Independent status, effective June 6, 2001. He announced that he would caucus with the Democrats, giving the party
a one-seat advantage and changing control of the Senate back to the Democrats. Thomas A. Daschle again became
majority leader on June 6, 2001. Trent Lott announced on December 20, 2002, that he would not continue as
Republican leader in the 108th Congress. William Frist was elected Republican leader on December 23, 2002 and
began service on January 7, 2003.
28
Senator Thomas Daschle lost his reelection bid on November 2, 2004, and retired from the Senate on January 3,
2005. Democratic Whip Harry M. Reid was elected to the post for the 109th Congress.
29
Senator William Frist retired from the Senate on January 3, 2007. Republican Whip Mitch McConnell was elected
to the post of Republican Leader on November 15, 2006, for the 110th Congress.
Longest-Serving Party Leaders
(those serving as party leader for six years or longer)
Mike Mansfield (D-MT) – 16 years
Senate Service: 1953-1977
Party Leader: 1961-1977
Majority Leader: 1961-1977
Minority Leader: None.
Joseph T. Robinson (D-AR) – 14 years
Senate Service: 1913-1937
Party Leader: 1923-1937
Majority Leader: 1933-1937
Minority Leader: 1923-1933
Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) – 12 years
Senate Service: 1959-2010
Party Leader: 1977-1989
Majority Leader: 1977-1981; 1987-1989
Minority Leader: 1981-1987
Alben Barkley (D-KY) – 12 years
Senate Service: 1927-1949; 1955-1956
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Party Leader: 1937-1949
Majority Leader: 1937-1947
Minority Leader: 1947-1949
Robert Dole (R-KS) –11 years
Senate Service: 1969-1996
Party Leader: 1985-1996
Majority Leader: 1985-1987; 1995-1996
Minority Leader: 1987-1995
Charles McNary (R-OR) – 11 years
Senate Service: 1917-1944
Party Leader: 1933-1944
Majority Leader: None.
Minority Leader: 1933-1944
Everett M. Dirksen (R-IL) – 10 years
Senate Service: 1951-1969
Party Leader: 1959-1969
Majority Leader: None.
Minority Leader: 1959-1969
Thomas Daschle (D-SD) – 10 years
Senate Service: 1987-2005
Party Leader: 1995-2005
Majority Leader: 2001-2003
Minority Leader: 1995-2001; 2003-2005
Howard Baker, Jr. (R-TN) – 8 years
Senate Service: 1967-1985
Party Leader: 1977-1985
Majority Leader: 1981-1985
Minority Leader: 1977-1981
Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX) – 8 years
Senate Service: 1949-1961
Party Leader: 1953-1961
Majority Leader: 1955-1961
Minority Leader: 1953-1955
Hugh Scott, Jr. (R-PA) – 8 years
Senate Service: 1959-1977
Party Leader: 1969-1977
Majority Leader: None.
Minority Leader: 1969-1977
Trent Lott (R-MS) – 6.5 years
Senate Service: 1989-2007
Party Leader: 1996-2003
Majority Leader: 1996-2001
Minority Leader: 2001-2003
William F. Knowland (R-CA) – 6 years
Senate Service: 1945-1959
Party Leader: 1953-1959
Majority Leader: 1953-1955
Minority Leader: 1955-1959
George J. Mitchell (D-ME) – 6 years
Senate Service: 1980-1995
Party Leader: 1989-1995
Majority Leader: 1989-1995
Minority Leader: None.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sources:
U.S. Congress. Senate. Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, by Floyd M. Riddick, S. Doc 100-29, 100th
Congress, 2d session, 1988.
Byrd, Robert C. The Senate, 1789-1989: Addresses on the History of the United States Senate. Volume II
(Washington: U.S. GPO, 1991).
Baker, Richard A. and Roger H. Davidson, eds. First Among Equals: Outstanding Senate Leaders of the Twentieth
Century (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 1991).
U.S. Congress. Senate. Minutes of the Senate Republican Conference: Sixty-second Congress through Eighty-eighth
Congress, 1911-1964, edited by Wendy Wolff and Donald A. Ritchie. Washington: GPO, 1999, Senate Document
105-19.
U.S. Congress. Senate. Minutes of the Senate Democratic Conference: Fifty-eighth through Eighty-eighth
Congresses, 1903-1964, edited by Donald A. Ritchie. Washington, GPO, 1999. Senate Document 105-20.
Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
Party Whips
Party Whips (Assistant Floor Leaders)
Both parties in the Senate elect whips. The term "whip" comes from a fox-hunting expression -- "whipper-in" -referring to the member of the hunting team responsible for keeping the dogs from straying from the team during a
chase. Established early in the 20th century, the development of party whips coincided with the evolution of party
leaders in the Senate.
Democrat James Hamilton Lewis of Illinois became the first party whip in 1913, and the Republicans established their
own whip position two years later. These assistant leaders are mainly responsible for counting heads and rounding
up party members for votes and quorum calls, and they occasionally stand in for the majority or minority leaders in
their absence.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Republican Party Whips
Name: James W. Wadsworth, Jr. (NY)
Term: 1915
Note: Wadsworth became the first Republican party whip in 1915.
Name: Charles Curtis (KS)
Term: 1915-1924
Note: Curtis was advanced to Republican party floor leader in 1925.
Name: Wesley L. Jones (WA)
Term: 1924-1929
Name: Simeon D. Fess (OH)
Term: 1929-1933
Name: Felix Hebert (RI)
Term: 1933-1935
Note: No Republican whips were appointed from 1935 to 1944 since only 17 Republicans were in the Senate
following the landslide election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936. Accordingly, the minutes of the
Republican Conference for the period state: "On motion of Senator Hastings, duly seconded and carried, it was
agreed that no Assistant Leader or Whip be elected but that the chairman be authorized to appoint Senators from
time to time to assist him in taking charge of the interests of the minority." A note attached to the conference minutes
added: "The chairman of the conference, Senator McNary, apparently appointed Senator Austin of Vermont as
assistant leader in 1943 and 1944, until the conference adopted Rules of Organization."
Name: Kenneth S. Wherry (NE)
Term: 1944-1949
Note: Wherry advanced to party leader in 1949.
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Name: Leverett Saltonstall (MA)
Term: 1949-1957
Name: Everett M. Dirksen (IL)
Term: 1957-1959
Note: Dirksen advanced to party leader in 1959.
Name: Thomas H. Kuchel (CA)
Term: 1959-1969
Note: Since 1969, Republicans have used the title "Assistant Leader" for this position.
Name: Hugh Scott (PA)
Term: 1969
Note: Scott advanced to party leader in 1969.
Name: Robert P. Griffin (MI)
Term: 1969-1977
Name: Theodore (Ted) Stevens (AK)
Term: 1977-1985
Name: Alan K. Simpson (WY)
Term: 1985-1995
Name: Trent Lott (MS)
Term: 1995-1996
Note: Lott advanced to party leader in 1996.
Name: Don Nickles (OK)
Term: 1996-2003
Name: Mitch McConnell (KY)
Term: 2003-2007
Note: McConnell advanced to party leader in 2007.
Name: Trent Lott (MS)
Term: 2007
Name: Jon Kyl (AZ)
Term: 2008-------------------------------------------------------------------------Democratic Party Whips
Name: J. Hamilton Lewis (IL)
Term: 1913-1919
Name: Peter G. Gerry (RI)
Term: 1919-1929
Name: Morris Sheppard (TX)
Term: 1929-1933
Name: J. Hamilton Lewis (IL)
Term: 1933-1939
Name: Sherman Minton (IN)
Term: 1939-1941
Name: Joseph Lister Hill (AL)
Term: 1941-1947
Name: Scott W. Lucas (IL)
Term: 1947-1949
Note: Lucas advanced to party leader in 1949.
Name: Francis J. Myers (PA)
Term: 1949-1951
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Name: Lyndon B. Johnson (TX)
Term: 1951-1953
Note: Johnson advanced to party leader in 1953.
Name: Earle C. Clements (KY)
Term: 1953-1957
Name: Michael J. Mansfield (MT)
Term: 1957-1961
Note: Mansfield advanced to party leader in 1961.
Name: Hubert H. Humphrey (MN)
Term: 1961-1965
Name: Russell B. Long (LA)
Term: 1965-1969
Name: Edward M. Kennedy (MA)
Term: 1969-1971
Name: Robert C. Byrd (WV)
Term: 1971-1977
Note: Byrd advanced to party leader in 1977.
Name: Alan Cranston (CA)
Term: 1977-1991
Name: Wendell H. Ford (KY)
Term: 1991-1999
Name: Harry M. Reid (NV)
Term: 1999-2005
Note: Reid advanced to party leader in 2005.
Name: Richard Durbin (IL)
Term: 2005-
Conference Chairpersons
Conference Chairpersons
Members of each major party meet in closed sessions known as party conferences (or party caucuses) to elect floor
leaders, make committee assignments, and set legislative agendas. The Democratic floor leader serves as chair of
the party conference, while the Republican party separates the positions, electing a chairperson for the party
conference, apart from the floor leader.
---------------------------------------------------------------Republican Conference Chairpersons
John P. Hale (NH)
Term: Term ended 1862
Henry B. Anthony (RI)
Term: 1862-1884
John Sherman (OH)
Term: 1884-1885
George Edmunds (VT)
Term: 1885-1891
John Sherman (OH)
Term: 1891-1897
William B. Allison (IA)
Term: 1897-1908
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Eugene Hale (ME)
Term: 1908-1911
Shelby Cullom (IL)
Term: 1911-1913
Jacob H. Gallinger (NH)
Term: 1913-1918
Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. (MA)
Term: 1918-1924
Charles Curtis (KS)
Term: 1924-1929
Note: Republican senators elected Charles Curtis of Kansas as conference chairman on November 28, 1924, and as
their first floor leader on March 5, 1925. Curtis, James Watson, and Charles McNary all served in dual roles as
conference chairmen and party floor leaders. In 1945, the two positions were separated, with Arthur Vandenberg
becoming conference chairman while Wallace H. White became Republican party floor leader. The positions have
remained separated.
James E. Watson (IN)
Term: 1929-1933
Note: Also served as Republican floor leader.
Charles L. McNary (OR)
Term: 1933-1944
Note: Also served as Republican floor leader.
Arthur H. Vandenberg (MI)
Term: 1945-1946
Eugene D. Millikin (CO)
Term: 1947-1956
Leverett Saltonstall (MA)
Term: 1957-1966
Margaret Chase Smith (ME)
Term: 1967-1972
Norris Cotton (NH)
Term: 1973-1974
Carl T. Curtis (NE)
Term: 1975-1978
Robert Packwood (OR)
Term: 1979-1980
James A. McClure (ID)
Term: 1981-1984
John Chafee (RI)
Term: 1985-1990
William Thad Cochran (MS)
Term: 1991-1996
Connie Mack (FL)
Term: 1997-2001
Richard J. Santorum (PA)
Term: 2001-2007
Jon Kyl (AZ)
Term: 2007
Lamar Alexander (TN)
Term: 2008-2012
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John Thune (SD)
Term: 2012-present
--------------------------------------------------------------------------Democratic Conference Chairpersons
John W. Stevenson (KY)
Term: Term ended 1877
William Wallace (PA)
Term: 1877-1881
George Pendleton (OH)
Term: 1881-1885
James Beck (KY)
Term: 1885-1890
Arthur P. Gorman (MD)
Term: 1890-1898
David Turpie (IN)
Term: 1898-1899
James K. Jones (AR)
Term: 1899-1903
Arthur P. Gorman (MD)
Term: 1903-1906
Joseph C.S. Blackburn (KY)
Term: 1906-1907
Charles A. Culberson (TX)
Term: 1907-1909
Hernando D. Money (MS)
Term: 1909-1911
Thomas S. Martin (VA)
Term: 1911-1913
John Worth Kern (IN)
Term: 1913-1917
Thomas S. Martin (VA)
Term: 1917-1919
Oscar W. Underwood (AL)
Term: 1920-1923
Note: Beginning in 1920, the Democratic Conference chairperson also served as Democratic floor leader. In that
year, Oscar Underwood became the first officially designated Democratic floor leader, and the tradition of combining
the two positions continues to this day.
Joseph T. Robinson (AR)
Term: 1923-1937
Alben W. Barkley (KY)
Term: 1937-1949
Scott W. Lucas (IL)
Term: 1949-1951
Ernest W. McFarland (AZ)
Term: 1951-1953
Lyndon B. Johnson (TX)
Term: 1953-1961
Mike Mansfield (MT)
Term: 1961-1977
Source URL: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/leader.htm
Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/polsc231
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Robert C. Byrd (WV)
Term: 1977-1989
George J. Mitchell (ME)
Term: 1989-1995
Thomas A. Daschle (SD)
Term: 1995-January 3, 2005
Harry M. Reid (NV)
Term: January 3, 2005--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Related Publications:
U.S. Congress. Senate. Minutes of the Senate Republican Conference: Sixty-second Congress through Eighty-eighth
Congress, 1911-1964, edited by Wendy Wolff and Donald A. Ritchie. Washington: GPO, 1999, Senate Document
105-19. (Available online in pdf format.)
U.S. Congress. Senate. Minutes of the Senate Democratic Conference: Fifty-eighth through Eighty-eighth
Congresses, 1903-1964, edited by Donald A. Ritchie. Washington, GPO, 1999. Senate Document 105-20. (Available
online in pdf format.)
Policy Committee Chair
Policy Committee Chair
The Senate created Democratic and Republican Policy Committees
in 1947. Until 2000, the Democratic Policy Committee was chaired by
the party floor leader, who also served as chair of the Democratic
Conference. A co-chair position was added in 1989. In the 106th
Congress, the majority leader dropped his co-chair status and the
chair of the policy committee is now an elected post. The Republican
Policy Committee elects its chairperson separate from the party floor
leader.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Republican Policy Committee Chairpersons
Robert A. Taft (OH)
Term: 1947-1952
William F. Knowland (CA)
Term: 1953
Homer Ferguson (MI)
Term: 1954
Styles Bridges (NH)
Term: 1955-1961
Bourke B. Hickenlooper (IA)
Term: 1962-1968
Gordon Allott (CO)
Term: 1969-1972
John Tower (TX)
Term: 1973-1985
William Armstrong (CO)
Term: 1985-1990
Source URL: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/leader.htm
Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/polsc231
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Page 11 of 16
Donald Lee Nickles (OK)
Term: 1991-1996
Larry Craig (ID)
Term: 1996-2003
Jon Kyl (AZ)
Term: 2003-2007
Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
Term: 2007- 2009
John Ensign (NV)
Term: 2009- June 2009
John Thune (SD)
Term: 2009-2012
John Barrasso (WY)
Term: 2012-present
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Democratic Policy Committee Chairpersons
Alben W. Barkley (KY)
Term: 1947-1949
Scott W. Lucas (IL)
Term: 1949-1951
Ernest W. McFarland (AZ)
Term: 1951-1953
Lyndon B. Johnson (TX)
Term: 1953-1961
Michael J. Mansfield (MT)
Term: 1961-1977
Robert C. Byrd (WV)
Term: 1977-1989
George J. Mitchell (ME)
Term: 1989-1995
Co-chair: Thomas Daschle (SD)
Term: 1989-1995
Thomas Daschle (SD)
Term: 1995-1999
Co-Chair: Harry Reid (NV)
Term: 1995-1999
Byron Dorgan (ND)
Term: 1999-2011
Charles Schumer (NY)
Term: 2011-present
Conference Secretaries
Conference Secretaries
Members of each political party convene in private meetings known as party conferences (or party caucuses) to elect
floor leaders, make committee assignments, and set legislative agendas. Each party elects a Conference Secretary
who is responsible for keeping the minutes. Edward Carmack of Tennessee became the first Democratic Conference
Secretary in 1903, and the Republicans elected their first Conference Secretary, Charles Curtis of Kansas, in 1911.
Source URL: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/leader.htm
Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/polsc231
This work is in the public domain.
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Republican Conference Secretaries
Charles Curtis (KS)
Term: 1911-1913
William S. Kenyon (IA)
Term: 1913-1915
James W. Wadsworth, Jr. (NY)
Term: 1915-1927
Frederick Hale (ME)
Term: 1927-1940
Wallace H. White, Jr. (ME)
Term: 1940-1944
Harold H. Burton (OH)
Term: 1944-1945
J. Chandler Gurney (SD)
Term: 1945-1946
Milton R. Young (ND)
Term: 1946-1971
Norris Cotton (NH)
Term: 1971-1972
Wallace F. Bennett (UT)
Term: 1973-1974
Robert T. Stafford (VT)
Term: 1976-1976
Clifford P. Hansen (WY)
Term: 1977-1978
E.J. "Jake" Garn (UT)
Term: 1979-1985
William Thad Cochran (MS)
Term: 1985-1991
Robert W. Kasten, Jr. (WI)
Term: 1991-1993
Trent Lott (MS)
Term: 1993-1995
Connie Mack (FL)
Term: 1995-1997
Paul Coverdell (GA)
Term: 1997-2000
Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
Term: 2001-2007
John Cornyn (TX)
Term: 2007-2009
John Thune (SD)
Term: 2009-June 2009
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Term: June 2009- Spetember 17, 2010
John Barrasso (WY)
Term: September 22, 2010-2012
Source URL: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/leader.htm
Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/polsc231
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Roy Blunt (MO)
Term: 2012-present
Note: With election of Kay Bailey Hutchison, the position became known as Republican Conference Vice-Chair.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Democratic Conference Secretaries
Edward W. Carmack (TN)
Term: 1903-1907
Robert L. Owen (OK)
Term: 1907-1911
William E. Chilton (WV)
Term: 1911-1913
Willard Saulsbury (DE)
Term: 1913-1916
Key Pittman (NV)
Term: 1916-1917
Note: Served as acting secretary.
William King (UT)
Term: 1917-1927
Hugo Black (AL)
Term: 1927-1937
Joshua B. Lee (OK)
Term: 1937-1942
Francis T. Maloney (CT)
Term: 1943-1945
Brien McMahon (CT)
Term: 1945-1952
Thomas Hennings (MO)
Term: 1953-1960
George Smathers (FL)
Term: 1960-1966
Robert C. Byrd (WV)
Term: 1967-1971
Frank Moss (UT)
Term: 1971-1976
Daniel Inouye (HI)
Term: 1977-1989
David Pryor (AR)
Term: 1989-1995
Barbara A. Mikulski (MD)
Term: 1995-2005
Debbie Stabenow (MI)
Term: 2005-2007
Patty Murray (WA)
Term: 2007-present
Source URL: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/leader.htm
Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/polsc231
This work is in the public domain.
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Page 14 of 16
Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairs
Campaign Committee Chairpersons
Democrats and Republicans in the Senate appoint campaign committees to raise funds for congressional elections.
Chaired by senators, these committees distribute funds to senators and promising candidates.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairpersons
Ted Stevens (AK)
Term: 1975-1977
Robert Packwood (OR)
Term: 1977-1979
John Heinz (PA)
Term: 1979-1981
Robert Packwood (OR)
Term: 1981-1983
Richard Lugar (IN)
Term: 1983-1985
John Heinz (PA)
Term: 1985-1987
Rudy Boschwitz (MN)
Term: 1987-1989
Don Nickles (OK)
Term: 1989-1991
Phil Gramm (TX)
Term: 1991-1995
Alfonse D'Amato (NY)
Term: 1995-1997
Mitch McConnell (KY)
Term: 1997-2001
William H. Frist (TN)
Term: 2001-2003
George Allen (VA)
Term: 2003-2005
Elizabeth Dole (NC)
Term: 2005-2007
John Ensign (NV)
Term: 2007- 2008
John Cornyn (TX)
Term: 2009- present
-----------------------------------------------------------------------Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairpersons
J. Bennett Johnston (LA)
Term: 1976-1977
Wendell Ford (KY)
Term: 1977-1983
Lloyd Bentsen (TX)
Term: 1983-1985
Source URL: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/leader.htm
Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/polsc231
This work is in the public domain.
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Page 15 of 16
George Mitchell (ME)
Term: 1985-1987
John Kerry (MA)
Term: 1987-1989
John Breaux (LA)
Term: 1989-1991
Charles S. Robb (VA)
Term: 1991-1993
Bob Graham (FL)
Term: 1993-1995
Bob Kerrey (NE)
Term: 1995-1999
Robert G. Torricelli (NJ)
Term: 1999-2001
Patty Murray (WA)
Term: 2001-2003
Jon S. Corzine (NJ)
Term: 2003-2005
Charles Schumer (NY)
Term: 2005-2008
Robert Menendez (NJ)
Term: 2008-2011
Patty Murray (WA)
Term: 2011-present
Source URL: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/leader.htm
Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/polsc231
This work is in the public domain.
Saylor.org
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