Letter from Washington

THE LIFTOFF of Bob Dole as Senate Majority Leader has Capitol Hill pols assessing whether this sleek projectile will be in orbit for two years, or four, or more, The early book had it that the Senate would return to the Democrats, after a six-year hiatus, in 1986 But a check of a few significant races points to an extension of Dole’s tenure at least through 1988.

Colorado’s Senator Gary Hart, up for re-election in 1986, is almost certainly going to bow out. He wants to target his resources on a run for the Presidency in 1988. The Democrats’ first choice to supplant Hart had been the popular Governor Richard Lamm (a/k/a “Governor Doom” for his incredible admonitions to the elderly to recognize their “duty to die and get out of the way”). Fortunately for Republicans, Lamm decided against the run because he and his family just could not tolerate life in D.C.

Featured Tags

Presidential Election

George H. W. Bush

THE LIFTOFF of Bob Dole as Senate Majority Leader has Capitol Hill pols assessing whether this sleek projectile will be in orbit for two years, or four, or more, The early book had it that the Senate would return to the Democrats, after a six-year hiatus, in 1986 But a check of a few significant races points to an extension of Dole’s tenure at least through 1988.

Colorado’s Senator Gary Hart, up for re-election in 1986, is almost certainly going to bow out. He wants to target his resources on a run for the Presidency in 1988. The Democrats’ first choice to supplant Hart had been the popular Governor Richard Lamm (a/k/a “Governor Doom” for his incredible admonitions to the elderly to recognize their “duty to die and get out of the way”). Fortunately for Republicans, Lamm decided against the run because he and his family just could not tolerate life in D.C.