Capital Scene: Bread & Circuses

ON his last day as Senate Majority Leader, Bob Dole wanted to clear the floor calendar so that things would be nice and tidy before he bade farewell. Among other things, he wanted the Senate to confirm President Clinton’s pending judicial nominees. But Sen. Larry Craig (R., Idaho) objected: it would be absurd for candidate Dole to be campaigning against Clinton judges right after Majority Leader Dole had expedited the approval of 17 new Clinton judicial nominees. Dole’s floor manager, Elizabeth Greene, was surprised in turn. She hadn’t realized that the nominations were controversial. Still, Craig succeeded in derailing the confirmation votes.

This incident illustrates how Dole’s leadership office operated. In the words of one veteran Senate staffer: “They kept the trains running on time without much regard to where the trains were going.” With the election of Trent Lott as Majority Leader, conservatives believe the Senate is now in the hands of someone with an unerring sense of direction.

About the Author

Kate O'Beirne

Featured Tags

ON his last day as Senate Majority Leader, Bob Dole wanted to clear the floor calendar so that things would be nice and tidy before he bade farewell. Among other things, he wanted the Senate to confirm President Clinton’s pending judicial nominees. But Sen. Larry Craig (R., Idaho) objected: it would be absurd for candidate Dole to be campaigning against Clinton judges right after Majority Leader Dole had expedited the approval of 17 new Clinton judicial nominees. Dole’s floor manager, Elizabeth Greene, was surprised in turn. She hadn’t realized that the nominations were controversial. Still, Craig succeeded in derailing the confirmation votes.

This incident illustrates how Dole’s leadership office operated. In the words of one veteran Senate staffer: “They kept the trains running on time without much regard to where the trains were going.” With the election of Trent Lott as Majority Leader, conservatives believe the Senate is now in the hands of someone with an unerring sense of direction.