Alan K. Simpson, three-term Wyoming senator, dies at 93
'Al Simpson was an amazing friend, an incredible statesman, a thoughtful courageous politician, and a wonderful human being who brought humor, wisdom, and razor-sharp insight to any situation,' wrote Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon. 'Wyoming has lost a true light.'
He was a member of the prolific and influential Wyoming Simpson family and the second son of Milward Simpson, a well-known lawyer and one-time governor of Wyoming. Following a struggle to recover from a hip broken in December, he died 'surrounded by his family and friends' early Friday morning, according to a published statement from his family and The Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
Simpson was a gigantic figure in American politics both figuratively and literally, standing 6-foot-7 and wearing size 15 shoes. He was first elected to public office in 1964 as a member of the Wyoming House of Representatives, where he served until 1977. The following year he was elected to the U.S. Senate, which was a seat he held for 18 years until 1997, which included a decade-long run as Republican Whip. In 1985, he worked closely with democratic colleagues to put together the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which is lauded today as a benchmark of bipartisan cooperation. In 2022, Simpson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden.
Former President George W. Bush wrote that he 'was one of the finest public servants ever to have graced our nation's capital,' in a statement released Friday. Bush quoted the eulogy Simpson gave for his father to celebrate the 'humble, funny, strong man' he was. 'Those who travel the high road of humility in Washington, D.C., are not bothered by heavy traffic.'
He was known for his folksy language and acerbic wit. During negotiations over The Clean Air Act in 1990, he referred to his democratic colleague, Henry Waxman, as being 'tougher than a boiled owl.' Another time, he said that 'we have two political parties in this country, the Stupid Party and the Evil Party. I belong to the Stupid Party.'
While he believed that 'humor is the universal solvent against the abrasive elements of life,' he also said that 'telling the truth is the essence of leadership. If you have integrity, nothing else matters. And if you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.'
Simpson is survived by his wife Ann, whom he was married to for 70 years; brother Peter; and children William, Colin and Susan; as well as grandchildren.
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