Al Simpson a model legislators should mirror
It’s a classic Sen. Al Simpson tale of humor and civility bridging a vertical and political divide. A chair played a key role.
The story comes from Robert Reich, Democratic Secretary of Labor (1993-1997) under President Bill Clinton, who was having a hard time hearing someone talking to him, animatedly, at a noisy social gathering in D.C.
Resourcefully, Reich, 4’11” grabbed a chair, moved it close to the speaker, 6’7”, and climbed onto it so they’d be eye to eye. A life-long Republican, Simpson introduced himself, Reich did likewise, and the banter commenced. They planned to meet for lunch.
Back in their offices, the two men asked their staffs to arrange the lunch and encountered resistance strikingly different political philosophies. That didn’t deter the duo who arranged to meet away from the Capitol. Their staffs never knew. A lengthy conversation ensued, sparking a life-long friendship between two men with different letters after their names.
In an approach incorporating humor and respect, Reich wrote about that relationship in a message he posted March 14, the day Simpson died, titled “In loving memory of my very dear 6-foot-7-inch Republican senator friend.” It’s accompanied by a photo of the two of them, standing, with Reich gesturing, possibly with a twinkle in his eye, and Simpson grinning widely, possibly in response. The image exudes camaraderie.
Later when they both lived in Boston, Reich and Simpson did a half-hour TV show about current topics, “The Long and the Short of It.” Earlier, Simpson co-hosted “Face Off” with Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy, debating the issues on the radio show.
Closer to home, Simpson met Norman Mineta, a future Democratic statesman, during a Boy Scout jamboree at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center when Moneta and his family were incarcerated there in WWII. Years later, in D.C., they reconnected and resumed their friendship. The new Mineta-Simpson Institute at Heart Mountain was established to provide workshops and programming specifically designed to foster empathy, courage and cooperation in the next generation of leaders.
The late senator’s genuine talents of engaging people of various persuasions with his wit and charm and of collaborating to forge legislative compromises are mentioned in many of the public tributes to the Wyoming legend.
“He was gifted in crossing party lines and building bipartisan consensus,” Colin Simpson said of his father. “He would relate to legislative colleagues in a manner that allowed them to feel valued and listened to without being taken advantage of.”
Former Wyoming Gov. Mike Sullivan, a Democrat, described Simpson as “a unique human being and a consummate public servant. His style was marked by his humor and civility, a willingness to address difficult issues and to do so with a bipartisan approach when it was in the state or nation’s interest.”
Simpson “was well known for rolling up his sleeves, working with anyone, regardless of party, to do what he thought was best for Wyoming and the nation,” Republican U.S. Sen. John Barrasso said in a statement.
We would hope that Simpson’s example of constructive dialogue and commitment to bipartisanship might inspire the behavior of present and future legislators.