The Senate Republican Conference is the formal organization of the (currently) 55 Republican Senators in the United States Senate. Over the last century, the mission of the Conference has expanded and been shaped as a means of informing the media of the opinions and activities of Senate Republicans. Today the Senate Republican Conference assists Republican Senators by providing a full range of communications services including graphics, radio, television, and the Internet. Its current chairman is Senator Rick Santorum, and its secretary is Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... Seal of the U.S. Senate The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ... The Republican conference of the United States Senate chooses a conference chairperson. ... Santorum redirects here. ... The United States Senate Republican Conferece Secretary is the third-ranking leadership position for within the U.S. Republican Party in the United States Senate. ... Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison, usually known as Kay Bailey Hutchison (born July 22, 1943, in Galveston, Texas), is the senior United States Senator from Texas. ...

History

The Republican Conference of the United States Senate is a descendant of the early American party caucus that decided party policies, approved appointees, and selected candidates. The meetings were private, and early records of the deliberations do not exist. Senate Republicans began taking formal minutes only in 1911, and they began referring to their organization as the "conference" in 1913. An early outgrowth of the effort to enhance party unity was the creation, in 1874, of a Steering Committee to prepare a legislative schedule for consideration by the Conference. The Committee became a permanent part of the Republican organization. A caucus is most generally defined as being a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

The Steering Committee, formalized Republican "leadership" in the 19th century was minimal; most legislative guidance came from powerful committee chairmen managing particular bills. The Conference began to acquire significance, however, with the election of Senator William B. Allison of Iowa as Chairman in 1897, and during the terms of successors such as Senator Orville H. Platt of Connecticut and Senator Nelson W. Aldrich of Rhode Island. The Chairman in 1915, Senator Jacob H. Gallinger of New Hampshire, who two years earlier had elected a whip to maintain a quorum to conduct Senate business. Senator James W. Wadsworth, Jr. of New York was elected both conference secretary and whip; a week later the responsibilities were divided between Senator Wadsworth as Secretary and Senator Charles Curtis of Kansas, who was elected whip. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... William Boyd Allison (March 2, 1829 - August 4, 1908) was an American lawyer and politician. ... Official language(s) English Capital Des Moines Largest city Des Moines Area  Ranked 26th  - Total 56,272 sq mi (145,743 km²)  - Width 199 miles (320 km)  - Length 310 miles (500 km)  - % water 0. ... 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Orville Hitchcock Platt (July 19, 1827 - April 21, 1905) was a United States Senator from Connecticut. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich (November 6, 1841 - April 16, 1915) was an American politician. ... Official language(s) None Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area  Ranked 50th  - Total 1,214* sq mi (3,144* km²)  - Width 37 miles (60 km)  - Length 48 miles (77 km)  - % water 32. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Jacob Harold Gallinger (March 28, 1837 - 1918) was a United States Representative and Senator from New Hampshire. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... Charles Curtis (January 25, 1860 – February 8, 1936) was a Representative and a Senator from Kansas as well as the 31st Vice President of the United States. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The Conference continued to meet in private to assure confidentiality and candor. This practice was suspended only once, on May 27, 1919, when the Conference reaffirmed its commitment to the seniority system for choosing committee chairmen by electing Senator Boies Penrose of Pennsylvania as Chairman of the Finance Committee over objections from Progressive Republican insurgents. (This was apparently the first and only open party conference in the history of the Senate.) May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Boies Penrose Boies Penrose (November 1, 1860 – December 31, 1921) was an American lawyer and Republican politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 160 miles (255 km)  - Length 280 miles (455 km)  - % water 2. ...

During this period, the Chairman also served as informal floor leader. One reason for the lack of a formal post was the fact that committee chairmen usually took responsibility to move to proceed to the consideration of measures reported by their respective committees and managed the legislation on the floor. The first recorded Conference election of a formal floor leader was held March 5, 1925, when the conference chairman, Senator Curtis of Kansas, was unanimously chosen to serve in both posts. March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Throughout the 1920s, when Republicans held the Senate majority, the Conference met chiefly at the beginning of each session to make committee assignments; for the remainder of the session, Members were notified of the order of business by mail. This slow pace continued through the 1930s, when Republican Senators were so few that they dispensed with a permanent whip, and the conference chairman and floor leader, Senator Charles L. McNary of Oregon, appointed Senators to serve as wWhip on particular pieces of legislation. 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 3 - Babe Ruth is traded by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for $125,000, the largest sum ever paid for a player at that time. ... A British pillar box. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Charles L. McNary Charles Linza McNary (June 12, 1874 - February 25, 1944) was a U.S. Republican politician from Oregon, best known for serving as Minority Leader of the United States Senate from 1933 to 1944. ... Official language(s) None Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ...

Senator McNary died in 1944, and the posts of conference chairman and floor leader were separated in 1945. Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg of Michigan became Chairman and Senator Wallace H. White, Jr., of Maine became floor leader. This separation has continued to be one of the chief differences between the Republican and Democratic Conferences, since the floor leader of the Democrats has continued to serve as their Conference Chairman. 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg (March 22, 1884–April 18, 1951) was a Republican Senator from the state of Michigan who participated in the creation of the United Nations. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area  Ranked 11th  - Total 97,990 sq mi (253,793 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 491 miles (790 km)  - % water 41. ... Wallace Humphrey White, Jr. ... Official language(s) None Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 39th 33,414 sq mi  86,542 km² 190 miles  305 km 320 miles  515 km 13. ...

In 1944, Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio, still in his first term, persuaded Republicans to revive their Steering Committee, and he became its Chairman. In 1946, it became the Republican Policy Committee under legislation appropriating equal funds for majority and minority parties. Until the mid-1970s the staffs of the Conference and Policy Committee were housed together under a single staff director who administered their budgets jointly. Staff separation was begun during 1979-1980, while Senator Bob Packwood of Oregon was Chairman of the Conference, and completed under Senator James McClure of Idaho. Under Senator McClure's leadership in the 1980s, the Conference began providing television, radio and graphics services for Republican Senators. Senator Connie Mack, as Conference Chairman, in 1997 created the first digital Information Technology department to communicate the Republican agenda over the web. 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Robert Alphonso Taft I (September 8, 1889 - July 31, 1953), of the Taft family political dynasty of Ohio, was a United States Senator and Presidential candidate in the United States Republican Party. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Robert William Packwood. ... Official language(s) None Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... James McClure (born 1939, Johannesburg, South Africa) is a British author and journalist best known for his Kramer and Zondi mysteries set in South Africa. ... Official language(s) None Capital Boise Largest city Boise Area  Ranked 14th  - Total 83,642 sq. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Connie Mack III Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy III (born October 29, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), known as Connie Mack for short, is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1989 and of the United States Senate from 1989 to 2001, all from Florida. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The form and frequency of Conference meetings has depended upon leadership personalities and legislative circumstances. Since the late 1950s, the Conference has met at the beginning of each Congress to elect the leadership, approve committee assignments, and attend to other organizational matters. Although other meetings are called from time to time to discuss pending issues, the weekly Policy Committee luncheons afford a regular forum for discussion among Senators. As a former Republican Leader, Senator Everett M. Dirksen of Illinois, said in 1959: 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... A congress is a gathering of people, especially a gathering for a political purpose. ... Everett McKinley Dirksen (January 4, 1896 – September 7, 1969) was a Republican U.S. Congressman and Senator from Illinois. ... Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

When the Republican Policy Committee meets weekly, it is actually a meeting of the Republican Conference over the luncheon table, at which time we discuss all matters of pending business. Thus, so far as possible, all the information which is within the possession and the command of the leadership is freely diffused to every member.

At the time Senator Dirksen spoke, the elected party leadership included: Chairman of the Conference, Secretary of the Conference, Floor Leader, Whip (now Assistant Floor Leader), and Chairman of the Policy Committee. On July 31, 1980, Conference rules were amended to make the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee an elected position, a change which brought the rules into conformity with what had become custom. July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

The Republican Conference has never been a caucus in the dictionary sense, that is, a "partisan legislative group that uses caucus procedures to make decisions binding on its members." Even during the tense years of Reconstruction, Republican Senators were not bound to vote according to Conference decisions. In 1867, for example, when Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts refused to follow Conference policy on an issue, and Senator William P. Fessenden of Maine charged, "you should not have voted on the subject [in Conference] if you did not mean to be bound by the decision of the majority," Sumner retorted, "I am a Senator of the United States," and no attempt was made to discipline him. Such independence was reiterated on March 12, 1925, when a resolution introduced by Senator Wesley L. Jones of Washington passed in the Conference without objection: // Reconstruction was the period in United States history, 1865–1876, that attempted to resolve the issues of the American Civil War when both the Confederacy and its system of slavery were destroyed. ... 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Charles Sumner Charles Sumner (January 6, 1811–March 11, 1874) was an American politician and statesman from the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... Hon. ... Official language(s) None Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 39th 33,414 sq mi  86,542 km² 190 miles  305 km 320 miles  515 km 13. ... March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (72nd in leap years). ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Wesley Livsey Jones (1863 - 1932) was an American politician, who served as a United States Senator from Washington. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

To make clear and beyond question the long-settled policy of Republicans that our Conferences are not caucuses or of binding effect upon those participating therein but are meetings solely for the purpose of exchanging views to promote harmony and united action so far as possible.

Be It Resolved: That no Senator attending this Conference or any Conference held hereafter shall be deemed to be bound in any way by any action taken by such Conference, but he shall be entirely free to act upon any matter considered by the Conference as his judgment may dictate, and it shall not be necessary for any Senator to give notice of his intention to take action different from any recommended by the Conference."

List of conference chairpersons

• John P. Hale (NH) 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
• 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 ¹
• James E. Watson (IN) Term: 1929-1933 (Also served as Republican floor leader)
• Charles L. McNary (OR) Term: 1933-1944 (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-present

John Parker Hale (March 31, 1806 - November 19, 1873) was an American politician. ... Categories: Stub | 1815 births | 1884 deaths | Governors of Rhode Island | United States Senators ... John Sherman John Sherman (May 10, 1823–October 22, 1900) was a Senator from Ohio and a member of the United States Cabinet. ... Categories: Stub | 1828 births | 1919 deaths | United States Senators ... John Sherman John Sherman (May 10, 1823–October 22, 1900) was a Senator from Ohio and a member of the United States Cabinet. ... William Boyd Allison (March 2, 1829 - August 4, 1908) was an American lawyer and politician. ... Eugene Hale (6 June 1836 - 27 October 1918) was a United States Senator from Maine. ... Shelby Moore Cullom (1829 - 1914) was a U.S. political figure. ... Jacob Harold Gallinger (March 28, 1837 - 1918) was a United States Representative and Senator from New Hampshire. ... Henry Cabot Lodge (May 12, 1850 - February 27, 1924), was a Republican statesman and noted historian. ... Charles Curtis (January 25, 1860 – February 8, 1936) was a Representative and a Senator from Kansas as well as the 31st Vice President of the United States. ... James Eli Watson (November 2, 1864? - July 29, 1948) was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Indiana. ... Charles L. McNary Charles Linza McNary (June 12, 1874 - February 25, 1944) was a U.S. Republican politician from Oregon, best known for serving as Minority Leader of the United States Senate from 1933 to 1944. ... Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg (March 22, 1884–April 18, 1951) was a Republican Senator from the state of Michigan who participated in the creation of the United Nations. ... Eugene Donald Millikin (February 12, 1891 - July 26, 1958) was a United States Senator from Colorado who served as Senate Republican Conference Chairperson from 1947 to 1956. ... Leverett A. Saltonstall (September 1, 1892 – June 17, 1979) was an American politician who served as Governor of Massachusetts (1939 - 1945) and as a United States Senator (1945 - 1967). ... Margaret Chase Smith (December 14, 1897–May 29, 1995) was a Republican Senator from Maine, and one of the most successful politicians in Maine history. ... Norris Cotton Norris H. Cotton (May 11, 1900-February 24, 1989) was an American Republican politician from the state of New Hampshire. ... Carl Thomas Curtis (March 15, 1905 January 24, 2000) was an American politician, most notable as a long-serving congressman and senator from Nebraska. ... Robert William Packwood Robert William Bob Packwood (born September 11, 1932) was a United States Senator from Oregon for the Republican Party. ... James Albertus McClure (born December 27, 1924) is an American politician from the state of Idaho, most notably serving as a Republican in the United States Senate. ... John Lester Hubbard Chafee (October 22, 1922 – October 24, 1999) was an American politician. ... William Thad Cochran (born December 7, 1937) is a Mississippi Republican U.S. Senator. ... Connie Mack III Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy III (born October 29, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), known as Connie Mack for short, is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1989 and of the United States Senate from 1989 to 2001, all from Florida. ... Richard John Rick Santorum (born May 10, 1958) is a Republican U.S. Senator representing Pennsylvania. ...

Notes

¹ 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, Jr. became Republican party floor leader. The positions have remained separated. Charles Curtis (January 25, 1860 – February 8, 1936) was a Representative and a Senator from Kansas as well as the 31st Vice President of the United States. ... November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... There is more than one person with the name James Watson: James Watson, participant in the Battle of the Little Bighorn James Watson, author of the novel Talking in Whispers James Watson, U.S. Senator from New York (1797-1801) James Watson, painter of 77 portraits held by the U... Charles Linza McNary (June 12, 1874 - February 25, 1944) was a U.S. Republican politician from Oregon, best known for serving as Minority Leader of the United States Senate from 1933 to 1944. ... Wallace Humphrey White, Jr. ...

External links

• About the Senate Republican Conference -- The content of this article was derived from this public domain resource.
• Information on Senate party leadership