Former Senator Alan Simpson heads Institute of Politics

Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson, who retired in 1997 after more than 30 years of public service representing the state of Wyoming, has been named director of the Institute of Politics (IOP) at the Kennedy School of Government, Dean Joseph S. Nye Jr., announced recently.

Simpson, 66, assumed the directorship Jan. 12. He will also serve as the Visiting Lecturer in the Laurence M. Lombard Chair at the Joan Shorenstein Center on Press, Politics, and Public Policy. At the Institute, Simpson will succeed Philip R. Sharp, a former 10-term congressman from Indiana, who after more than two years at the helm decided he wanted to return to teaching full-time at the Kennedy School.

"This is a terrific homecoming for Senator Simpson, who was an immensely popular and thoughtful visiting lecturer last year at the Shorenstein Center," said Dean Nye. "As the IOP seeks to present a diversity of views and opinions on the important issues of the day, I can't think of anyone better to lead the Institute than Senator Simpson. We are equally delighted that the Senator will return to the classroom, where he engaged students in the politics and realities of legislating in the 20th century."

"I'm delighted that Al's agreed to become director," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a founding member of the Institute. "He's an outstanding choice. He served the people of Wyoming and the nation well for 18 brilliant years in the Senate, and he'll do an excellent job at the Institute of Politics. I just hope he remembers it's Harvard Yard, not Harvard Prairie."

"The Institute of Politics will benefit from Alan Simpson's wit, wisdom, and Washington savvy," said Kenneth Duberstein, senior member of the Advisory Committee of the IOP. "While we will all miss Phil Sharp and his contributions, we're excited about Al Simpson and the future."

"It is a tremendous honor and privilege to accept this position," said Sen. Simpson from his home in Cody. "I am eagerly looking forward to it. We're going to have an exciting and productive time. I commend Phil Sharp. He was one of the finest legislators I ever worked with in Congress. I will draw on his counsel as he serves as a member of the board.

"It is a critical time to emphasize that you can seriously disagree with a person on a political or partisan basis, but the debate must take place in a civilized manner," Simpson added. "In legislating, the word compromise does not mean wimp; it is the art of legislating. And I'll take care of Kennedy later about that crack about Harvard Prairie!"

Simpson was elected to the Wyoming State Legislature in 1964, and in 1978 he was elected to the U.S. Senate where he served for 18 years. In 1984, Sen. Simpson was elected by his peers to the position of assistant Republican leader and served in that capacity until 1994. He is the author of Right in the Old Gazoo (W. Morrow, 1997), a book about the relationship between politicians and the media.

While he was at the Kennedy School for one semester last spring, Simpson was a Visiting Lecturer in the Laurence M. Lombard Chair which was established to build a body of knowledge concerning the interaction of media and politics and their influence on public policy. His course was entitled "The Creating of Legislation: Congress and the Press," drawing upon his political experiences, his work as a lawyer in Cody, Wyo., and his lively encounters with the media. He will return to that position in January.

Sen. Simpson joined the ranks of the media while he was in Cambridge, co-hosting the locally produced WGBH show, The Long and the Short of It with former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich. The 30-minute program paired the two Ñ Simpson at 6Õ7Ó, Reich at under 5' Ñ with a prominent guest to discuss and analyze major political events of the week. The show had national exposure for a time.