Wyoming Senator Known For Humor Dies At 93


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Alan Simpson, the former U.S. Senator known for his wit and bipartisan leadership, passed away at 93 on Friday. His death followed complications from a hip fracture he sustained in December, according to a joint statement from his family and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, where he served as a board member for over five decades.

“He was an uncommonly generous man,” Pete Simpson, his older brother, said in the statement. “And I mean generous in an absolutely unconditional way. Giving of his time, giving of his energy — and he did it in politics and he did it in the family, forever.”

Simpson stood alongside Dick Cheney as one of Wyoming’s most influential Republican figures, though he was particularly renowned for his sharp humor. His memorable quote, “We have two political parties in this country, the Stupid Party and the Evil Party. I belong to the Stupid Party,” exemplified his witty approach to politics.

During his Senate tenure from 1979 to 1997, Simpson played a crucial role in advancing Ronald Reagan’s legislative agenda. Despite his Republican leadership position, he maintained moderate views, including support for abortion rights, which eventually contributed to his diminishing influence within an evolving GOP.

His ability to forge friendships across party lines was exemplified by his relationships with Democratic figures like Robert Reich and Norman Mineta. His connection with Mineta dated back to their boyhood when they met as Boy Scouts during Mineta’s internment at Heart Mountain War Relocation Center near Simpson’s hometown of Cody, Wyoming.

Later in life, both men worked to raise awareness about the wartime internment of Japanese-Americans. Mineta, before his death in 2022, shared an anecdote about their friendship, recalling Simpson’s humorous response when asked about their political differences: “Alan thought about it and he said, ‘Well, I wear size 15 shoes and he wears a size 8 and a half.'”

“Dad and Pete have anchored the extended Simpson family for decades with the same love, humor, compassion and dedication their parents did before them,” said Colin Simpson, one of his three children and former Wyoming House speaker. “Dad was a mighty force and with Mom’s steady hand by his side we are so blessed and proud to have been along for the ride of a lifetime.”

Simpson’s political legacy extended beyond his Senate career. In 2010, he co-led President Obama’s debt-reduction commission, and in 2022, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden. Standing at 6-foot-7, he was the Senate’s tallest member until 2017.

Born in Denver in 1931, Simpson overcame a troubled youth in Cody to graduate from the University of Wyoming and serve in the U.S. Army. He married Ann Schroll in 1954, celebrating their 70th anniversary last summer with a community celebration.

After earning his law degree, Simpson practiced law with his father for 19 years before entering politics. He served in the Wyoming House before his election to the U.S. Senate, where he focused on immigration, veterans’ affairs, and environmental issues.

Known for his directness, Simpson often described politics as a “contact sport.” “I’ve been called everything,” he said in 2003. “What the hell. If you don’t like the combat, get out.”

By 1995, Simpson decided against seeking re-election, citing diminished enthusiasm for the role. After leaving office, he taught at Harvard University and the University of Wyoming, encouraging student political engagement.

Simpson is survived by his wife Ann, brother Pete, sons Colin and William, and daughter Susan Simpson Gallagher.

 

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