Items18The creator’s order
  1. 1George McGovernGeorge McGovernBorn 19 Jul 1922McGovern, the liberal South Dakota Democrat, and Bob Dole, the Kansas Republican, chaired and served on the Senate's nutrition committee together and in 1977 reformed the food stamp programme, removing the requirement that recipients pay cash for their stamps, which greatly expanded participation.…0i
  2. 2Bob DoleBob DoleBorn 22 Jul 1923Dole's partnerships crossed party lines repeatedly: food stamps with George McGovern, the 1983 Social Security rescue with Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 with Tom Harkin. His method was to deliver Republican votes in exchange for business-friendly…0i
  3. 3Tip O'NeillTip O'NeillBorn 9 Dec 1912The Democratic Speaker fought Reagan hard but made deals with him, most importantly the 1983 Social Security amendments based on the Greenspan Commission: higher payroll taxes, taxation of some benefits and a gradual rise in the retirement age to 67. Both sides agreed to share the political pain,…0i
  4. 4Howard BakerHoward BakerBorn 15 Nov 1925The Tennessee Republican's question on the Watergate committee, 'What did the president know, and when did he know it?', made his reputation for putting institution before party. As Senate majority leader from 1981 he brokered Reagan's budget and tax deals with Democrats, and he was crucial to…0i
  5. 5Bill BradleyBill BradleyBorn 28 Jul 1943A former New York Knicks star turned New Jersey senator, Bradley spent years promoting a 'Fair Tax' plan of lower rates and fewer loopholes, which, combined with Republican Jack Kemp's work in the House and Reagan's backing, became the Tax Reform Act of 1986. It cut the top rate to 28 per cent…0i
  6. 6Jack KempJack KempBorn 13 Jul 1935Kemp, a former quarterback and supply-side Republican from Buffalo, worked with Democrats on the 1986 tax reform and, as Housing Secretary under George H. W. Bush, pushed enterprise zones and tenant ownership of public housing with support from urban Democrats. His pitch that conservatives should…0i
  7. 7Alan Simpson (American politician)Alan Simpson (American politician)Born 2 Sept 1931The Wyoming Republican co-wrote the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 with the Democratic congressman Romano Mazzoli, a bargain that legalised around 2.7 million undocumented immigrants in exchange for penalties on employers who hired unauthorised workers. Enforcement of the employer…0i
  8. 8Tom HarkinTom HarkinThe Iowa Democrat, whose brother was deaf, was the lead Senate sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and delivered part of its introduction in sign language. He built a coalition with Bob Dole and the Bush White House, accepting limits such as undue hardship exemptions for small…0i
  9. 9Ted KennedyTed KennedyBorn 22 Feb 1932Kennedy's most productive partnerships were with conservatives: the Children's Health Insurance Program with Orrin Hatch in 1997, the Kennedy-Kassebaum health portability law in 1996 with a Kansas Republican, and No Child Left Behind with George W. Bush in 2001, which liberal allies criticised for…0i
  10. 10Joe BidenJoe BidenBorn 20 Nov 1942As a senator Biden wrote the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 with Republican support, and as vice-president he negotiated end-of-year deals with Mitch McConnell, including the 2012 'fiscal cliff' agreement. As president he relied on cross-party coalitions for the 2021 infrastructure law, the…0i