From
the Denver Rocky News, September 3, 2000
"Gore's Gulf War Vote Hinged on Key TV Slot"
by Senator Alan Simpson
Al Gore's new campaign ad is running across the
country now and says he is "fighting for us."
But the true story of his Gulf War vote in
January 1991 says he is usually fighting for Al.
Here is the inside story of what happened.
The Gulf War vote was pretty serious business. I
can't think of anyone who didn't have a lump in
his or her throat while weighing the situation:
500,000 Americans troops already deployed;
Saddam Hussein promising the "mother of all
battles"; most "experts" predicting heavy
American losses.
The choice was not an easy one. Senators with
combat experience on both sides of the aisle
were on both sides of the issue. Some Democrats
openly supported the measure; some Republicans
openly opposed it. And vice versa. The
seriousness of the situation called for open,
honest debate. No deal-making. No cajoling. No
politics. Just an honest discussion, followed by
an honest vote of conscience by each senator.
As Republican whip, I worked with the Republican
leader, Bob Dole, and the Democratic leaders,
George Mitchell and Sam Nunn, to schedule the
debate. As Republicans, Bob and I were
responsible for scheduling time to speak for
senators who supported the war. As Democrats,
George and Sam were responsible for scheduling
time to speak for those who opposed the war.
The night before this monumental debate, I sat
in the Republican cloakroom with Sen. Dole. The
mood was somber. The tension was palpable.
We were on the verge of sending troops to war.
Our national credibility was on the line. Would
America stand up to tyranny and aggression in
the Middle East? This was not some issue to be
taken lightly. As Bob and I discussed the debate
schedule for the next day, a senator walked into
our cloakroom and asked to speak to us. The
senator's appearance and request surprised Bob
and me. It surprised us because the senator was
a Democrat, coming to ask for a favor.
Who was that man?
It was Tennessee Senator Al Gore, Jr. Senator
Gore got right to the point: "How much time will
you give me if I support the President?" In
layman's terms, Gore was asking how much debate
time we would be willing to give him to speak on
the floor if he voted with us.
"How much time will the Democrats give you?"
Senator Dole asked in response. "Seven minutes,"
was the droning response. I'll give you 15
minutes," Senator Dole said. "And I'll give you
five of mine, so you can have 20 minutes," I
offered. Gore seemed pleased, but made no final
commitment, promising only to think it over.
Senator Gore played hard to get. He had received
his time. But now he wanted prime time. And
Senator Dole and I knew it.
After Senator Gore left, Senator Dole asked
Howard Greene, the Republican Senate secretary,
to call Gore's office and promise that he would
try to schedule Gore's 20 minutes during prime
time, thus ensuring plenty of coverage in the
news cycle.
Later that night, Senator Gore called Greene and
asked if Senator Dole had scheduled him for a
prime-time speaking slot. When Greene said
nothing had been finalized yet, Gore erupted, "Damnit,
Howard! If I don't get 20 minutes tomorrow I'm
going to vote the other way."
The following day, Gore arrived on the Senate
floor with, I always thought, two speeches in
hand. Gore was still waiting to see which side,
Republicans or Democrats, would offer him the
most and the best speaking time.
Senator Dole immediately asked the Senate to
increase the amount of speaking time for both
sides. I believe only then, after Gore realized
we were asking for more time to make room for
him on our side, that he finally decided to
support the resolution authorizing the use of
force to drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait.
It brings me no joy to recount the events
leading up to the Gulf War vote. It isn't
something I wanted to do. But it is something I
have to do. I was there. I have to set the
record straight because the Gore campaign is now
running an ad proclaiming that Gore "broke with
his own party to support the Gulf War."
In reality, it's much closer to the truth to say
he broke for the cameras to support the Gulf
War.
And I have to set the record straight because
the Gulf war vote was far too important an issue
to fall victim to politics and repulsive
revisionism.
It was a moment of challenge, and sadly, Al Gore
was not up to it.
As a member of the United States Senate for 18
years, I saw many senators show their stuff when
times got tough. And, sadly, I saw some who
failed to rise to the occasion. In January,
1991, Al Gore put politics over principle.
