Alan Simpson (American politician)

Alan K. Simpson
Simpson in 2012
Co-Chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform
In office
February 18, 2010 – December 1, 2010
Serving with Erskine Bowles
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Senate Minority Whip
In office
January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1995
LeaderBob Dole
Preceded byAlan Cranston
Succeeded byWendell Ford
Senate Majority Whip
In office
January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1987
LeaderBob Dole
Preceded byTed Stevens
Succeeded byAlan Cranston
United States Senator
from Wyoming
In office
January 1, 1979 – January 3, 1997
Preceded byClifford Hansen
Succeeded byMike Enzi
Member of the
Wyoming House of Representatives
from Park County
In office
January 1965 – January 1977
Personal details
Born
Alan Kooi Simpson

(1931-09-02) September 2, 1931 (age 93)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Ann Schroll
(m. 1954)
Children3, including Colin
RelativesMilward Simpson (father)
Pete Simpson (brother)
EducationUniversity of Wyoming (BS, JD)
Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1954–1956
RankSecond Lieutenant
Unit5th Infantry
2nd Armored Division

Alan Kooi Simpson (born September 2, 1931)[1] is an American politician from Wyoming. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a member of the United States Senate from 1979 to 1997. Simpson was the Republican whip in the U.S. Senate from 1985 to 1995, as majority whip from 1985 to 1987 and minority whip from 1987 to 1995. He also served as co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform with Democratic Party co-chair Erskine Bowles of North Carolina.

Born in Denver, Simpson graduated from the University of Wyoming's law school (1958). Simpson served in the Wyoming House of Representatives (1965–1977) and won election to the United States Senate (1978). His father, Milward Simpson, had served in the same seat (1962–1967). Simpson served as the Senate Republican Whip (1985–1995). After serving three terms in the Senate, Simpson declined to seek re-election in 1996.

Since leaving office, Simpson has practiced law and taught at different universities. He also served on the Continuity of Government Commission, the American Battle Monuments Commission, and the Iraq Study Group. In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed him to co-chair the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, which made several recommendations on ways to reduce the national debt. He has been a vocal proponent of amending the U.S. Constitution to overturn Citizens United v. FEC (2010) and allow Congress to set reasonable limits on campaign spending in U.S. elections.[2]

  1. ^ "Simpson, Alan Kooi, (1931 – )". congress.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  2. ^ Mullen, Maggie (February 4, 2017). "Former Senator Simpson Working To Reverse Citizens United". wyomingpublicmedia.org. Wyoming Public Media. Retrieved November 16, 2019.