- Served three Senate terms (1979-1997), shaping GOP strategy under Reagan
- Co-chaired Obama's 2010 debt commission proposing $4 trillion in savings
- Received Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022 for civic contributions
- Fostered rare bipartisan alliances, including friendship with Norman Mineta
- Legacy spans military service, family governance, and Wyoming community building
The political world mourns Alan Simpson, the towering Wyoming Republican whose career redefined cross-aisle collaboration. His death at 93 marks the end of an era where humor and principle coexisted in Capitol Hill negotiations. Simpson’s ability to partner with Democrats like Labor Secretary Robert Reich demonstrated his belief that governance required more than party allegiance.
Born in 1931, Simpson’s early life in Cody, Wyoming, foreshadowed his rugged political style. After Army service in Germany, he earned a law degree and joined his father’s firm, later entering state politics. His 1976 Senate victory launched a national career marked by fiscal conservatism and social moderation—a blend increasingly rare in modern Republicans.
Simpson’s 2010 debt-reduction commission role highlighted his fiscal expertise, though Congress ignored its bold tax-and-spending proposals. Colleagues praised his willingness to confront sacred cows, from entitlement reforms to criminal justice revisions. He didn’t care who got credit,recalled a staffer. He just wanted problems solved.
Beyond policy, Simpson’s friendship with Norman Mineta—forged during Mineta’s WWII internment—symbolized his commitment to reconciliation. Their decades-long partnership advanced Japanese-American redress efforts, proving his belief that shared values trumped partisan divides.
Wyoming residents remember Simpson as much for his accessibility as his achievements. Annual ice cream socials with wife Ann exemplified his grassroots connection. Today, as hyper-partisanship dominates, Simpson’s legacy offers a roadmap for bridging ideological chasms through wit, work ethic, and mutual respect.