New Senators, Old Faces

Every two years, a group of newly elected U.S. senators comes into office that reflects larger national political themes. In 1974, public disgust over Watergate thrust Democratic non-politicians into Congress by the busload. In 1994, Newt Gingrich's "Republican Revolution" swept young conservatives into office. And 1992 was dubbed the "Year of the Woman" because of the large number of female candidates elected in the wake of the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings.

In many ways, the Class of 2002 could be dubbed "The Year of the Resumé."

The ten new senators who will be sworn-in on Jan. 3 are a mix of high-profile veteran politicians putting capstones on their careers and young Turks reaching what could be the pinnacle of their careers before their 40th birthdays. But even the younger members of the class have spent a decade or more in public office, elected or otherwise. The group includes a former governor, a two-time Cabinet secretary, four current or former congressmen and one so-called freshman who isn't a Senate rookie at all. Every one of the ten has run for office before, and two have even made unsuccessful bids for the White House.

In general, voters and the political parties in 2002 leaned toward candidates with established political bona fides. Much has been said about the impact of President Bush's popularity on the election. In many ways, the "Year of the Resumé" can be pinned on Sept. 11 and its aftermath. If Watergate created a desire for non-politicians to take power, last year's terrorist attacks had the opposite effect.

After Sept. 11, says University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato, "the stakes of governing are much higher, and experienced hands at the helm are more greatly valued by the electorate."

Political analyst Norm Ornstein said the incoming class reflects a different sense of national priorities than years like 1994 and 1974. In those years, when voters weren't particularly happy with politicians, many successful candidates touted their lack of political experience rather than their long resumes.

"This Senate class, and the corresponding House class, are unusually experienced overall in politics and government, not at all like a 'revolutionary' group like '74 or '94," Ornstein said. "Clearly, the public mood was not revolutionary, as reflected in the small number of incumbents losing, and the recruitment process tilted in favor of big names."

Also absent are stars from other walks of life like North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, a wildly successful trial lawyer before winning a Senate seat in 1998; Sen. Jon Corzine of New Jersey, the former head of Goldman Sachs, who was elected in 2000; or former Ohio Sen. John Glenn, one of America's first astronauts.

But that doesn't mean the Class of 2002 lacks star power; it's just more National Journal stardom than, say, Fortune or Sports Illustrated.

Democrat Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, 78, was a U.S. senator for 18 years before retiring in 2000. When the ethics scandal surrounding incumbent Sen. Robert Torricelli finally forced him to drop his re-election bid in September, Lautenberg quickly emerged as the Democrats' best hope. Before his first run for the Senate in 1982, Lautenberg founded the country's first, and largest, payroll management company, making him a fortune estimated at $50 million.

Incoming Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander is another freshman with a lengthy c.v. The Republican was Tennessee's governor from 1978 to 1987, president of the University of Tennessee from 1987 to 1991, and served as education secretary in the first Bush administration. He's also run an educational consulting firm and taught at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Of course, in Alexander's ideal world, he'd be in the middle of his second term as president right now instead of coming to Washington as a Senate freshman; he ran unsuccessfully for the GOP presidential crown in 1996 and 2000.

North Carolina Sen.-elect Elizabeth Dole, another Republican, won't have to get tips on which dry cleaner to use in Washington or where to rent an apartment. A resident of D.C. for almost four decades, she's served as secretary of transportation and labor, been a White House aide in three administrations and was president of the American Red Cross. She lives in the posh Watergate apartment complex. Finding her way from her office to the Senate subway won't be a problem, either. Dole's husband, Bob, was in the Senate from 1968 until 1996, when he retired to run for president. Interestingly, this was Elizabeth Dole's first successful run for office. She briefly ran for the 2000 GOP presidential nomination, but dropped out in 1999.

Sen.-elect Mark Pryor of Arkansas doesn't have the longest resumé, but he knows his way around town. Pryor, a 39 year-old Democrat, spent eight years in the Arkansas House before being elected state attorney general in 1998. Like fellow freshman John Sununu, Pryor's father should be able to give him some good advice for Washington living: David Pryor served in the same Senate seat from 1978 until 1996. The younger Pryor attended high school in the Washington area when his father was in office.

There's also the usual bevy of congressmen-turned-senators who are looking for prime Russell Senate Office Building space: