RK ARCHIVE - Transfer from the executive branch to the senate: why Webb is unique

Often transfers from the legislative branch (usually the house) to the executive branch occur. Chris Cox (former house member, current SEC chair) comes to mind. In the past, transfers from the legislative branch (often the senate) to the judicial branch (usually supreme court, such as with Hugo Black) were common.

I think that this ends up meaning that Webb has a background that is very unique in the senate. Senators with long tenures on senate foreign affairs and national security committees and sub-committees are handicaped in one important way: they look at everything through the eyes of a senator. Webb's background means that he would look at national security matters in the eyes of a decisive executive branch member, and not that of a delibrative legislative branch member.

Comments

I can think of two without even trying (teacherken - 11/18/2006 10:29:03 AM)

both Roosevelts served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Of course, both of them had intervening electoral experience, TR as as Gov of NY and then briefly as VP (they were trying to ge rid of him in Albany), DRD as Gov of NY - he had also been the Dem nom inee for VP in 1924.

Granted, prior service in the cabinet (at a higher level than Webb to be sure) was more likely to be a step on the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, although often with intervening elective office. Again, without doing any research, I think the most recent to come from the cabinet was Herbert Hoover, who was Sec Commerce under Harding. There are a number of early presidents who had served as SecState, starting with Jefferson, and including among others JQ Adams (who actually wrote the Monroe Doctrine). But some, like Madison, had also served in the Congress.

So the particular pattern of high executive branch service, with no intervening or even prior elective office at any level and then election to the Senate may be unique. We also not forget that Webb has high staff service on the legislative side as well, so he is not a total stranger to the workings of the Hil. That is prior experience he shares with a fair number of members, the most recent senator who having done that was elected to his first public office on the Seante side probably vbeing Fred Dalton Thompson of TN, now of TV's Law and Order (which incidentally is the creation of a Bush classmate from Andover, Dick Wolf).

Very Thoughtful (Josh - 11/18/2006 10:30:36 AM)

I agree. Webb's tendency to keep his own council will allow him to bring some clarity to the legislative process.

I also think that Dems will look to Webb for a great deal of leadership on the Iraq question. As we chart a new path in Iraq, Webb will be one of the most critical navigators.

Oh and there are two other interesting examples (teacherken - 11/18/2006 10:31:37 AM)

of former presidents who served in the Congress. Andrew Johnson served in the Senate after having survived impeachment - he had also served there I believe before the Civil War. And of course Jouhn Quincy Adams became a notable member of the House after his one term as President.