A former governor, college president and secretary of schooling, Mr. Alexander has modeled himself on Senator Howard R. Baker Jr., one other Tennes
A former governor, college president and secretary of schooling, Mr. Alexander has modeled himself on Senator Howard R. Baker Jr., one other Tennessee Republican, who turned in opposition to President Richard M. Nixon throughout Watergate. Mr. Baker, who died in 2014, launched Mr. Alexander to Mr. McConnell in 1969, when Mr. Alexander was an aide within the Nixon White Home and Mr. McConnell was a legislative assistant to a Kentucky senator.
Few friendships in the Capitol have been as enduring as theirs. Right this moment Mr. McConnell calls Mr. Alexander “my greatest good friend within the Senate.” However Mr. Alexander mentioned he didn’t give Mr. McConnell — whom he described, aptly, as “an individual of few phrases” — advance discover of his vote.
“I do know what he thinks, and he is aware of that’s not the best way to affect my choices,” he mentioned.
But Mr. McConnell didn’t actually need to ask. Though Mr. Alexander was lumped in with three different Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah — who had expressed openness to witnesses, it was clear early on that he was unlikely to vote to incorporate them.
These near him say he doesn’t relish shaking issues up.
“I feel that Lamar has been in a position to efficiently navigate the ins and outs of the brand new administration as a result of Lamar may be very smart in how he shares, when he shares, any disagreement or coverage distinction he might need with the administration,” mentioned Tom Griscom, a detailed good friend of Mr. Alexander who labored as Mr. Baker’s press secretary. “He’s not trying to be out on the entrance fringe of it.”
One other shut good friend, Tom Ingram, who ran Mr. Alexander’s Senate races and served as his chief of employees, mentioned he was not shocked by Mr. Alexander’s resolution. He mentioned Mr. Alexander was troubled by what he considered a extremely partisan impeachment course of within the Home, and needed to guarantee that the Senate gave it thorough consideration, which was why he had expressed openness to witnesses.
“Understanding the reverence he holds for the presidency — the workplace, not the particular person — and for the Senate course of and the way significantly he takes impeachment, it was going to need to be very clear in his thoughts that the offense clearly match the excessive bar set within the Structure.”