Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson, a prominent Republican known for his sharp wit and bipartisan approach, has died at the age of 93. His family announced that he passed away early Friday after complications from a broken hip suffered in December. Simpson, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022, was remembered by his brother Pete as “uncommonly generous,” both in public service and in family life.
Simpson served three terms in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1997, becoming one of the chamber’s most influential GOP voices during the Reagan era. Standing six feet seven, he was once the tallest senator in U.S. history. Known as a deficit hawk and a political moderate, he often clashed with his own party on issues like abortion rights. After retiring in 1995, Simpson taught politics at the University of Wyoming and Harvard University. Tributes from Wyoming leaders—including Senators Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso—praised his lifelong dedication to the state and his willingness to tackle difficult issues.
Simpson also forged lasting friendships across party lines, including with Democrats Norman Mineta and Robert Reich. He and Mineta, bonded through shared experiences tied to the WWII Japanese American internment camps, later worked together to raise awareness of that history. His son Colin described Simpson as a “mighty force” whose legacy of humor, compassion, and public service will endure.