Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) spent much of his first floor speech of the 118th Congress recalling and praising the lengthy career of a Democrat: former Montana Sen. Mike Mansfield. On Tuesday, McConnell replaced Mansfield as the longest-running Senate leader — and, in emphasizing Mansfield’s distinct approach to leading his caucus, suggested that he would be emulating his leadership style.
“Mansfield set out to make things more predictable,” McConnell said. “Instead of micromanaging, the majority leader was actually laissez faire. President Kennedy’s Cabinet quickly learned they could meet with the majority leader all they liked, but he wouldn’t get ahead of his members. He’d listen politely and refer them to the appropriate chairman.”
