SENATE KILLS TOWER'S NOMINATION AS DEFENSE CHIEF, 53-47

March 10, 1989

A grim, bitterly divided Senate yesterday killed the nomination of Defense Secretary-designate John G. Tower by a largely party-line vote of 53 to 47, handing President Bush a defeat of historic proportions less than two months after he took office. The vote climaxed one of the most wrenching and rancorous Senate debates of modern times as only one Republican and three Democrats broke party lines, and Republicans warned that wounds created by the nearly two-month ordeal over Tower's nomination would take a long time to heal. Fifty-two Democrats were joined by Republican Nancy Landon Kassebaum (Kan.) in voting to reject the nomination. Democrats Howell Heflin (Ala.), Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.) and Lloyd Bentsen (Tex.) joined 44 Republicans in voting for confirmation. "I depart from this place at peace with myself, knowing that I have given a full measure of devotion to my country," said Tower in a statement delivered at the Pentagon moments after the vote

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/03/10/senate-kills-towers-nomination-as-defense-chief-53-47/5e0b1518-4ee7-499e-85b8-b2f9fcb4989a/?utm_term=.09b5b73703e3