Favorable or Unfavorable #325: Dick Gephardt

[vcczar]

Rep. Dick Gephardt (MO-D) might be the last major Missouri Democrat of a long line of MO Dem that stretch from Thomas Hart Benton, through the Blairs, through Champ Clark, through HS Truman, through Symington, and etc. 

Gephardt started out as a conservative Dem in the 1970s, even somewhat opposing Roe v Wade. He supported early Reaganomics, but he became more liberal through the 1980s. His opposition to NAFTA sometimes gets him labeled as a populist, but he was more or less mainstream Democrat while serving as House Minority Leader. No populist is holding that establishment office. 

Gephardt is one of the longest serving House Minority leaders to never become Speaker. He's also seems to have among the longest stretches for being routinely considered for the VP'y. 

His actions:

Gephardt, Dick	1981	Supports Reagan tax cuts
Gephardt, Dick	1982	Bradley-Gephardt tax reform plan
Gephardt, Dick	1985	writes House version of Gramm-Rudman
Gephardt, Dick	1988	candidate for Dem pres nom
Gephardt, Dick	1988	Considered for VP by Dukakis
Gephardt, Dick	1992	Co-leads opposition against NAFTA
Gephardt, Dick	1995	Comes in second in Speaker election; House Min Ldr
Gephardt, Dick	1997	Lead opposition to agreed budget deal btwn Clinton and GOP leaders
Gephardt, Dick	1997	Comes in close second in competitive Speaker election; House Min Ldr
Gephardt, Dick	1999	Comes in second in Speaker election; House Min Ldr
Gephardt, Dick	2000	Considered for VP by Gore
Gephardt, Dick	2001	Comes in second in Speaker election; House Min Ldr
Gephardt, Dick	2002	Helped co-author Iraq War Resolution
Gephardt, Dick	2004	Dem pres cand
Gephardt, Dick	2004	Considered for VP by Kerry
Gephardt, Dick	2007	Early backer of Clinton over Obama, creating speculation he'd be her VP if she won
Gephardt, Dick	2008	Considered for VP by Obama