In recent years, the conference chair has come to be regarded as the third-ranking Republican in the Senate, behind the floor leader and whip. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The conference chairman manages the private meetings to elect floor leaders, handles distribution of committee assignments and helps set legislative priorities. The modern version drives the conference’s message, with broadcast studios for television and radio." [1]
Dates |
Name |
State |
Notes |
??? – December 1862 |
John P. Hale |
New Hampshire |
|
December 1862 – September 2, 1884 |
Henry B. Anthony |
Rhode Island |
|
September 2, 1884 – December 1885 |
John Sherman |
Ohio |
|
December 1885 – November 1, 1891 |
George Edmunds |
Vermont |
|
December 1891 – March 4, 1897 |
John Sherman |
Ohio |
|
March 4, 1897 – August 4, 1908 |
William B. Allison |
Iowa |
|
December 1908 – March 4, 1911 |
Eugene Hale |
Maine |
|
April 1911 – March 4, 1913 |
Shelby Cullom |
Illinois |
|
March 4, 1913 – August 17, 1918 |
Jacob H. Gallinger |
New Hampshire |
|
August 17, 1918 – November 9, 1924 |
Henry Lodge |
Massachusetts |
|
November 28, 1924 – March 4, 1929 |
Charles Curtis |
Kansas |
Also Republican floor leader from 1925 |
March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933 |
James E. Watson |
Indiana |
Also Republican floor leader |
March 4, 1933 – February 25, 1944 |
Charles L. McNary |
Oregon |
Also Republican floor leader |
February 25, 1944 – January 3, 1947
Acting: February 25, 1944 – January 3, 1945 |
Arthur Vandenberg |
Michigan |
|
January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1957 |
Eugene D. Millikin |
Colorado |
|
January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1967 |
Leverett Saltonstall |
Massachusetts |
|
January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973 |
Margaret Chase Smith |
Maine |
|
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975 |
Norris Cotton |
New Hampshire |
|
January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1979 |
Carl T. Curtis |
Nebraska |
|
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 |
Bob Packwood |
Oregon |
|
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1985 |
James A. McClure |
Idaho |
|
January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1991 |
John Chafee |
Rhode Island |
|
January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997 |
Thad Cochran |
Mississippi |
|
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2001 |
Connie Mack III |
Florida |
|
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2007 |
Rick Santorum |
Pennsylvania |
|
January 3, 2007 – December 19, 2007 |
Jon Kyl |
Arizona |
|
December 19, 2007 – January 26, 2012 |
Lamar Alexander |
Tennessee |
|
January 26, 2012 – present |
John Thune |
South Dakota |
|