Question for history buffs

[MattNC]

Has there ever been a senator that was a Democrat, Republican, and Independent? A friend is trying to tell me there is, but I have a hard time believing it.

[ridgerunner]

1. their right

"In the House, since January 1, 1999, one Republican became a Democrat (Michael Forbes, NY, was who defeated for re-election in 2000) and one Democrat became an Independent who later officially became a Republican (Virgil Goode, VA, who was re-elected)."

http://www.yourcongress.com/ViewArticle.asp?article_id=39#How%20often%20do%20Members%20of%20Congress%20switch%20parties

[MattNC]

2. i was asking about senators

not Congressmen, but that's still interesting to know.

[jdj]

3. I know Jeffords went from puke to independent.

I don't know if he's old enough to have been around when the parties reversed (I think it was in the 20's -40's that it all got weird.)

[ridgerunner]

5. sorry, not enough coffee yet

but yeah they're still right.

"Oregon's Wayne Morse was a two-term GOP senator when he decided to leave the Republican Party in 1952 and become an Independent. In 1955 he switched to the Democratic Party and was elected two more times before his defeat in 1968."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/junkie/archive/junkie071699.htm

[charlie]

4. Wayne Morse

Republican to Independent to Democrat. Fine fellow too.

[depakid]

6. Bingo

Wayne Morse, the "conscience of the Senate." One of only two who voted against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.