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US Senator Jeffords Officially Becomes An Independent
Sen. Jim Jeffords' 9,640th day in Congress was like no other: He dined with the Democrats and drew a standing ovation for doing so. Tuesday was the day the Vermont senator shed his lifelong label of Republican and became an independent, a move that shifts control of the Senate to the Democrats. The official declaration came in a letter to the vice president, but the symbolic step was taken shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday when Jeffords walked into the weekly policy luncheon held by Democratic senators. They stood and applauded, the waves of applause continuing for several minutes.
Jeffords said Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., who will become majority leader on Wednesday, "made a very glowing and wonderful tribute to me," which was followed by tributes from several other Democrats, including Vermont's other senator, Patrick Leahy.
"It was very moving," said Jeffords.
Following the lunch, Jeffords left the Capitol to join other senators at a meeting with President Bush on education issues.
Dozens of reporters, photographers and TV cameras waited for Jeffords to walk out of the Capitol. Crowds of tourists waited as well, breaking into applause and cheers when he appeared at the top of the steps outside the front of the Senate.
Jeffords, 67, served in the House for 14 years and in the Senate since 1989 as a Republican. In announcing last month that he would leave the GOP, he said the party and the president had become too conservative.
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