Born in Russell. Kansas. He was severly injured by artillery in Italy in 1945 and partially paralized. He received a law degree from Washburn University in 1952.

He served two years in the Kansas House of Representatives; served in the U. S. House of Representatives 1961 to 1969; served in U. S. Senate 1969 to 1996. He ran for president in 1996.

He died at home in Washington, D.C. and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

He was honored with a Congressional Gold medal authorized in 2017. The obverse was designed and sculpted by Joseph F. Menna. The reverse was designed and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill.