Helms should have been the damn majority leader instead of that pansy Trent Lott.
I don’t think he ever pursued or was desirous of such a position. Probably too much gladhanding, schmoozing and compromise of values (although Dems are never expected to have to do the latter). It’s funny, if it were offered to him, I would tell Ted Cruz to turn down the leadership role, if only because there would be way too many GOP colleagues looking to see him brought down hard.
I think Bob Taft, Sr. made a similar argument when some pushed for him to serve as Senate GOP Leader for the 1947-48 Congress. He was fine to keep Maine Senator Wallace White, Jr. in the position, even though Taft was seen as the center of power. He did finally accept it in 1953 as almost a consolation prize (though he was dying of cancer and passed the same year).
Yep.