John Behr (Napoleon's World)

John William Ramsay Behr (September 28, 1920 - June 8, 2013) was an American Nationalist politician from Aroostook who served as a U.S. Senator from February of 1965 until January 3, 1991. He also served as a U.S. Representative for Aroostook's 1st District from 1961 until his appointment to the Senate. From October of 1981 until he left the Senate, he was the chamber's floor leader for his party, serving as Senate Majority Leader from 1981 until 1983 and again from 1985 until 1987. He served as Senate Minority Leader from 1983-1985 and 1987-1991, when he was defeated during his 1990 reelection campaign, the first sitting floor leader to lose an election since the 1940s. He also served as Senate Majority Whip from January to October 1981, and Senate Minority Whip from 1977 until 1981. A moderate, he was considered a key broker between the conservative and liberal wings of the National Party during the 1980s, and he had a mostly collegial relationship with his Democratic counterpart, Phil Barton.