Members
Shortly thereafter in 1991, Senator and Vietnam veteran Bob Smith introduced a resolution to create a Senate Select POW/MIA Committee. The fate of possible missing or captured Americans in Vietnam had been Smith's major issue since coming to Congress in 1985, partly spurred on by his growing up without knowing how his own father died in World War II. This was the third congressional investigation into the POW/MIA issue, but had a mandate to be more skeptical and ask harder questions of government officials than before. Formation of the committee was passed unanimously by the Senate. By October 1991, ten members had been selected for the committee.
Senator and also Vietnam veteran John Kerry was eventually named chairman of the committee by Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell. Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole chose Smith vice-chairman, after Senator and former Vietnam POW John McCain initially declined the vice-chair position.
The full committee consisted of twelve senators, likewise selected by the majority and minority leaders:
- John Kerry, chairman and Vietnam veteran
- Bob Smith, vice-chairman and Vietnam veteran
- John McCain, seriously wounded Vietnam veteran and POW in North Vietnam
- Bob Kerrey, seriously wounded Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor recipient
- Chuck Robb, Vietnam veteran
- Hank Brown, Vietnam veteran
- Chuck Grassley
- Nancy Landon Kassebaum
- Herb Kohl
- Tom Daschle
- Harry Reid
- Jesse Helms
Kohl replaced Dennis DeConcini, who was initially selected but then asked to be removed over the Keating Five scandal. Al Gore was the only Vietnam-era veteran who declined to participate.
Running the committee was seen as politically risky for Kerry, and one that his advisors recommended he not do. Indeed, as Bob Kerrey later said, "Nobody wanted to be on that damn committee. It was an absolute loser. Everyone knew that the POW stories were fabrications, but no one wanted to offend the vet community."
Read more about this topic: United States Senate Select Committee On POW/MIA Affairs
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