To confirm the nomination of william p. Clark, of california, to be secretary of the interior. (nomination (continued) confirmed)

On Nov 18, 1983, the Senate voted 71–18. Result: passed. By party: Republicans 50–0, Democrats 23–21. It was a bipartisan vote: majorities of both parties voted yes. 21 members voted against their own party.

During the 98th Congress (1983–1984), Ronald Reagan was president, and Democrats held the House majority and Republicans the Senate majority.

Yes: 71
No: 18
Did not vote: 7
Date: Nov 18, 1983

By party

Republicans50 yes · 0 no · 5 didn’t vote
Democrats23 yes · 21 no · 2 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

Dale Bumpers D-AR voted no
David Hampton Pryor D-AR voted no
Alan Cranston D-CA voted no
Gary Warren Hart D-CO voted no
Christopher John Dodd D-CT voted no
Joseph Robinette (Joe) Biden Jr. D-DE voted no
Alan John Dixon D-IL voted no
Wendell Hampton Ford D-KY voted no
Edward Moore (Ted) Kennedy D-MA voted no
Paul Efthemios Tsongas D-MA voted no
Paul Spyros Sarbanes D-MD voted no
George John Mitchell D-ME voted no
Carl Levin D-MI voted no
Donald Wayne Riegle Jr. D-MI voted no
Thomas Francis Eagleton D-MO voted no
Frank Raleigh Lautenberg D-NJ voted no
Howard Morton Metzenbaum D-OH voted no
Ernest Frederick (Fritz) Hollings D-SC voted no
James Ralph Sasser D-TN voted no
Patrick Joseph Leahy D-VT voted no
William Proxmire D-WI voted no

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To confirm the nomination of william p…: Senate Vote, Nov 18, 1983,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/98-S-369/to-confirm-the-nomination-of-william-p-clark-of (accessed 2026-10-17).