Known to be punctual, he was present 90% of Senate roll-call votes. Although he was portrayed as socially rigid, he often broke from this mold and showed a personable side. While campaigning in cities, he often let students from the crowd run up to the stage and present a case for policy reform, unheard of at the time. Journalist R. W. Apple Jr noted in his obituary that his constant tendency for probity (i.e. standing firm in moral beliefs), was ultimately politically detrimental.