Birth date: Apr 23, 1938 Death date: Aug 9, 2024
Steven D. Symms - Remembering a Legacy Former United States Senator Steven D. Symms passed away on August 9, 2024, at his Virginia home, surrounded by his family. Born on April 23, 1938, in Nampa, Idaho, Steve was the son of Read Obituary
Into the ages! Being one of the original staff in Steve’s first two terms (1972-76) was memorable. Especially 1974 during Watergate.
It was an amazing 4 years working on Symms staff 1972-1976, the first two terms. He and Fran imparted a family feeling to the staff. Watergate was the notable event of 1974; would be remiss in my devotion to Constitution and Steve’s seriousness of purpose in swearing his oath to Constitution if I didn’t duly note that there was only one Roll Call vote of the House; it was in February 1974; by an overwhelming margin of 410-4 it launched the Watergate hearings by Judiciary Committee. Alongside Idaho’s 2nd District GOP Rep. Orval Hansen, Steve cast an “Aye”. The only other vote was a straw poll taken by the White House to test how much support Nixon might have in House and Senate in confronting impeachment after “the smoking gun tape” was turned over right after SCOTUS ordered that be done. Its results showed that any support had totally collapsed on both sides of the Rotunda, and he resigned.
On the brighter side: the staff & boss were colleagues and friends; the work was energetic and constituent-focused. Steve never passed up a Town Hall. By and large, the Idaho GOP must’ve agreed that Nixon was a crook because Steve never faced any repercussions for the votes he & Orval cast. 1974 was not a situation of “my party, right or wrong” but rather a brand of Republicanism which believed in “Do the right thing.” Last time I saw Steve was 1981 for Reagan’s inauguration. I had gotten married my final year of law school and moved away from the district of Columbia to New Jersey. Gone into private law practice with a midsize firm while my husband discharged a two-year military obligation. We settled out there and grew our family. One of my law partners was GOP and a State Senator. We stopped in to visit Steve in his new office on the Senate side, and attended the inaugural ball put on by the NEW Jersey state Society at the Shoreham Hotel.
On visits to Idaho to see family, and ski, we made a point of dropping into see Fran after she relocated to Boise and she along with oldest son Dan and his wife, Linda (all R.I.P. now) attended our daughter‘s Sun Valley wedding in 2010.
Fran was smart and pure class. At a family wedding staged at Saint Chappelle winery a few years ago, I couldn’t help but remember how she would sometimes come into the office with a tubular cardboard full of architectural plans rolled under her arm for the winery, which was then just a dream taking shape!
Unto the ages ….
So sad to hear of Steve's passing. Played golf with him many times and enjoyed talking about his political adventures. The Man was a great part of the History of this country with so many virtues missing from our politicians today. Rest in Peace my friend!
I dont remember much, but met Steve in the 70's. Thru my parents, Jack and Jan Raymond of Caldwell, ID.
We will miss Steve. RIP STEVE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID.
Thoughts and prayers 🙏 are with your loved ones.
Sincerely,
Jack and Mary Jane Raymond
Jan Raymond
Vicki Raymond Aspiasu
In 1972 Steve Symms successfully ran for Congress in Idaho's 1st district. His campaign and election drew nationwide attention as he was a principled advocate for less government and more individual freedom and helped set a trend in the GOP that culminated with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, as well as his own election to the US Senate by defeating the very liberal incumbent Frank Church. I had the pleasure of working on the late Senator Jim McClure's first campaign for Senate in 1972 and worked some for Symms that year as well. After the election Steve invited me to join his Washington staff as senior legislative assistant, something for which I will always be grateful as it helped launch my own career. I have many fond memories of working for Steve throughout the '70s and briefly during his first year as a Senator. Steve Symms was known for his adherence to principle even when that was unpopular with the Washington Establishment's UniParty. One of his most courageous acts as a GOP congressman was to strongly support Ronald Reagan's campaign for the GOP nomination in 1976 against then president Ford; that took great courage at the time and it was an example of Steve's determination to put principle over expedient politics. Thank you, Steve.
The Senator changed my life. In the fall of 1981 he was in Idaho Falls. My Mom ran his district office and I happened to stop in to see Mom, she asked if I'd like to meet the Senator. Of course I would! He took me into an office and we spoke for 10-15 minutes. He treated this high school kid with respect and challenged me about the Constitution, and to get to know it and love it. I did and now, 43 years later I'm an attorney fighting for the Constitution trying to protect it. God Bless Senator Symms! A great man who I have always respected, and who was (and is) loved by my parents, Mel and Dixie Richardson, and who's influence has made me a better man. I hope to live worthy of seeing him again and thanking him for his work and influence.
Todd Richardson
Steve was the person who first got me interested in politics. My uncle, Bob Smith, was his campaign manager and legislative aide. I remember times at our house with Steve and Bob coming over to discuss issues with my dad, early in his days as a US Congressman. His political principles ("Take a bite out of government!" have stuck with me to this day.
Heidi Smith, Parma, ID
