109th Congress / Senate / 1st session / Vote 142

• Question: On the Cloture Motion
• Category: Cloture
• Vote description: Upon Reconsideration, Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of John R. Bolton, of Maryland, to be Representative of the United States to the United Nations
• Vote type: 3/5 (Help)
  A three-fifths majority of those present and voting is required for approval or passage. Used in the Senate.
• Result: Rejected, 54-38, with 8 not voting.
• Date/time: June 20, 2005, 6:04 p.m.
• Republican majority opinion: Yes (Help)
  The position of more than 50 percent of voting Republicans. "None" means an equal split between "Yes" and "No."
• Democrat majority opinion: No (Help)
  The position of more than 50 percent of voting Democrats. "None" means an equal split between "Yes" and "No."

Key Vote Analysis

With this vote Senate Democrats handed President Bush a political setback by blocking, for the second time, the confirmation of his controversial choice for U.N. Ambassador, John Bolton. During Bolton's confirmation hearings Democrats and some Republicans expressed concerns about Bolton's conduct during his tenure as an under secretary of state and other federal postings. Opponents accused him of being overly critical of the United Nations, the very organization where he would serve as an ambassador, and of using bullying and intimidation to force other government officials to conform to his opinions.

Bolton, who was widely considered as a "hawk" in the Bush administration, also came under fire from Democrats and some moderate Republicans over what they said was his role in the weapons of mass destruction argument put forward as justification for the Iraq war. Critics disputed testimony he had given to Congress about Syria, and his access and use of classified intelligence intercepts. Those concerns led to a stalemate with the White House over release of documents about Bolton's activities. Democrats demanded more documentation than the White House was willing to hand over.

Ultimately, Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist tried to invoke cloture, which would have ended debate and forced a vote on confirmation. But Democrats, joined by Ohio Republican George Voinovich, successfully blocked the move. Eventually, President Bush nominated Bolton the U.N. post during the August recess of the Senate -- meaning that Bolton would not have to immediately be approved by the Senate and could serve until the new Congress convenes in January 2007.

See other key votes in the 109th Congress

Vote totals