Both parties in the Senate elect whips. The term "whip" comes from a fox-hunting expression -- "whipper-in" -- referring to the member of the hunting team responsible for keeping the dogs from straying from the team during a chase. Established early in the 20th century, the development of party whips coincided with the evolution of party leaders in the Senate.
Democrat James Hamilton Lewis of Illinois became the first party whip in 1913, and the Republicans established their own whip position two years later. These assistant leaders are mainly responsible for counting heads and rounding up party members for votes and quorum calls, and they occasionally stand in for the majority or minority leaders in their absence.
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| Senator | Term | |
|---|---|---|
 | Wadsworth, James W., Jr. (NY) | 19151 |
 | Curtis, Charles (KS)* | 1915-1924 |
 | Jones, Wesley L. (WA) | 1924-1929 |
 | Fess, Simeon D. (OH) | 1929-1933 |
 | Hébert, Felix (RI) | 1933-19352 |
 | Wherry, Kenneth S. (NE)* | 1944-1949 |
 | Saltonstall, Leverett (MA) | 1949-1957 |
 | Dirksen, Everett M. (IL)* | 1957-1959 |
 | Kuchel, Thomas H. (CA) | 1959-19693 |
 | Scott, Hugh (PA)* | 1969 |
 | Griffin, Robert P. (MI) | 1969-1977 |
 | Stevens, Theodore (Ted) (AK) | 1977-1985 |
 | Simpson, Alan K. (WY) | 1985-1995 |
 | Lott, Trent (MS)* | 1995-1996 |
 | Nickles, Don (OK) | 1996-2003 |
 | McConnell, Mitch (KY)* | 2003-2007 |
| Lott, Trent (MS) | 2007 |
 | Kyl, Jon (AZ) | 2008-2013 |
 | Cornyn, John (TX) | 2013- |
*Advanced to Republican party floor leader.
1 Wadsworth became the first Republican party whip in 1915.
2 No Republican whips were appointed from 1935 to 1944 since only 17 Republicans were in the Senate following the landslide election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936. Accordingly, the minutes of the Republican Conference for the period state: "On motion of Senator Hastings, duly seconded and carried, it was agreed that no Assistant Leader or Whip be elected but that the chairman be authorized to appoint Senators from time to time to assist him in taking charge of the interests of the minority." A note attached to the conference minutes added: "The chairman of the conference, Senator McNary, apparently appointed Senator Austin of Vermont as assistant leader in 1943 and 1944, until the conference adopted Rules of Organization."
3 Since 1969, Republicans have used the title "Assistant Leader" for this position.
| Senator | Term | |
|---|---|---|
 | Lewis, J. Hamilton (IL) | 1913-1919 |
 | Gerry, Peter G. (RI) | 1919-1929 |
 | Sheppard, Morris (TX) | 1929-1933 |
| Lewis, J. Hamilton (IL) | 1933-1939 |
 | Minton, Sherman (IN) | 1939-1941 |
 | Hill, Joseph Lister (AL) | 1941-1947 |
 | Lucas, Scott W. (IL)* | 1947-1949 |
 | Myers, Francis J. (PA) | 1949-1951 |
 | Johnson, Lyndon B. (TX)* | 1951-1953 |
 | Clements, Earle C. (KY) | 1953-1957 |
 | Mansfield, Michael J. (MT)* | 1957-1961 |
 | Humphrey, Hubert H. (MN) | 1961-1965 |
 | Long, Russell B. (LA) | 1965-1969 |
 | Kennedy, Edward M. (MA) | 1969-1971 |
 | Byrd, Robert C. (WV)* | 1971-1977 |
 | Cranston, Alan (CA) | 1977-1991 |
 | Ford, Wendell H. (KY) | 1991-1999 |
 | Reid, Harry M. (NV)* | 1999-2005 |
 | Durbin, Richard (IL) | 2005- |
*Advanced to Democratic party leader.
