Last week Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) suffered what appeared to be a
stroke. He lost his ability to speak. After the Attending Physician to
the Congress, Rear Admiral John Eisold, MC, USN, examined him he was
rushed to George Washington University Hospital, where he underwent
brain surgery. It seems he was bleeding from blood vessels which never
had formed properly. Johnson has an unusual birth defect, apparently
termed arteriovenous malformation, estimated to affect some 300,000
Americans. Now doctors report he is recovering but the long-term
prognosis is much harder to predict.
The first person to rush to Johnson's side was Majority Leader-elect
Harry M. Reid (D-NV). I am sure it occurred to Reid that should the
Johnson Senate seat be vacated the Republican Governor of South Dakota
no doubt would appoint a Republican to serve until the next election.
That would move the Senate to a 50-50 tie.
Inasmuch as Vice President Richard B. Cheney breaks ties, the Senate
would be in Republican hands. That, in fact, was the situation in 2000.
There was a tie and Cheney broke it as soon as he was sworn into office.
From that day the Republicans were in control. Then when Vermont Senator
James M. Jeffords caucused with the Democrats, after he became a
so-called Independent, Republicans lost control.
Senator Reid does not have to worry about his precarious majority unless
Senator Johnson were to die or to resign.
There is a precedent in Johnson's own State which probably would deter
him from resigning regardless of his condition.
In 1966 Senator Karl Mundt handily was re-elected. He served until
November 1969, when he suffered a stroke, which left him in a virtual
vegetative state.