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Elected to the Senate in 1953 following ten years in the House, Mansfield gained a reputation for his expertise in foreign policy, particularly in the Far East, and for his informality and low-keyed effectiveness. He voted with the liberals on domestic issues, but formed his own opinions on foreign policy. In 1957 Majority Leader [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] selected Mansfield as Majority Whip, the #2 spot, giving him numerous duties and little power.  Mansfield was elected by the Democrats as Majority Leader in 1961 following Johnson's election as Vice President.  

Elected to the Senate in 1953 following ten years in the House, Mansfield gained a reputation for his expertise in foreign policy, particularly in the Far East, and for his informality and low-keyed effectiveness. He voted with the liberals on domestic issues, but formed his own opinions on foreign policy. In 1957 Majority Leader [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] selected Mansfield as Majority Whip, the #2 spot, giving him numerous duties and little power.  Mansfield was elected by the Democrats as Majority Leader in 1961 following Johnson's election as Vice President.  

The Majority Leader has enormous power in controlling the flow of legislation, and making committee assignments. Mansfield immediately replaced Johnson's bullying, highly partisan style with one of respectful collegiality and openness.  Mansfield shared power with his  whips, [[Hubert H. Humphrey]] (Whip 1963-64) and [[Russell Long]] (Whip 1964-69), [[Ted Kennedy]] (whip 1969-71), and [[Robert Byrd]] (Whip 1971-76).  Unlike Johnson (who dealt with a Republican White House), Mansfield had Democratic presidents [[John F. Kennedy]] (1961–63) and Johnson (1963–68) to contend with. Although criticized by some as overly accommodating, Mansfield's leadership paved the way for cross-party alliances, particularly with GOP leader [[Everett Dirksen]] on civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s, and his style has been adopted by most of his successors in the post.  

The Majority Leader has enormous power in controlling the flow of legislation, and making committee assignments. Mansfield immediately replaced Johnson's bullying, highly partisan style with one of respectful collegiality and openness.  Mansfield shared power with his  whips, [[Hubert H. Humphrey]] (Whip 1963-64) and [[Russell Long]] (Whip 1964-69), [[Ted Kennedy]] (whip 1969-71), and the Exalted Cyclops [[Robert Byrd]] (Whip 1971-76).  Unlike Johnson (who dealt with a Republican White House), Mansfield had Democratic presidents [[John F. Kennedy]] (1961–63) and Johnson (1963–68) to contend with. Although criticized by some as overly accommodating, Mansfield's leadership paved the way for cross-party alliances, particularly with GOP leader [[Everett Dirksen]] on civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s, and his style has been adopted by most of his successors in the post.  

Mansfield was a mild critic of Johnson's Vietnam policy until 1966, when he decided the war was unwinnable and the U.S. should seek a negotiated settlement.  When [[Richard Nixon]] became president in 1969, Mansfield stepped up his critique of the Vietnam War. He engineered laws to prevent the military from aiding South Vietnam in its death struggle with Communism.  mansfield did support Nixon's détente policy with China and the Soviet Union. He also pushed to reduce or eliminate the Amrerican military presence of 600,000 troops in Western Europe, mostly in West Germany where a Communist invasion threatened. The European Allies rejected that notion, and Mansfield failed to remove the troops.

Mansfield was a mild critic of Johnson's Vietnam policy until 1966, when he decided the war was unwinnable and the U.S. should seek a negotiated settlement.  When [[Richard Nixon]] became president in 1969, Mansfield stepped up his critique of the Vietnam War. He engineered laws to prevent the military from aiding South Vietnam in its death struggle with Communism.  mansfield did support Nixon's détente policy with China and the Soviet Union. He also pushed to reduce or eliminate the Amrerican military presence of 600,000 troops in Western Europe, mostly in West Germany where a Communist invasion threatened. The European Allies rejected that notion, and Mansfield failed to remove the troops.