Changes

In 1979, Javits disclosed that he had [[Lou Gehrig's Disease|Lou Gehrig's disease]]. Despite his obscurity as a statewide candidate, D'Amato unseated Senator Javits in their [[primary]], 56 to 44 percent.  Javits continued his campaign in the [[general election]] as he nominee of the New York Liberal Party. In that same election, [[Ronald Reagan]] carried New York, but Javits polled only 11 percent of the vote. D'Amato defeated the Democratic nominee then [[U.S. Representative]] Elizabeth Holtzman, 45 to 44 percent. D'Amato won again in 1986 and 1992 but lost to Schumer in 1998.​

In 1979, Javits disclosed that he had [[Lou Gehrig's Disease|Lou Gehrig's disease]]. Despite his obscurity as a statewide candidate, D'Amato unseated Senator Javits in their [[primary]], 56 to 44 percent.  Javits continued his campaign in the [[general election]] as he nominee of the New York Liberal Party. In that same election, [[Ronald Reagan]] carried New York, but Javits polled only 11 percent of the vote. D'Amato defeated the Democratic nominee then [[U.S. Representative]] Elizabeth Holtzman, 45 to 44 percent. D'Amato won again in 1986 and 1992 but lost to Schumer in 1998.​

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Because of his emphasis on constituent services, in the tradition of his colleague [[Strom Thurmond]] of [[South Carolina]], he became known as "Senator Pothole." His supporters did not object to the appellation because they appreciated his focus on getting things done.​ D'Amato holds the record on the Senate floor for the second and eighth longest [[filibuster]]s, some of which became comical in nature. In 1983, he voted for the [[Martin Luther King]] Holiday legislation, signed into law by President Reagan. In 1987, he backed the Civil Rights Restoration Act and also voted to  override President Reagan's veto of the legislation.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/s432|title=To Pass S 557, Civil Rights Restoration Act|publisher=Govtrack.us|date=January 28, 1988|accessdate=May 27, 2020}}</ref> He supported the confirmation of [[Robert Bork]] and [[Clarence Thomas]] to the [[United States Supreme Court]]; Bork was rejected by senators, including some [[Moderate Republicans]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/24/us/senate-s-roll-call-on-the-bork-vote.html|title=Senate's Roll-Call on the Bork Vote|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=October 24, 1987|accessdate=May 27, 2020}}</ref> but Thomas was narrowly confirmed in 1991, 52 to 48, with the support of eleven Democrats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/16/us/the-thomas-confirmation-how-the-senators-voted-on-thomas.html|title=The Thomas Confirmation: How the Senators Voted on Thomas|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=October 16, 1991|accessdate=May 27, 2020}}</ref>

Because of his emphasis on constituent services, in the tradition of his colleague [[Strom Thurmond]] of [[South Carolina]], he became known as "Senator Pothole." His supporters did not object to the appellation because they appreciated his focus on getting things done.​ D'Amato holds the record on the Senate floor for the second and eighth longest [[filibuster]]s, some of which became comical in nature.

 

In 1983, he voted for the [[Martin Luther King]] Holiday legislation, signed into law by President Reagan and taking effect in 1986 on the third Monday of January. In 1987, he backed the Civil Rights Restoration Act and also voted to  override President Reagan's veto of the legislation.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/s432|title=To Pass S 557, Civil Rights Restoration Act|publisher=Govtrack.us|date=January 28, 1988|accessdate=May 27, 2020}}</ref> He supported the confirmation of [[Robert Bork]] and [[Clarence Thomas]] to the [[United States Supreme Court]]; Bork was rejected by senators, including some [[Moderate Republicans]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/24/us/senate-s-roll-call-on-the-bork-vote.html|title=Senate's Roll-Call on the Bork Vote|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=October 24, 1987|accessdate=May 27, 2020}}</ref> but Thomas was narrowly confirmed in 1991, 52 to 48, with the support of eleven Democrats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/16/us/the-thomas-confirmation-how-the-senators-voted-on-thomas.html|title=The Thomas Confirmation: How the Senators Voted on Thomas|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=October 16, 1991|accessdate=May 27, 2020}}</ref>

In 1989, President [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] named D'Amato to the Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism.​ He chaired the Senate Banking Committee and was a member of the Senate Finance Committee.<ref name=bioguide/> He became a leading critic of President [[Bill Clinton]] in the  [[Whitewater scandal]] and chaired the hearings  of the special committee conducting the investigation into the matter. He supported efforts to assist [[Holocaust]] survivors in obtain their relatives' mony in Swiss bank accounts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/dormant-accounts_how-switzerland-coped-with-holocaust-funds/44319054|title=How the Holocaust-Swiss banks deal was brokered|publisher=Swissinfo.ch|date=August 13, 2018|accessdate=May 27, 2020}}</ref>

In 1989, President [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] named D'Amato to the Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism.​ He chaired the Senate Banking Committee and was a member of the Senate Finance Committee.<ref name=bioguide/> He became a leading critic of President [[Bill Clinton]] in the  [[Whitewater scandal]] and chaired the hearings  of the special committee conducting the investigation into the matter. He supported efforts to assist [[Holocaust]] survivors in obtain their relatives' mony in Swiss bank accounts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/dormant-accounts_how-switzerland-coped-with-holocaust-funds/44319054|title=How the Holocaust-Swiss banks deal was brokered|publisher=Swissinfo.ch|date=August 13, 2018|accessdate=May 27, 2020}}</ref>