Changes

In 1972, along with the reelection of [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]], Symms, at the age of thirty-four used the theme of an apple farm in his successful bid for an open seat in the U.S. House. One of his advertisements showed a large red apple and the slogan, "Take a bite out of big government!"  He was elected to the open seat and was re-elected three times before becoming a U.S. Senator. In 1980, with the [[Ronald Reagan]] triumph over [[Jimmy Carter]], Symms unseated four-term Senator Frank Church with a victory margin of less than 1 percent in the Republican landslide year.<ref name=sbigohwsv>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W61fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0DIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4369%2C2366596|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|agency=Associated Press|title=Symms basks in the glow of hard-won Senate victory |date=November 6, 1980|page=6A}}</ref> Symms was re-elected in the [[1986 Midterm Elections|1986 midterms]], defeating Democratic [[Governor]] John V. Evans in another hard-fought and close election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gDFkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yfkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6978,2681874|publisher=''Spokane Chronicle''|author=Quane Kenyon|first=Quane|title=No political truce in Idaho|date=October 28, 1986|page=A4}}</ref>

In 1972, along with the reelection of [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]], Symms, at the age of thirty-four used the theme of an apple farm in his successful bid for an open seat in the U.S. House. One of his advertisements showed a large red apple and the slogan, "Take a bite out of big government!"  He was elected to the open seat and was re-elected three times before becoming a U.S. Senator. In 1980, with the [[Ronald Reagan]] triumph over [[Jimmy Carter]], Symms unseated four-term Senator Frank Church with a victory margin of less than 1 percent in the Republican landslide year.<ref name=sbigohwsv>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W61fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0DIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4369%2C2366596|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|agency=Associated Press|title=Symms basks in the glow of hard-won Senate victory |date=November 6, 1980|page=6A}}</ref> Symms was re-elected in the [[1986 Midterm Elections|1986 midterms]], defeating Democratic [[Governor]] John V. Evans in another hard-fought and close election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gDFkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yfkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6978,2681874|publisher=''Spokane Chronicle''|author=Quane Kenyon|first=Quane|title=No political truce in Idaho|date=October 28, 1986|page=A4}}</ref>

In 1983, Symms joined most Senate Republicans in voting for the [[Orrin Hatch|Hatch]]-Eagleton [[Human Life Amendment]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/98-1983/s169 TO PASS S. J. RES. 3, A MEASURE AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY IN CONGRESS AND THE STATES WITH RESPECT TO ABORTION, THEREBY OVERTURNING THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION IN ROE VS. WADE. (MOTION FAILED;2/3 REQUIR.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved December 17, 2021.</ref>

In 1983, Symms joined most Senate Republicans in voting for the [[Orrin Hatch|Hatch]]-Eagleton [[Human Life Amendment]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/98-1983/s169 TO PASS S. J. RES. 3, A MEASURE AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY IN CONGRESS AND THE STATES WITH RESPECT TO ABORTION, THEREBY OVERTURNING THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION IN ROE VS. WADE. (MOTION FAILED;2/3 REQUIR.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved December 17, 2021.</ref> The constitutional amendment received a 49–50 vote, thus failing to meet the two-thirds threshold.

Symms chose did not seek a third Senate term in 1992 and was succeeded by the Republican mayor of Boise, [[Dirk Kempthorne]], a future two-term Idaho [[governor]] and [[United States Secretary of the Interior]]. Symms is the recipient of the U.S. Marine Corps "Iron Mike" award and the National Guard's "Minuteman of the Year" award. He has also been honored by the [[Chamber of Commerce]], the National Federation of Independent Business,Freedoms Foundation, the American Security Council, Americans for Constitutional Action.<ref name=lobby/>

Symms chose did not seek a third Senate term in 1992 and was succeeded by the Republican mayor of Boise, [[Dirk Kempthorne]], a future two-term Idaho [[governor]] and [[United States Secretary of the Interior]]. Symms is the recipient of the U.S. Marine Corps "Iron Mike" award and the National Guard's "Minuteman of the Year" award. He has also been honored by the [[Chamber of Commerce]], the National Federation of Independent Business,Freedoms Foundation, the American Security Council, Americans for Constitutional Action.<ref name=lobby/>