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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/>

==Controversies==

===Controversies===

Symms was one of several Republican senators who in 1981 expressed his opposition to the nomination of [[Sandra Day O'Connor]], an Arizona [[Moderate Republican]] whom President Reagan nominated for the [[United States Supreme Court]]. The opposition hinged over the issue of O'Connor's  unwillingness to overturn the landmark [[abortion]] opinion, ''[[Roe v. Wade]].''<ref>Jan Crawford Greenburg, ''Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court,'' Penguin Books, 2007. p. 222.</ref> Reagan, however, stubbornly stood with O'Connor, the first woman justice who later affirmed ''Roe'' in the 1992 case, ''Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey,'' much as most conservatives had expected.

Symms was one of several Republican senators who in 1981 expressed his opposition to the nomination of [[Sandra Day O'Connor]], an Arizona [[Moderate Republican]] whom President Reagan nominated for the [[United States Supreme Court]]. The opposition hinged over the issue of O'Connor's  unwillingness to overturn the landmark [[abortion]] opinion, ''[[Roe v. Wade]].''<ref>Jan Crawford Greenburg, ''Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court,'' Penguin Books, 2007. p. 222.</ref> Reagan, however, stubbornly stood with O'Connor, the first woman justice who later affirmed ''Roe'' in the 1992 case, ''Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey,'' much as most conservatives had expected.

During the 1988 presidential election, Symms falsely alleged that Kitty Dukakis, the wife of Democratic nominee [[Michael Dukakis]] of [[Massachusetts]],  burned a U.S. flag in a 1960s demonstration against the [[Vietnam War]]. Mrs. Dukakis angrily blasted the accusation as "totally false and beneath contempt," and Symms later admitted that he could not substantiate his allegation.<ref name="AP Editors 1988">AP Editors (August 26, 1988) "Story on Mrs. Dukakis Is Denied by Campaign." ''New York Times.''</ref> Nevertheless, the claim became national news, as media outlets began searching for the photograph Symms said he had "heard" existed.<ref>E. J. Dionne, Jr. (August 29, 1988) "Political Memo; Accentuating the Positive Can Lead to Nasty Campaign." ''New York Times.'' </ref> Dukakis lost the election to [[Vice President]] [[George Herbert Walker Bush]].

During the 1988 presidential election, Symms falsely alleged that Kitty Dukakis, the wife of Democratic nominee [[Michael Dukakis]] of [[Massachusetts]],  burned a U.S. flag in a 1960s demonstration against the [[Vietnam War]]. Mrs. Dukakis angrily blasted the accusation as "totally false and beneath contempt," and Symms later admitted that he could not substantiate his allegation.<ref name="AP Editors 1988">AP Editors (August 26, 1988) "Story on Mrs. Dukakis Is Denied by Campaign." ''New York Times.''</ref> Nevertheless, the claim became national news, as media outlets began searching for the photograph Symms said he had "heard" existed.<ref>E. J. Dionne, Jr. (August 29, 1988) "Political Memo; Accentuating the Positive Can Lead to Nasty Campaign." ''New York Times.'' </ref> Dukakis lost the election to [[Vice President]] [[George Herbert Walker Bush]].

===Later years===

==Later years==

After leaving the Senate in 1993, Symms founded a consulting firm, Symms, Lehn Associates, Inc.  In January 1999, he and John Haddow formed Symms & Haddow Associates, a lobbying firm. In January 2001, the firm joined forces with Romano Romani  and Democratic former Senator [[Dennis DeConcini]] of [[Arizona]] to establish Parry, Romani, DeConcini, and Symms.<ref name=lobby/>

After leaving the Senate in 1993, Symms founded a consulting firm, Symms, Lehn Associates, Inc.  In January 1999, he and John Haddow formed Symms & Haddow Associates, a lobbying firm. In January 2001, the firm joined forces with Romano Romani  and Democratic former Senator [[Dennis DeConcini]] of [[Arizona]] to establish Parry, Romani, DeConcini, and Symms.<ref name=lobby/>