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In 1970, the politically unknown Bumpers defeated former Governor [[Orval E. Faubus]] in the Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff election. Then, by a wide margin, he unseated the incumbent [[Republican]] Governor [[Winthrop Rockefeller]]. After four years as governor, he was succeeded by fellow Democrat [[David Pryor]]. In 1974, Bumpers won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate by a wide margin over incumbent [[J. William Fulbright]], known for his opposition to the [[Vietnam War]]. Thereafter, Bumpers was elected to the Senate again in 1980, 1986, when he defeated Republican [[Asa Hutchinson]], and in 1992, when he toppled future Governor [[Mike Huckabee]]. Bumpers stepped down from the Senate in 1999 and was succeeded by the Democrat [[Blanche Lincoln]].

In 1970, the politically unknown Bumpers defeated former Governor [[Orval E. Faubus]] in the Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff election. Then, by a wide margin, he unseated the incumbent [[Republican]] Governor [[Winthrop Rockefeller]]. After four years as governor, he was succeeded by fellow Democrat [[David Pryor]]. In 1974, Bumpers won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate by a wide margin over incumbent [[J. William Fulbright]], known for his opposition to the [[Vietnam War]]. Thereafter, Bumpers was elected to the Senate again in 1980, 1986, when he defeated Republican [[Asa Hutchinson]], and in 1992, when he toppled future Governor [[Mike Huckabee]]. Bumpers stepped down from the Senate in 1999 and was succeeded by the Democrat [[Blanche Lincoln]].

Like Fulbright his predecessor and intraparty rival, Bumpers was a long-time admirer of [[U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]]. In 1999, as a former senator, Bumpers delivered an impassioned speech before the Senate in successful opposition to the trial of the [[impeachment]] of Clinton on grounds of [[perjury]] and [[obstruction of justice]].

Like Fulbright his predecessor and intraparty rival, Bumpers was a long-time admirer of [[U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]]. In 1999, as a former senator, Bumpers delivered an impassioned speech before the Senate in successful opposition to the trial of the [[impeachment]] of Clinton on grounds of [[perjury]] and [[obstruction of justice]].<ref>https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/dalebumpersdefenseofclinton.htm</ref>

Bumpers and his wife, the former Betty Flanagan, also a defender of various [[liberal]] causes, are retired in Charleston, Arkansas. In 2012, Bumpers spoke out for the reelection of U.S. President [[Barack H. Obama]].

Bumpers and his wife, the former Betty Flanagan, also a defender of various [[liberal]] causes, are retired in Charleston, Arkansas. In 2012, Bumpers spoke out for the reelection of U.S. President [[Barack H. Obama]].