William Harrison Frist is an American physician, businessman, conservationist and policymaker who served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1995 to 2007. A member of the Republican Party, he also served as Senate Majority Leader from 2003 to 2007. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Frist studied government and health care policy at Princeton University and earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard Medical School. He trained as a cardiothoracic transplant surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and Stanford University School of Medicine, and later founded the Vanderbilt Transplant Center. In 1994, he defeated incumbent Democratic Senator Jim Sasser.
Official portrait, c. 1995
Frist looks on as President George W. Bush signs the North Korea Nonproliferation Act of 2006 (Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 109–353 (text) (PDF)) into law.
Sen. Frist with Sen. Lamar Alexander and Interior Secretary Gale Norton
Frist at the inauguration of his successor Bob Corker (second left). Along with Tennessee's former Senator Howard Baker (second right), and Senior Senator Lamar Alexander (far right).
Party leaders of the United States Senate
The positions of majority leader and minority leader are held by two United States senators and people of the party leadership of the United States Senate. They serve as a chief spokespersons for their respective political parties holding the majority and the minority in the United States Senate. They are each elected as majority leader and minority leader by the senators of their party caucuses: the Senate Democratic Caucus and the Senate Republican Conference.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD)