Alan K. Simpson is known to speak his mind, peppering his commentary with rather colorful metaphors and the occasionally salty phrase.

"I've been in public life for 31 years," the former Republican senator from Wyoming said with a smile, and "I've been called a left-wing pinko and a rightwing cuckold...and I'm the same guy."

Simpson, who on Jan. 12 began work as the new Director of the Institute of Politics (IOP), said he hopes to bring the same openness that earned him the respect of bi-partisan colleagues to his job at Harvard.

Simpson replaced Phil Sharp, who said he plans to devote more time to teaching at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and to serving on an Environmental Protection Agency Panel.

Simpson will also teach a course at the Kennedy School, serving as the Lombard Lecturer at the school's Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy.

In an extensive interview with The Crimson, Simpson outlined his philosophy as both a teacher and IOP director, strongly defended his record on immigration policy and reflected upon the nature of politics in America today.

After meeting late last week with the IOP's student advisory council, Simpson said he was excited to be working with them.

"It was a delight," he said. "I told them who I am and what I intend to try to do."

The IOP's main mission is to foster an interest in politics and Simpson said that he wants students to see it from every angle.

"I'd like to show them that politics is sloppy, silly, stupefying sometimes," he said. "But you'd never want to live in a country without politics."

All in the Family

Simpson's IOP office is adorned with reminders of the Wyoming landscape and a particularly prize possession, an autographed picture of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody.

Simpson was born in 1931 in the town named for Cody. He graduated with from the University of Wyoming, and after two years in the military, received a law degree in 1958.

After spending 13 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Simpson was elected to the Senate in 1978.

Simpson's father, Milward L. Simpson, also served in the Senate (R-Wy.), at one time being second in seniority to Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 (D-Mass.).