In a half-dozen major areas, from job legislation to the MX missile to Social Security, the lawmakers were able to succeed by seeking accommodations across party lines.

FORBES: A Brief History of Our Broken Political System

Mr. Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran who became a war protester, did defend some of his record yesterday, saying he had voted for the biggest Pentagon and intelligence budgets in U.S. history but had also challenged President Reagan's "Star Wars" missile defense as well as some weapons systems such as the MX missile.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Disqualified? John Kerry's record on national security

In recent weeks, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to sharply reduce the amounts requested for the rail-mobile MX and the road-mobile Midgetman missile, for the B-2 "Stealth" bomber and the advanced cruise missile, and for the Strategic Defense Initiative in the FY1990 Defense authorization bill.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | Congressional Efforts To Delete Funds For The Trident II: One More Step Toward Comprehensive, Unilateral US Disarmament