He was selected by the governor to represent Kentucky as a delegate for the 1997 Presidential Summit in Philadelphia.

He represented Kentucky in the United States Senate from 1973 until 1985.

Soon thereafter, he was chosen to represent Kentucky in the Provisional Confederate Congress from 1861 to 1862.

Commissions representing Ohio, Virginia and Kentucky opposed the change.

Between 1900 and 1912, he represented Kentucky at four consecutive Democratic National Conventions.

He was later elected to represent Kentucky in the U.S. Senate from 1859 to 1865.

He was elected to represent Kentucky in the Second Confederate Congress from 1864 to 1865.

He later represented Kentucky in the First Confederate Congress from 1862 to 1864.

After statehood, he represented Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives from 1792 until 1797.

A Republican, he represents Kentucky on Capitol Hill.