Page "Don't ask, don't tell" Paragraph 12

In Congress, Democratic Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia led the contingent that favored maintaining the absolute ban on gays.

Reformers were led by Democratic Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts, who favored modification ( but ultimately voted for the defense authorization bill with the gay ban language ), and Barry Goldwater, a former Republican Senator and a retired Major General, who argued on behalf of allowing service by open gays and lesbians.

In a June 1993 Washington Post opinion piece, Goldwater wrote: " You don't have to be straight to shoot straight.

" After Congressional phone lines were flooded by organized anti-gay opposition, President Clinton backed off on his campaign promise to repeal the ban in favor of DADT.