Old Warrior in the Line of Fire

John Warner, with his lantern jaw, double-breasted suits and stentorian voice, has always looked the part of distinguished Senator. But for much of his three decades in the Senate, his actual record as a lawmaker was a ledger of modest and narrow accomplishments, mostly related to defense bills. In the past five years, however, the Republican has become one of the Senate's most influential members, thanks to a readiness to strike compromises on a host of high-profile issues ranging from co-sponsoring the anti-torture Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 to anchoring the "Gang of 14" bipartisan moderates who pledged to cooperate on...