Exon Has Surgery, Is Third Senator Stricken
Sen. J. James Exon (D-Neb.) underwent surgery Thursday to remove his gall bladder, an aide said.
“Mrs. Pat Exon indicated that the senator’s condition was fine and that he was recovering normally,” said Press Secretary Mark Bowen.
He said surgeons at the Bethesda Naval Hospital expected Exon to be hospitalized for about seven days. Exon is one of three senators currently being treated at the naval hospital.
The others are Sens. John P. East (R-N.C.) and Pete Wilson (R-Calif.).
East was reported to be responding well to treatment for hypothyroidism but was expected to remain at the hospital for another three weeks. He was admitted on April 20 after complaining of fatigue. Wilson, 51, was recovering from emergency surgery he had Wednesday to remove a ruptured appendix.
The absence of the three legislators from the Senate occurs amid a series of close votes on amendments to the federal budget. By coincidence, all three are members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Exon drove himself to the hospital Wednesday afternoon after experiencing stomach pains.
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