When he went to Congress he was a fire-breather. Over the years he has been worn down and somehow diverted far off track IMHO on many foreign policy and other issues, though his stand on some of the purley moral issues remains fairly strong.
He's a case study of what happens when you determine to make the opposition your friend and start playing politics and compromise with them instead of continuing to stand steadfastly for the right and against the opposition who would water fundamental principle down and ultiamately destroy it.