If you really believe the number one priority of our government is the protection of our people, then the idea of being defenseless against an intercontinental ballistic missile or any other type of weapon system that puts us in jeopardy is not acceptable.

Republican Tom Coburn was elected to succeed Nickles. Nickles beat two well funded oil millionaires (Jack Zink and Ed Noble) in the primary and won the primary run-off against Zink who was also well known as a race car driver. Post Senate career
On October 7 2003 he announced that he would not run in the 2004 election.

Donald Lee "Don" Nickles (born December 6 1948) is an American politician who was a Republican United States Senator from Oklahoma from 1981 until 2005. He was considered both a fiscal and a social conservative.