Norris Cotton attended Phillips Exeter Academy and Wesleyan University, later studying law at George Washington University. He began his career as a clerk to the New Hampshire State Senate and a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Cotton practiced law in Lebanon, New Hampshire, before transitioning to a long-term political career. He served in both houses of the New Hampshire legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives, eventually elected to the U.S. Senate where he chaired the Senate Republican Conference. Cotton's professional background encompasses legislative experience, legal expertise, and leadership roles in state and federal government.

Norris Cotton's political career reveals a complex ideological positioning, notably supporting certain civil rights advancements while opposing others. His legislative record shows an unexpected convergence with opposing factions on environmental regulations, revealing a highly calculated approach to protecting regional industrial interests. Cotton's rhetorical style is marked by a strategic silence on many legislative initiatives, focusing instead on targeted, impactful amendments.