A Giant is Gone: Ash Carter Pays Tribute to Richard Lugar

Richard Lugar, U.S. Senator from Indiana 1997-2013, died April 28 at the age of 87.

Following is a statement from Ash Carter, Belfer Center Director and former Secretary of Defense:

When the Cold War ended, the threat from nuclear weapons did not. All Americans owe a debt of gratitude to Dick Lugar for the vision and leadership with Sam Nunn to deactivate or destroy thousands of nuclear warheads and missiles across the former Soviet republics. This was a heroic effort – the Marshall Plan of its time. By doing the impossible, Dick and Sam prevented the unthinkable. Working with Dick and Sam on this program was a great privilege, as was running the program in the Pentagon. Their partnership proves that bipartisan collaboration isn’t weakness; it’s the very strength that allows us to build a better, safer world. Dick will rightly be remembered as one of America’s very greatest public servants. I will also remember him as a great mentor and friend. His lifetime of leadership should inspire all of us to re-center our lives on a purpose larger than ourselves. Years after the success of the Nunn-Lugar program, I named the Secretary of Defense’s Conference Room the Nunn-Lugar Conference Room in permanent recognition of a bipartisan American success.