Caspar W. Weinberger, R.I.P.

Early this morning with the passing of former Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger, the Nation lost one of its most accomplished public servants and skilled practitioners of the philosophy of “peace through strength.” The Center for Security Policy, which recognized Secretary Weinberger’s tremendous contribution to America’s security by bestowing upon him its first “Keeper of the Flame” Award in 1990, mourns his loss at a time when his clarity of vision, steadfastness of purpose and tenacious commitment to principle are needed more than ever.

A decorated combat veteran of World War II and graduate magna cum laude of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Mr. Weinberger went on to serve as Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.

It was as President Ronald Reagan’s Secretary of Defense from 1981 to 1987, however, that “Cap” Weinberger made his most notable contributions to the Nation’s well-being, with his leadership – indeed, his personification – of the Reagan effort to rebuild America ‘s military and to assume once again for the United States the role of leader of the Free World. Undoubtedly, history will recognize that his stewardship in the modernization and strengthening of America ‘s armed forces was indispensable to the success of the Reagan strategy for destroying the Soviet Union and for promoting freedom in every corner of the world.

The Weinberger legacy has been tangibly evident in another area, as well: America ‘s extraordinary successes on the battlefield over the past two decades have been a direct result of the reinvestment in our forces and their hardware undertaken on Cap’s watch . Had it not been for his determined advocacy and competent oversight, we may have been less able to draw upon the mainstays of our military power today and tomorrow – from the M-1 main battle tank to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle to the B-1 and B-2 bombers to the V-22 tiltrotor to the Trident submarines to the Global Positioning Satellite system – to project power flexibly, precisely and decisively.

Secretary Weinberger will also be remembered for the seminal role he played in shifting the national paradigm from one of deliberate vulnerability to ballistic missile attack to one in which anti-missile defenses are part of a comprehensive homeland security posture. Thanks in no small measure to the groundwork laid by President Reagan and his cherished friend and loyal defense secretary, President George W. Bush recognized the need to deploy missile defenses and took the steps necessary to accomplish that goal. Most important of these was his decision to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, an action Mr. Weinberger championed with characteristic vision, eloquence and tenacity for the better part of two decades, both in and out of government.

Center President Frank J. Gaffney, Jr. observed on learning of Secretary Weinberger’s passing:

The Nation has lost today one of its most formidable national security practitioners. Caspar Weinberger worked tirelessly and with distinction and dignity in a lifetime of public service and private sector leadership. He was a gentleman of the first order, inspiring in his subordinates unflagging loyalty and deep affection and in his adversaries – foreign and domestic – genuine, if often grudging, respect.

The greatness of the President Secretary Weinberger served was in considerable measure a product of the extraordinary quality of the men and women in whom he entrusted the well-being and security of the American people. Second to none in that regard was Cap Weinberger.

The Center for Security Policy mourns as well the loss today of another key member of President Reagan’s team, Lyn Nofzinger. It joins with all the other members of that community in extending to his family and that of Secretary Weinberger our deepest condolences and profound thanks.