1992 Keeper of the Flame Award: Malcolm Wallop

Senator Malcolm Wallop is an extraordinary public servant, a man whose uncommon integrity, profound love of country and unwavering commitment to principle have long inspired his many friends at the Center for Security Policy. Particularly during his sixteen years in the United States Senate, Senator Wallop has been an untiring and steadfast Keeper of the Flame.

After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1954, Senator Wallop served from 1955 to 1957 as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Artillery. In 1968, he was elected to two terms in the Wyoming House of Representatives and in 1972 to one term in the state Senate. In 1976, he ran for and won the right to represent Wyoming in the United States Senate, a mandate twice affirmed in subsequent elections. Currently, Senator Wallop serves as the ranking minority member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and as a senior member of the Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Small Business.

Among Senator Wallop’s numerous legislative accomplishments, his most important have arguably been in the area of national security. He is, without exception, the Senate’s most formidable intellect on matters bearing on the common defense and foreign affairs. His keen mind, his capacity to retain and make devastating rhetorical use of relevant information and his tenacity in pursuit of what he believes to be right for the country have made him a towering figure in a Congress that is increasingly bereft of individuals with such qualities.

As Senator Wallop noted last year, “One thing I have discovered over the course of fourteen years in Congress is you can never win a battle you don’t engage.” The American people owe him a deep debt of gratitude for his conscientious willingness to engage in important legislative fights even where the chances of winning seem slim. For all his battles and other distinguished service, the Center for Security Policy is privileged to honor Senator Malcolm Wallop as the 1992 Keeper of the Flame.