Our nation was fortunate to have Richard Lugar, who died Sunday at 87, as a public servant. I was fortunate that he was my trusted friend.
Dick began his Senate career representing Indiana in 1977, at a time when our politics and our nation could have come apart. Over the previous four years, we'd had three presidents and four vice presidents, a presidential resignation, the installation of two vice presidents via the never-before-used 25th Amendment, and a close 1976 presidential election. Despite this turmoil, Dick set a new example of civility, working across party lines and helping to heal our divisions, while underscoring the essential role of Congress in advancing our nation's interests around the world.