Sam Nunn

For the rower, seeSam Nunn (rower).

Sam Nunn
Nunn,c.2020
Chair of theSenate Armed Services Committee
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Barry Goldwater
Succeeded by	Strom Thurmond
United States Senator fromGeorgia
In office November 8, 1972 – January 3, 1997
Preceded by	David Gambrell
Succeeded by	Max Cleland
Member of theGeorgia House of Representatives from the 41st district, Post 1
In office January 13, 1969 – November 8, 1972
Preceded by	Glenn Phillips
Succeeded by	Guy Hill
Personal details
Born	Samuel Augustus Nunn Jr. (1938-09-08)September 8, 1938 Macon, Georgia,U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Colleen O'Brien ​ (m.1965)​
Children	2, includingMichelle
Education	Georgia Institute of Technology Emory University(BA,LLB)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Coast Guard
Years of service	1959–1968
Unit	United States Coast Guard Reserve

Samuel Augustus Nunn Jr.(born September 8, 1938) is an American politician who served as aUnited States SenatorfromGeorgia(1972–1997) as a member of theDemocratic Party.

After leaving Congress, Nunn co-founded theNuclear Threat Initiative(NTI), a charitable organization working to prevent catastrophic attacks withnuclear,biological,andchemical weapons,for which he is the co-chair. His political experience and credentials onnational defensereportedly earned him consideration as a potential running mate for presidential candidatesJohn KerryandBarack Obamaafter they became their party's nominees.

Early life

Nunn was born inMacon, Georgia,the son of Mary Elizabeth (née Cannon) and Samuel Augustus Nunn, who was an attorney and mayor ofPerry, Georgia.Nunn was raised in Perry. He is a grandnephew ofCongressmanCarl Vinson.

Nunn was anEagle Scoutand recipient of theDistinguished Eagle Scout Awardfrom theBoy Scouts of America.In high school, Nunn was a standout athlete, captaining the school's basketball team to the state championship.

Nunn attendedGeorgia Techin 1956,where he was initiated as a brother ofPhi Delta Theta.He transferred toEmory Universityin 1959 and received his undergraduate degree in 1961.He then received a degree from theEmory University School of Lawin 1962.

Early career

After active-duty service in theUnited States Coast Guard,he served six years in theUS Coast Guard Reserveand attained the rank of petty officer.He was also a Congressional staff member.

Nunn returned to Perry, Georgia, where he practiced law and managed his family's farm. He later served as president of the Perry Chamber of Commerce.

Political career

Nunn first entered politics as a member of theGeorgia House of Representativesin 1968.He was elected to theUnited States Senatein 1972,defeating appointed U.S. SenatorDavid H. Gambrellin the Democraticprimaryand U.S. Rep.Fletcher Thompsonin thegeneral election.Nunn retired from the Senate in 1997, offering a lack of "zest and enthusiasm" as justification.

During his tenure in the U.S. Senate, Nunn served as the chairman of theU.S. Senate Committee on Armed Servicesand thePermanent Subcommittee on Investigations.He also served on theIntelligenceandSmall Business Committees.His legislative achievements include the landmarkDepartment of Defense Reorganization Act,drafted with the late SenatorBarry Goldwater,and theNunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat ReductionProgram,which provided assistance to Russia and the former Soviet republics for securing and destroying their excess nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

TheNunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reductionprogram deactivated more than 7,600 nuclearwarheads.He was supposedly the "top choice" to beSecretary of DefenseorStatein 1992 and 1996 and in a prospectiveGorecabinet in 2000.

Overall, Nunn was amoderate-to-conservativeDemocratwho often broke with his party on a host ofsocialandeconomic issues.He opposed the budget bill of 1993, which included provisions to raise taxes to reduce thebudget deficit.He neither supported nor opposedHillary Clinton's attempt to establish universal health care, though he spoke out very strongly against the proposed insurance mandate.

Nunn actively worked to block PresidentBill Clinton's proposal to allow homosexuals toserve openly in the military.LGBT activistDavid Mixneropenly referred to Nunn as an "old fashioned bigot" for opposing Clinton's plan to lift the military, though this was also reported to have angered the White House.

In 2008, Nunn endorsed a newPentagonstudy to examine the issue of homosexuals serving openly in the military: "I think [when] 15 years go by on any personnel policy, it's appropriate to take another look at it—see how it's working, ask the hard questions, hear from the military. Start with a Pentagon study."

According to opensecrets.org, Sam Nunn received about $2.4 million during his 1989–1994 political career. His main contributors were the finance/insurance/real estate sector (totaling $411,665; $46,660 was received from Goldman, Sachs & Co.), the defense industry, lawyers and lobbyists, the alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages industry (including Coca-Cola), and the agriculture sector.

He voted in favor ofschool prayer,capping punitive damage awards, amending theU.S. Constitutionto require abalanced budget,and limiting death penalty appeals. On certain issues like abortion, theenvironment,gun control,andaffirmative action,Nunn took a more liberal line. He consistently voted in favor of increased immigration.One of his most controversial votes was his vote against theGulf War.

In September 1994, Nunn, former PresidentJimmy Carterand former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffColin Powellwere asked by PresidentBill Clintonto go toHaitito force the departure of the military dictator Lieutenant GeneralRaoul Cédras.In 1994 Clinton publicly demanded that the Haitian government step aside and restore democratic rule. Clinton deployed a large military force to surround the country in September 1994. Just before the troops reached Haiti, Clinton sent a delegation led by Carter, the delegation wanted Nunn and Powell to urge Cédras to step down and leave the country. Cédras agreed and surrendered the government, and he and his top lieutenants left the country in October. Just days later, American forces escorted the country's elected president,Jean-Bertrand Aristide,into the capital. Afterwards, Clinton lavished praise on Nunn's delegation for averting a military strike on the nation. "As all of you know, at my request, President Carter, Gen. Colin Powell, and Sen. Sam Nunn went to Haiti to facilitate the dictators' departure. I have been in constant contact with them for the last two days. They have worked tirelessly, almost around the clock, and I want to thank them for undertaking this crucial mission on behalf of all Americans", Clinton said.

Upon his exit from the Senate at the end of 1996, Nunn was the recipient of bipartisan praise from his colleagues.RepublicanSenatorJohn WarnerofVirginiaconcluded, "Senator Nunn quickly established himself as one of the leading experts in the Congress and, indeed, all of the United States on national security and foreign policy. He gained a reputation in our country and, indeed, worldwide as a global thinker, and that is where I think he will make his greatest contribution in the years to come, wherever he may be, in terms of being a global thinker. His approach to national security issues has been guided by one fundamental criteria: What Sam Nunn believes is in the best interest of the United States of America."

Post-Congressional life

Nunn in 2007

Nunn withRichard LugarandAsh Carterin 2016

Nunn founded theNuclear Threat Initiativein 2001 and served as co-chair and CEO until June 2017, when he became co-chair withTed TurnerandErnest J. Moniz.

In addition to his work with theNuclear Threat Initiative,Nunn continues his service in thepublic policyarena as a distinguished professor in theSam Nunn School of International AffairsatGeorgia Tech.There, he hosted the biennial Sam Nunn Policy Forum, a policy meeting that brings together noted academic, government, and private-sector experts on technology, public policy, and international affairs to address issues of immediate importance to the nation.

Nunn was an active advisory board member for thePartnership for a Secure America,anot-for-profit organizationdedicated to recreating the bipartisan center in American national security and foreign policy. He signed a number of the organization's bipartisan policy statements on important issues ranging fromclimate changeto enhanced interrogation practices andnonproliferation.

Additionally, Nunn serves as Chairman Emeritus of the board of trustees for theCenter for Strategic and International Studiesin Washington, D.C. At CSIS, Nunn and former Senator and United States Secretary of DefenseWilliam Cohenjoined for a series of public roundtable discussions designed to focus Americans on the seminal issues that the United States must face. The Cohen-Nunn Dialogues featured top thought leaders, public policy experts, prominent journalists, and leading scholars.

Nunn is a retired partner in the law firm ofKing & Spalding.He also was a board member ofThe Coca-Cola Company.In 2005, Nunn teamed up with former SenatorFred Thompsonto promote a new film,Last Best Chance,on the dangers of excess nuclear weapons and materials. The film was produced by the Nuclear Threat Initiative and aired onHBOin October 2005.He gave a full presentation outlining his goals at theCommonwealth Club of California.

Nunn—along withWilliam Perry,Henry Kissinger,andGeorge Shultz—called upon governments to embrace the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons, and in fiveWall Street Journalop-edsproposed an ambitious program of urgent steps to the vision. The four created the Nuclear Security Project to advance this agenda. Nunn reinforced that agenda during a speech at theHarvard Kennedy Schoolon October 21, 2008, saying, "I'm much more concerned about a terrorist without a return address that cannot be deterred than I am about deliberate war between nuclear powers. You can't deter a group who is willing to commit suicide. We are in a different era. You have to understand the world has changed."

In 2010, the four were featured in a documentary film entitledNuclear Tipping Point,also produced by theNuclear Threat Initiative.The film is a visual and historical depiction of the ideas laid forth in theWall Street Journalop-eds and reinforces their commitment to a world without nuclear weapons and the steps that can be taken to reach that goal.

Nunn was a Member of the Supervisory Council of theInternational Luxembourg Forum on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe,a not-for-profit organization uniting leading experts on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, materials and delivery vehicles. He also served on the Board of Advisors for theNational Bureau of Asian Research,a non-profit, nonpartisan research institution.

In June 2013, Nunn added his voice to public support for an updated nuclear-arms limitation agreement with Russia. The 1992 Nunn-Lugar agreement had just expired at a time of increasing political tension between the two nations. Nunn applauded the determination of presidents Obama and Putin to renew its core provisions, while urging further work to agree on chemical and biological weapons limits also.

Nunn also served as a member the Board of Curators for theGeorgia Historical Society.He also was an advisory board member ofTheranos,a fraudulent biotech company.

Speculation of 2008 presidential or vice-presidential candidacy

On August 19, 2007, Nunn said he would not decide on a presidential bid until after the 2008 primary season, when presumptive nominees by both parties would emerge.However, speculation over a Nunn White House bid ended on April 18, 2008, when he endorsed Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama.

Despite having publicly declared his lack of interest in being a candidate for vice president, Nunn continued to be mentioned by some political pundits and politicians as a potential running mate for Obama.

In an interview published on June 4, 2008, byThe Guardian,former President Jimmy Carter said that he favored Nunn (a fellow Georgian) as Obama's possible choice for vice president.Peggy Noonan,a columnist and former Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush speechwriter also expressed her support for Nunn.In an interview withCNBCon August 22, 2008, billionaire investorWarren Buffettsaid that he favored Nunn as Obama's choice for vice president.

Personal life

Nunn is married to the former Colleen O'Brien. Nunn met his future wife at theU.S. Embassy in Pariswhile she was working for theCentral Intelligence Agency.They have two children,Mary Michelle Nunnand Samuel Brian Nunn.Michelle Nunn serves as CEO ofPoints of Lightand is the CEO ofCARE,sheran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2014.

According to theLee Iacoccabook,Talking Straight(1988),Chrysler Corporationcame under scrutiny for selling new vehicles which were driven by company executives before the odometers were connected. Iacocca, Chrysler's CEO, was not concerned about the scandal at first but, within days of a meeting with Nunn in 1987 in which Nunn spoke of his own recently purchasedChrysler Fifth Avenue,Iacocca launched a detailed investigation into the claims, and extended warranties – and public apologies – to numerous current Chrysler owners.

In 1989, it was reported that Nunn had had adrunk drivingcrash in 1964. This report emerged during theUnited States Secretary of Defenseconfirmation hearings of ex-SenatorJohn Tower.Nunn was opposing Tower due to Tower's alleged drinking problems.

Senator Nunn's membership inAugusta National Golf Clubbecame the focus of a campaign by women seeking membership in the exclusive all-male club in 2002. The club had admitted its first African American member in 1990 but was still closed to women. The Club chose to air the masters' without commercials rather than succumb to the pressure to open admissions to women.

Nunn is a Freemason.

Awards and honors

Painting of Nunn at theMuseum of Aviation

• In 1990, the Georgia Institute of Technology renamed its international affairs department into the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs.
• In 1996, Nunn received the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official, an award given out annually by theJefferson Awards.
• In 2004, Nunn and Lugar were jointly awarded theHeinz AwardsChairman's Medal for their efforts.
• He got an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree fromOglethorpe Universityin 2006
• He was awarded the Hessian Peace Prize in 2008 for his commitment on nuclear disarmament and for combating nuclear terrorism.
• In 2009, Sam Nunn was presented the Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award by theAmerican Foreign Service Association.
• 2011 Georgia Trustee. Given by theGeorgia Historical Society,in conjunction with theGovernor of Georgia,to individuals whose accomplishments and community service reflect the ideals of the founding body ofTrustees,which governed the Georgia colony from 1732 to 1752.
• 2011 Inaugural recipient of the annualIvan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage,awarded by the Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia Tech'sIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• 2013 Knight Commander of the Order of Merit of theFederal Republic of Germany
• Lone Sailor Awardby the U.S. Navy Veterans Memorial in September 2014

See also

• Anti-nuclear movement
• International Conference on Nuclear Disarmament

Further reading

• McElroy, Roland (2017).The Best President the Nation Never Had: A Memoir of Working with Sam Nunn.Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.ISBN9780881466287.OCLC994371337.

External links

• Annotated Bibliography for Sam Nunn from the ALsos Digital Library for Nuclear IssuesArchived2010-05-05 at theWayback Machine
• Sam Nunn, Chairman Board of Directors CSIS
• Sam Nunn, NTI Board of Directors
• AppearancesonC-SPAN
• Sam Nunn at the Commonwealth Club
• Sam Nunn Papersat the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library
• Foreign Service Journal article on his Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award.