Statement from President Clinton and Secretary Clinton on the Passing of Sandy Berger
Hillary and I were deeply saddened by the passing of our friend Sandy Berger and our hearts go out to Susan and his children.
We
knew and admired Sandy for more than 40 years, beginning with the
McGovern campaign in 1972. He was a trusted advisor to my campaign for
President and an essential member of our national security team
afterward. Nobody was more knowledgeable about policy or smarter about
how to formulate it. He was great both in analyzing a situation and
figuring out what to do about it. His gifts proved invaluable time and
time again, in Latin America, the Balkans, Northern Ireland and the
Middle East.
Sandy was a consummate National Security Advisor
because he embraced our common humanity and advanced our national
interests. He worked for what was best for America and for ordinary
people at home and abroad. He was a terrific public servant and a world
class human being. We will miss him.
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By DAVID E. SANGERDEC. 2, 2015
Samuel R. Berger appearing before the Sept. 11 commission on Capitol Hill in 2004.
Credit Doug Mills/The New York Times
Samuel
R. Berger, a political confidant of President Bill Clinton who became
his national security adviser in his second term, died on Wednesday in
Washington. He was 70.
His death was
announced by Tara Sonenshine, his longtime aide and friend. Mr. Berger,
who was known as Sandy, was given a cancer diagnosis more than a year
ago.
On Tuesday, he wrote to his colleagues at the Albright
Stonebridge Group, an international consulting firm he ran with former
Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, that his condition had
worsened and that “time is not on my side.”
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Bruce Riedel
In his finest hour, he averted a nuclear war between Pakistan and India.
Sandy Berger, who died this morning, was a gentleman who knew how to
handle a head of government.
SNIP
Sandy Berger believed that the White House was a special place to
work. He told his staff that if they were not a bit awed by where they
worked anymore, it was time to leave. He quietly noted that his team
played through injury. His dedication was complete.
He was also a gentleman. The interagency process is inherently a
tough world with lots of big personalities. Getting them to work as a
team is challenging and requires nonstop effort. Sandy was good at it.
He will be missed.
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