The Passing of Richard Pipes

Submitted by Senator Rudy Boschwitz (United States), May 22, 2018 at 10:54

Dan,

I was saddened to read the WSJournal editorial about your Dad's passing and extend my warmest sympathy to your Mom, you and your brother and sister.

I began my membership on the Foreign Relations Committee after Reagan's victory that added 12 members to our caucus, and as I joined the Committee your Dad also arrived or perhaps it was shortly thereafter. He confirmed my own thoughts about Russia much to my pleasure because he filled me in with the history which I didn't really know so he added substance to my thoughts. I always enjoyed listening to him just as Reagan did.

He made an important contribution and deserves much credit for the end of the Cold War.

I thought I would spend the rest of my life with a Soviet Communist opponent. I was stunned when Reagan talked about Communism soon being "on the ash heap of history" and I think that and the "evil empire" speech came during your Dad's tenure - or certainly reflected his influence.

I also am certain he must have had much pride in your success which you have achieved in a field similar to his.

Rudy Boschwitz
U.S. Senator (R. MN 1978-91)
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Commission on
Human Rights (Geneva - 2005)
President GHW Bush's Emissary to Ethiopia 1991
Minneapolis MN
RBoschwitz@AOL.com

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