Lee Hamilton, known for serving as U.S. Representative for Indiana's 9th District from 1965-1999, passed away Tuesday night at the age of 94.
The IU professor of practice and alumnus died in his Bloomington home, his daughter told The New York Times.
Hamilton is survived by three children and five grandchildren. His wife of 58 years, Nancy Ann Hamilton, died in 2012.
The former Democratic congressman, raised in Evansville, remained active at IU until his death. He was a distinguished scholar at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies — named in his honor. He was a professor of practice at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs since his retirement as president and director of the Woodrow Wilson Center, which provides nonpartisan guidance and insights on local affairs, in Washington D.C.
Former Vice President Mike Pence shared his history with Hamilton in a statement on the Advancing American Freedom website, a conservative non-profit organization founded by Pence, Wednesday.
“I first met Lee Hamilton when I was just a high school student and he was my hometown congressman at the time,” Pence said in the statement. “With his love for our country and tireless commitment to our security and democracy, Lee was a leading figure who helped propel me into my own life of public service.”
Hamilton graduated from Depauw University in 1952 and earned his law degree from IU in 1956. A former high school and college basketball star, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
John D. Ciorciari, dean of the Hamilton Lugar School, sent out a statement honoring Hamilton’s legacy Wednesday.
“Rep. Hamilton was a statesman, scholar, and proud Hoosier who devoted his professional life to public service and to strengthening America’s engagement with the world,” Ciorciari wrote. “His steady moral compass, commitment to bipartisan leadership, and unwavering belief in mutual understanding and diplomacy have guided our mission at the Hamilton Lugar School.”
At IU, Hamilton founded and directed the IU Center on Representative Government from 1999 until 2015, aiming to improve public understanding of how the government works.
IU President Pamela Whitten issued a statement Wednesday reflecting on Hamilton’s impact at IU.
“Few public servants have shaped our understanding of democracy, global engagement, and principled leadership as profoundly as Lee Hamilton,” Whitten said in the statement. “His lifelong commitment to public service reflects the very best of our democratic ideals and left an enduring impact on our nation.”
Nationally, Hamilton’s career focused on homeland security and foreign policy. Throughout his 34-year congressional career, he was a long-term member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, receiving the role of chair from 1993-94.
Hamilton was also notably on the Iran-Contra Committee in 1987 and the “October Surprise” Task Force in 1980, assuming the role of chair in 1991-92. His career included many other positions.
In 2002, Hamilton investigated the Sept 11, 2001, attacks as vice-chairman of the 9/11 Commission, recommending improvements to national security. He also co-chaired the Iraq Study Group, which released recommendations to the George W. Bush administration and Congress on U.S. policy in Iraq.
In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Hamilton with the Presidential Medal of Freedom to honor his foreign policy and bipartisanship.
On Wednesday, Indiana Republican Sen. Todd Young posted a statement on X expressing his condolences to Lee’s family and loved ones.
“Indiana lost a giant today,” Young said in the statement. “Lee Hamilton was a statesman, a respected voice on national security, and a strong advocate for Hoosiers. He was also a friend, an insightful writer, and a unique voice on the institution of Congress”
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun ordered state flags to be flown at half-staff to honor Hamilton.
“Indiana mourns the passing of Lee Hamilton, a man whose life embodied integrity, civility, and public service,” Braun said in the statement. “We extend our prayers to his family and honor his legacy of serving Hoosiers."
