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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Sandy Berger, Former National Security Adviser, Dies at 70
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.
From Our AdvertisersHis 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.”
Farewell, Sandy Berger, the Clinton Man Who Stopped Armageddon
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.
