"The Spirit of Hope Award”
2003

Presented by Ned Powell
President & CEO, USO World Headquarters
Presented at The Hart Senate Office Building
USO Congressional Caucus Luncheon
Washington, D.C.
May 15, 2003

Recipient
SENATOR JOHN WARNER

“The Spirit of Hope Award”, was presented to Senator John Warner in 2003. In 1997, Bob Hope was designated the first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces. The honor was bestowed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Clinton. This award is presented to distinguished Americans whose patriotism and service to the troops reflects that of Bob Hope.

Biography

Senator John Warner was born February 18, 1927. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and has three grown children and two grandchildren.

Senator Warner, Republican from Virginia, was first elected to the United States Senate on November 7, 1978. On November 5, 1996 he was reelected to serve his fourth six-year term. He has the good fortune – the privilege – to have been a public servant in seven different positions, with cumulative service of more than thirty-five years. His first opportunity began during World War II when in January 1945, at age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served on active duty until the summer of 1946 and was honorably discharged as Petty Officer 3rd Class, electronic technician’s mate.

He then attended Washington and Lee University, from which his father graduated in 1903. He was awarded a B.S. degree in basic engineering sciences in 1949. Warner then entered the University of Virginia Law School.

At the outbreak of the Korean War in the summer of 1950, Warner interrupted his studies and commenced a second tour of active military duty, beginning in October 1950, this time in the United States Marine Corps. A year later, October 1951, as a first lieutenant in communications, he volunteered for duty in Korea and served as a ground officer with the First Marine Air Wing. Following Korean active service, he remained in the Marine Corps Reserve for 10 years and was promoted to rank of Captain. Upon his return from Korea, Senator Warner finished his law degree at the University of Virginia.

The Senator has always acknowledged his gratefulness for the opportunity to serve with, and work on behalf of, the men and women of the armed forces. He owes his college and law education to a grateful nation that provided G.I. Bill opportunities to millions of veterans during that period.

In 1953, he was appointed a law clerk to the late Chief Judge E. Barrett Prettyman of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, an opportunity sought by many of his class as a challenging way to start their legal careers. In 1956, he was appointed as an assistant U.S. Attorney and served four years in the trial and appellate divisions. He entered private law practice in 1960.

Senator Warner’s next public service began as the U.S. Senate confirmed his presidential appointment to be Under Secretary of Navy in February 1969. During a critical, intense period of the war in Vietnam, he served in the Department of Defense for more than 5 years, completing his service as the Secretary of Navy in 1974.

During that period he also had special assignments in the field of diplomacy, one as representative for the Secretary of Defense to the Law of the Sea Talks in Geneva (1969-73), and another as principal negotiator and signatory for the United States of the “Incidents at Sea Executive Agreement” between the United States and the former Soviet Union (1970-72). This Executive Agreement is still in effect today and has been used as a model for similar agreements between other nations covering the operational directives for naval ships and aircraft in international sea-lanes throughout the world.

Following his work in the Navy Department, Senator Warner was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to a position representing the Executive Branch in a wide range of bicentennial programs and activities in the 50 states during 1974-76.

Senator Warner’s public service continued with his election in 1978 to the U.S. Senate. In 1998, he was selected as Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee, a post he held for 2 ˝ years. He is now the top ranking minority member of the committee. He is also the second most senior Republican member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and a member (former Chairman) of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

For eight years, 1987-1995, Senator Warner served on the Senate Intelligence Committee. The last two years, from 1993-1995, he was Vice Chairman of the Committee.

He was a trustee, from 1967-1972, of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral of Mount St. Albans in Washington, D.C., and from 1968 to 1979 he was a member of the Board of Trustees of Washington and Lee University. Senator Warner is a member of the Virginia chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion.