1995 Senate Joint Resolution 31
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and public service of Les Aspin.
Whereas, Les Aspin was born on July 21, 1938, in Milwaukee and died on May 21, 1995, in Washington, D.C.; and
Whereas, Les Aspin earned an undergraduate degree from Yale University, a master's degree from Oxford University and a doctorate in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and
Whereas, Mr. Aspin performed his military service as an economist at the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara; and
Whereas, in 1970, at the age of 32, he was elected to Congress from the 1st Congressional District on a platform stressing opposition to the war in Vietnam and advocacy of environmental regulation; and
Whereas, Mr. Aspin was appointed to the Armed Services Committee and began exposing what he believed to be wasteful Pentagon spending, and he was later appointed chairman of that committee; and
Whereas, Mr. Aspin was at the forefront of antiwar efforts in Congress; and
Whereas, by 1985 Mr. Aspin was recognized as a leading congressional authority on Pentagon policy; and
Whereas, in December 1992, he was selected as secretary of defense in the Clinton Administration; and
Whereas, Mr. Aspin sought to articulate a new vision of what the structure of the military should be; and
Whereas, Mr. Aspin's high standards of public service for the citizens of the 1st Congressional District during the 22 years he held office were unparalleled; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature salute Les Aspin's lifetime of dedicated and effective leadership for the people of this state and the nation, express their sorrow at his death and extend their condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
