March 30, 2006
Two good men died this week. One was former defense secretary Casper Weinberger. The other was Lyn Nofziger, a true conservative and longtime associate of and advisor to Ronald Reagan.
Weinberger served in the cabinets of Richard Nixon and Reagan. He presided over the massive American military buildup that helped bring down the soviet union. Former secretary of state Colin Powell said of Weinberger: “(he) was an indefatigable fighter for peace through strength.”
Lyn Nofziger was an unapologetic conservative who wore a Mickey Mouse watch and rarely had his tie pulled up, when he wore one. Nofziger had been an aide to Nixon and was the one, after Reagan was shot, who relayed his words that he forgot to duck.
Nofziger came to faith in Christ in his later years and in conversations with him, it was clear to me that his interior had changed, though his gruff exterior remained charmingly undisturbed.
Weinberger and Nofziger served their Lord and their country well. I had interviewed them both. We need more of their kind.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
