Sam Nunn

Samuel Augustus Nunn (born September 8, 1938) is co-chairman and chief executive officer of the NTI (Nuclear Threat Initiative), a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. He served as a United States Senator from Georgia for 24 years (1972-1996) as a member of the Democratic Party. Some experts and pundits initially considered Nunn to be a possible running mate for presidential candidate John Kerry in the 2004 election.

Related Topics:
September 8 - 1938 - NTI - United States Senator - Georgia - 1972 - 1996 - Democratic Party - John Kerry - 2004

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He was born in Perry, Georgia, and already had a family connection with politics, being a grandnephew of the Congressman Carl Vinson.

Related Topics:
Perry, Georgia - Congressman - Carl Vinson

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Raised in the small town of Perry in middle Georgia, he attended Georgia Tech, Emory University and Emory Law School, where he graduated with honors in 1962. After active duty service in the U.S. Coast Guard, he served six years in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. He first entered politics as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives in 1968.

Related Topics:
Georgia Tech - Emory University - Emory Law School - 1962 - U.S. Coast Guard - U.S. Coast Guard Reserve - 1968

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During his tenure in the U.S. Senate, Senator Nunn served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. He also served on the Intelligence and Small Business Committees. His legislative achievements include the landmark Department of Defense Reorganization Act, drafted with the late Senator Barry Goldwater, and the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, which provides assistance to Russia and the former Soviet republics for securing and destroying their excess nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. Although the committee which awards the Nobel Peace Prize does not reveal official nominees, both Nunn and Lugar have been mentioned several times as candidates for the award in the media circle.

Related Topics:
U.S. Senate - U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services - Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations - Small Business - Department of Defense Reorganization Act - Barry Goldwater - Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction - Nobel Peace Prize

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In addition to his work with NTI, Senator Nunn has continued his service in the public policy arena as a distinguished professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech and as chairman of the board of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. Nunn also is a retired partner in the law firm of King & Spalding.

Related Topics:
Sam Nunn School of International Affairs - Georgia Tech - Center for Strategic and International Studies - King & Spalding

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He is a board member of the following publicly-held corporations: ChevronTexaco Corporation, The Coca-Cola Company, Dell Computer Corporation, General Electric Company, Internet Security Systems, Inc., and Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.

Related Topics:
ChevronTexaco - Coca-Cola - Dell - General Electric - Internet Security Systems - Scientific-Atlanta

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In 2005, Nunn teamed up with former Senator Fred Thompson to promote a new film, Last Best Chance, on the dangers of excess nuclear weapons and materials hoping to find a national airing of the film. He gave a full presentation outlining his goals at the Commonwealth Club of California. In the broadcast, subtle comparisions are made between Nunn's career as elder statesman and that of Jimmy Carter, noting that they are both from Georgia and both were farmers before launching their political careers, but the broadcast does not go so far as to overtly compare them with the founding fathers.

Related Topics:
Fred Thompson - Commonwealth Club of California - Jimmy Carter - Founding fathers

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He is married to the former Colleen O'Brien and has two children, Michelle and Brian, and one grandchild, Vinson Nunn Martin.

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