'Maverick' CT Governor/Senator Weicker Dead At 92

HARTFORD, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont Wednesday ordered all flags to fly at half-staff in tribute to one of Connecticut's biggest political figures, who died on Wednesday.

Lowell P. Weicker Jr., 92, died Wednesday after a short illness, Lamont said in a statement.

The longtime Republican and founder of his own political party in the 1990s is best known as being Connecticut's "maverick" governor in the early to mid-1990s and for being a U.S. senator for 18 years prior to that.

"He truly cared about implementing policies that improve Connecticut for the better and I admire his independent way of leading. Lowell never ducked a tough battle, absolutely convinced that he was right, and he usually was," Lamont, a Democrat, said Wednesday afternoon.

"He was always bigger than life and he always will be. On behalf of the people of the State of Connecticut, I thank Governor Weicker and his entire family for everything they have provided our state. (Wife) Annie (Lamont) and I extend our deepest sympathies.”

While serving in the Senate and on the Senate Watergate Committee, Weicker became known for calling for Richard Nixon to resign amid the Watergate scandal, despite being a Republican like the embattled Nixon.

When the nation watched the famous Watergate hearings in the 1970s prior to Nixon's 1974 resignation, Weicker was prominently visible and became a national figure.

In a memorable 1988 campaign against Democrat Joe Lieberman, Weicker was ousted from office in a particularly testy race in which one Lieberman ad portrayed Weicker as a bear sleeping in a cave.

Weicker then set his sights on Connecticut's top office.

But his journey to Hartford was unorthodox to say the least.

He ran under a new political party, A Connecticut Party, winning a plurality against Republican John Rowland, who would later be elected governor later in the decade, and Democrat Bruce Morrison.

He only served one term in Hartford, 1991-95, but his impact is still being felt today.

In 1991, Weicker helped push a cash-strapped legislature to approve a state income tax, an unpopular move amongst the electorate but one that earned him the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award in 1992.

He didn't seek a second term and retired from public office in 1995.

His time in office prior to the Senate and governorship was extensive in the Fairfield County community of Greenwich.

In the 1960s, Weicker was the Greenwich first selectman, also serving as state representative in the 154th House District from 1963-69.

He then served one term in Congress, serving the 4th Congressional district from 1969-71 before becoming a U.S. Senator in 1971, a position he'd serve until 1989.

One of Weicker's fellow U.S. senators in that era was President Joe Biden, who issued a statement Thursday morning on Weicker's passing.

"Lowell Weicker and I served together in the U.S. Senate for nearly two decades. He was blunt, brave, committed to his convictions, and fiercely independent. And I was proud to call him a friend," said Biden, a Democrat.

"Throughout his career – from his days as a young Republican senator on the frontlines of the Watergate hearings, to his years as an independent governor who ignored politics to do what he believed was right – Lowell had the courage to take tough stands, speak the truth and stand up for the better angels of our nation."

Biden praised the way Weicker worked with all sides of the political spectrum.

"Throughout, Lowell was guided not by party, but by principle. He was a fearless moderating force who stood up for those who couldn’t always stand for themselves – and he relished the fight," Biden said.

Meanwhile, Weicker's 1988 rival, Lieberman, offered condolences to Weicker's family, along with some memories of his dealings with Weicker across the political aisle.

"The passing of Senator Lowell Weicker saddens me and fills me with a rush of memories," Lieberman said in a statement. "Twists of history made us into antagonists in 1988 but before, during, and after that campaign I had great respect for Lowell.

"In that campaign, I knew I had entered the ring with a passionate and fierce fighter. He made me a better campaigner that year and a better public servant afterwards. And I was very happy that after that campaign we developed a cordial relationship.

"Looking back at Lowell’s service as Senator and Governor from this terribly partisan time in our politics, you have to admire the many times he broke from his party to take a stand, make a statement, or cast a vote because he thought he was right and his party was wrong," Lieberman continued. "We need more of that today."

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said Weicker was adept at getting bipartisan legislation passed and for having political courage.

"Lowell Weicker will go down as one of the most consequential leaders in Connecticut history and I'm heartbroken that he's gone," Murphy said.

"He modeled a kind of public service that feels extinct today. He put his convictions and the best interests of the country ahead of party or political gain. He had a north star – what he felt was right – and he took many political risks and made many political enemies to pursue that objective."

“His legacy is too long to recite, but his championing of disability rights, reproductive choice, environmental and ocean protection, and AIDS research stand out. Many will remember him for his courageous decision, as a brand new Republican Senator, to call for President Nixon's resignation. But his real achievements are the legions of bipartisan bills that he wrote and passed, including the Americans with Disabilities Act."

Connecticut Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, a Demcorat, called Weicker a "larger than life and lionhearted" leader.

"Lowell Weicker was a dedicated public servant who committed his life to his community, his state, and his nation for over four decades," she said. "He became a public figure as a member of the Senate Watergate Committee, where he became the first Republican senator to call for Richard Nixon’s resignation.

"His political courage was inspiring as he guided Connecticut through difficult financial times, ushering in measures that would help our state to build a more sustainable future.

"A fiercely independent minded individual, Lowell was unafraid to speak his mind – he didn’t sugarcoat things or fear an unpopular decision. He did and said what he believed was right,"said Bysiewicz.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, a Democrat, paid tribue to Weicker, calling him "a leader who personified nonpartisanship."

"Governor Weicker was willing to make tough decisions, even when they weren’t the most popular ones," Bronin said. "In the U.S. Senate, he bravely stood up to his increasingly conservative Republican colleagues, voting in favor of civil rights and opposing the nominations of radically conservative Supreme Court nominees.

"As governor, he tackled a fiscal crisis head-on, fighting for an income tax that he knew was necessary, regardless of the political risk. Connecticut is a better state because of his 30-plus years of public service and his impact will not be forgotten.

For President Joe Biden's full statement on Weicker's death, click on this link.

For U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy's full statement, click on his Twitter link.

For Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont's and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz's full statements, click on this link.

For more information on Lowell Weicker, click on this link.