Warren Rudman, Former New Hampshire Senator, Dies At 82

is reporting that Warren Rudman, the former New Hampshire most remembered for his 80s-era effort to tame the federal budget deficit, died Monday from complications from lymphoma. He was 82.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Rudman lived his entire life in New Hampshire with few exceptions. After earning his undergrad degree at Syracuse University, Warren briefly served in the Army during the Korean War before returning home to earn his law degree from Boston College in 1960.

Riding the wave of Ronald Reagan’s landslide victory in the 1980 election, Rudman entered the Senate with a reputation as a tough prosecutor, and was called on by Senate leaders, and later by presidents of both parties, to tackle tough assignments. He would go on to serve two terms in the Senate, from 1981 to 1993.

In addition to authoring the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings budget-cutting law which helped reduce the federal deficit during the 1980s and 90s, Rudman also co-authored a 2001 report on national security, with former Colorado senator Gary Hart, that said a major terrorist attack would occur on American soil likely within 25 years.

The report came out before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack but was mainly disregarded at the time.

“No one seemed to take it seriously, and no one in the media seemed to care,” Rudman said in 2007. “The report went into a dustbin in the White House.”

Following the 9/11 tradegy, Rudman’s report was revived, and one suggestion, forming a Homeland Security Department, was adopted.

Upon hearing of Rudman’s passing, several of his New Hampshire contemporaries took to the web to offer their condolences.

Former Governor John Sununu said this morning:

“I am sorry to hear that Warren Rudman died last night. He was a very good friend and a great public servant. He was a great senator and as one of the authors of the Gramm-Rudman budget process helped bring control to America’s finances in the 1980s. Nancy and I extend our condolences to the Rudman family.’’

Governor John Lynch, posted on his official state landing page:

“Warren Rudman work tirelessly to serve the people of New Hampshire and the nation. As a leader in the U.S. Senate, he was someone who stuck to his principles, yet was able to reach across the aisle to work toward a bipartisan resolution on the issues of the day,” Gov. Lynch said. “His long public service and statesmanship are examples for us to follow and he will be missed. My thoughts and prayers and those of my wife, Susan, are with the Rudman family at this time.”

Rudman is survived by a sister, Carol A. Rudman; two daughters, Laura Rudman Robie and Debra R. Gilmore; and three grandchildren. His wife of 57 years, the former Shirley Wahl, died in 2010.