[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 120 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S9962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO LORET MILLER RUPPE

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to Loret Miller Ruppe, 
a woman of uncompromising dedication for peace at home and abroad, who 
died at the age of 60. In addition to her remarkable career as the 
Director of the Peace Corps from 1981 to 1989 and Ambassador to Norway 
from 1989 to 1993, Loret Miller Ruppe was a beloved wife to former Rep. 
Philip Ruppe (R-Mich), mother of five daughters, sister to six 
siblings, and grandmother of three.
  Her accomplishments were vast and far reaching, her constitution 
strong, and her character was humble yet filled with passion. Her main 
passion was for peace. She struggled relentlessly to promote peace and 
justice throughout the developing world and here at home. In a speech 
celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Peace Corps Mrs. Ruppe spoke 
about the future of the organization and its mission, ``Peace, that 
beautiful five-letter word we all say we crave and pray for, is up for 
grabs in the '90's.'' For her, peace was not simply the absence of war, 
but the absence of the conditions that bring on war such as hunger, 
disease, poverty, illiteracy, and despair. Mrs. Ruppe worked hard to 
protect the fragile state of peace in regions around the globe. She 
achieved this goal through supervising programs in more than 93 
countries, serving as a role model to field volunteers, and 
strengthening the Peace Corps organization.
  Mrs. Ruppe also fought battles at home. When President Reagan 
appointed her in 1981, the Peace Corps budget was rapidly declining and 
was less than that of the military marching bands. By the end of Mrs. 
Ruppe's tenure she had succeeded in increasing the agency's budget 
almost 50 percent. In addition to budgetary challenges, Mrs. Ruppe gave 
the agency a political facelift by projecting the agency as non-
partisan, despite the fact that she herself was a political appointee, 
and increasing its viability on both national and local levels. As she 
noted ``We took Peace Corps out of the pit of politics and made it non-
partisan. It must always signify Americans pulling together for 
peace.'' As a result of her efforts, Mrs. Ruppe was respected and 
admired by Democrats and Republicans alike. In terms of national 
visibility, she brought much needed congressional and executive level 
attention to the Peace Corps. Prior to her leadership the organization 
was nicknamed ``the corpse'' and many believed its end was near. Under 
her command however, the organization was revitalized and its future 
secured. On a local level, she worked hard to increase young Americans' 
interest in participating in the program. By 1989, she had raised the 
number of volunteers by 20 percent.
  Mrs. Ruppe was also an initiator who maintained the simple motto ``we 
can do it.'' She founded three important programs which continue to 
thrive today: The African Food Initiative, Women in Development, and 
the Leadership for Peace Program. Additionally, she brought seven new 
countries to the Peace Corps program.
  As the longest tenured director of the Peace Corps, Mrs. Ruppe 
contributed much indeed to the organization. It was through her vision, 
dedication, and leadership that the Peace Corps continues to play a 
vital role in American foreign aid efforts. Under Mrs. Ruppe's 
leadership the organization responded to new challenges, transformed 
itself, and now stands prepared to continue promoting peace in the next 
century. Mrs. Ruppe's absence will be felt throughout the world. I will 
especially miss her. To me Loret was more than a dedicated and gifted 
public servant--she was my friend. I know her husband Philip, her 
daughters Antoinette, Adele, Katherine, Mary, and Loret will miss her 
very much, and so will I.
  Mr. President, I know that all of our colleagues join with me in 
extending our sincere condolences to her family members.

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