Foundation for Defense of Democracies Mourns Passing of Jack Kemp

Helped found FDD in wake of September 11 attacks.

Washington, D.C. (May 4, 2009) — The Foundation for Defense of Democracies mourns the death of former vice presidential candidate, cabinet secretary, and member of Congress Jack Kemp. Kemp helped to create the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in 2001 following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

“During his extraordinary life, Jack was a great athlete — a quarterback — as well as an innovative thinker and politician. His views and insights were consequential for social policy, economic policy, and foreign policy,” said FDD President Clifford May. “He impressed on me the founding principles of FDD: that terrorism is always wrong, that the ideologies driving terrorism must be fought in a war of ideas, that free nations have a right to defend themselves and an obligation to defend one another, and that we should be not only against terrorism but also in favor of freedom and democracy. He will be greatly missed.”

Kemp served as Chairman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies from 2001-2007 and Chairman Emeritus from 2007-2009.