August 8, 2011

The U.S. Institute of Peace mourns the death of former Oregon Senator Mark O. Hatfield, who served in the United States Senate from 1967-1997. Senator Hatfield, a U.S. Navy officer during World War II, played an integral role in the establishment and early development of the U.S. Institute of Peace.

In 1975, Senator Hatfield introduced the George Washington Peace Academy Act with Senator Vance Hartke. The legislation proposed the establishment of an “institution in the United States fulfilling the goal of the Nation's first President, George Washington, to further the understanding of the process and state of peace among nations and cooperation between people; to consider the dimensions of peaceful resolution of differences among nations; to train students in the process of peaceful resolution of differences; to inform governmental leaders of peaceful methods of conflict resolution.” Senator Hatfield’s unwavering support for a Peace Academy would help lead the U.S. Congress to authorize the United States Commission on Proposals for the National Academy of Peace and Conflict Resolution in 1978 and establish the U.S. Institute of Peace in 1984. Over the next thirteen years, the U.S. Institute of Peace was honored to work with Senator Hatfield and his staff to further the Institute’s mission.

The board, leadership and staff of the U.S. Institute of Peace is forever grateful to Senator Hatfield for his commitment to peace and the value of educating future generations about non-violent solutions to international conflict. The Institute extends its condolences to Senator Hatfield’s family, his former Senate staff and his many friends and colleagues.