Yet, not completely discouraged, Gore explained that during January's inauguration, a long-winded singer allowed him to become president for five minutes after Bill Clinton's first term expired.

"It was a very special five minutes," Gore said, beaming. "It was special for my family, and if I may be so bold, special for the country."

Gore elaborated for several minutes on his short-lived administration's record of complete success. He noted that during the Gore administration, the nation was at peace, fewer crimes were committed than under any other president and two police officers ("Teddy and Dwayne") were put on the beat.

Senators' Efforts Honored

Following Gore's speech, many of the invited dignitaries moved over to the Taubman Building for an event celebrating Senators Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) and Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) for their contributions to American security.

"They are examples of Congressional leaders standing up and taking action and our lives being better for it," said Graham T. Allison '62, director of the Belfer Center, in his introduction.

Based on theories conceived at the Kennedy School of Government (KSG), Nunn and Lugar in 1991 introduced the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program to their congressional colleagues.

The legislation, which was passed in 1992, provided money and aid to the states of the former Soviet Union to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of rogue states and terrorists.

To demonstrate the effectiveness of the legislation, Ashton B. Carter, the moderator of the Friday event, brandished pieces of an SS19 ICBM missile that was destroyed as a result of the bill.

Carter presented the senators with framed pieces of the ICBM, as well as small glass globes mounted on gold stands and inscribed "for their contributions to U.S. and global security."

In an informal setting, amid bursts of applause, members of the Department of Defense and professors who previously worked in the government praised the senators' work.

"Senator Lugar is known as a voice of reason grounded in analysis and reflection," Carter said.

Kennedy School Dean Joseph S. Nye said the two senators are unusual among politicians in linking both academic and political discoveries.

"Both of them paid attention to ideas and what was happening outside," he said. "Both of them kept looking for ideas..... This is rare."

Lugar and Nunn talked briefly about the program itself and the development of the idea.