The two-term Republican was a budget hawk, a centrist… and to the crowd inside the Federal Courthouse that bears his name, a statesman.
Among his many accomplishments was the successful nomination of Supreme Court Justice David Souter, who served under Rudman in the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office.
Souter: “As we watched him and we listened to him, he brought out the best instincts that were in us. Whatever they were, including the instinct to laugh at yourself every once in a while.”
The state’s congressional delegation appeared at the memorial event, as did Governor Hassan and former Attorney General Tom Rath. He told the gathering that Rudman didn’t lead life, he attacked it.
Rath: “Today I part with one of the great friends in my life. It is hard. Thank you my friend. Rest my friend.”
Rudman died in November after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 82.
