{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=057b322f-fc20-4f2b-a975-773ef9176f13", "SENATOR McCAIN ON THE PASSING OF AMBASSADOR RICH WILLIAMSON", "2013-12-09", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "John McCain", "M000303", "www.mccain.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u00ad\u2013 U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today released the following statement on the passing of foreign policy expert and International Republican Institute Vice Chairman Ambassador Richard Williamson:\r\n\u201cI am deeply saddened by the passing last night of my dear friend, Rich Williamson.\u00a0Rich was an extraordinary American who devoted his life to public service and advancing human rights around the world.\r\n\u201cI worked closely with Rich for decades. We shared a belief in the vital importance of American leadership in the world and that our nation\u2019s security is inextricably linked to our values of freedom and democracy. I always admired Rich\u2019s intellect and judgment, and sought his counsel often.\r\n\u201cRich served three presidents in high-level positions, in the White House, State Department and United Nations. He served with strength, perseverance, and compassion as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs under President Ronald Reagan, and as Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs under President George H.W. Bush. He later used his extensive foreign policy knowledge, diplomatic skills and temperament, and negotiating experience in several posts at the United Nations \u2013 appointed by President George W. Bush as Ambassador to the U.N. for Special Political Affairs and Ambassador to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. In the latter capacity, he developed plans for delivering international aid to conflict areas; provided assistance to Ethiopian refugees and Sierra Leonean abuse victims; and helped achieve a resolution to the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan.\r\n\u201cIn addition to his dedicated government service, Rich was a noted author, professor and attorney who was involved in a wide variety of civic organizations, including serving as Vice Chairman of the International Republican Institute, as senior fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and as a trustee of Freedom House and the McCain Institute for International Leadership.\u00a0Rich was also the Republican Party\u2019s nominee for U.S. Senate in 1993 and served as a senior foreign policy advisor to my presidential campaign in 2008 and Mitt Romney\u2019s in 2012.\r\n\u201cRich made an enormous difference in the lives of people around the world, and he will be dearly missed. He loved his country deeply and dedicated his professional life to helping further our nation\u2019s capacity as a force for good throughout the world.\u00a0I offer my sincerest condolences to his family and many friends.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=057b322f-fc20-4f2b-a975-773ef9176f13"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6487420070916414, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}