Dick Thornburgh, former Pennsylvania governor and U.S. attorney general, killed at 88

Dick Thornburgh, former Pennsylvania governor and U.S. attorney general, killed at 88

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In honor of Thornburgh, Democratic Governor Tom Wolf on Thursday ordered the flags of the United States and Pennsylvania on all community facilities, public buildings and land to be raised immediately in person.

Thornburgh was governor of Pennsylvania for two terms between 1979 and 1987. The following year, he was chosen by President Ronald Reagan to head the Department of Justice, a position he held during the administration of George HW Bush, until 1991.

“Governor Thornburgh served for two terms as governor of Pennsylvania and calm and reasoned leadership was the hallmark of his government,” Wolf said in a statement.
Thornburgh’s term as governor is marked in part by his management of the nuclear crisis at Three Mile Island in 1979, when a partial collapse of the plant resulted in the most serious accident at a commercial nuclear power plant in the history of the United States.

“He guided Pennsylvania through a tumultuous period in the history of our community after the partial collapse of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant,” said Wolf. “His necessary, steady voice of calm in the midst of the crisis … All of Pennsylvania mourns the loss of one of our great public servants.”

The nuclear accident occurred just 71 days after Thornburgh was installed as governor. Among some of his first actions during the crisis was to order the evacuation of pregnant women and young children from the area. While there is no indication that the radiation release caused health problems among employees or the general public, the incident led to stricter federal oversight of nuclear power plants.

Thornburgh also “balanced the state budget each year during his two terms as governor, cut personal and business tax rates, cut the state’s record indebtedness and left a surplus of $ 350 million,” according to the National Governors Association.

In the Department of Justice, Thornburgh focused on white collar crimes, drug trafficking and terrorism, among other issues, according to the NGA.

As Bush’s attorney general, Thornburgh played a key role in implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990, which expanded civil rights protections for Americans with disabilities.

Wolf celebrated Thornburgh’s involvement, saying that “during his tenure, the attorney general’s office used his power to defend the needs of vulnerable Americans.”

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNN’s Elizabeth Joseph contributed to this report.

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