Former Indiana Rep. Lee Hamilton, leader of Sept. 11 panel, dies

Hamilton was a leading foreign affairs voice during three decades in Congress and helped oversee investigations of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:15pm

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Former Rep. Lee Hamilton, a longtime Indiana Democrat who was a prominent voice on foreign affairs in Congress and helped lead the investigation into the 9/11 terrorist attacks, died at the age of 94. Hamilton served in the House of Representatives for 34 years, rising to become chairman of the House Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees. He was tapped in 2002 to serve as vice chairman of the 9/11 Commission, which spent 20 months investigating the 2001 attacks.

Why it matters

Hamilton was widely respected on both sides of the aisle for his bipartisanship and expertise on foreign policy. His death marks the passing of a political figure who played a key role in some of the most significant events of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including the Iran-Contra scandal and the 9/11 attacks.

The details

During his time in Congress, Hamilton was known for his calm, deliberate manner and his reputation as an evenhanded moderate. He faced some criticism for not being aggressive enough in pursuing allegations of wrongdoing by Republican administrations. After retiring from Congress in 1999, Hamilton continued to be involved in foreign affairs and congressional reform, serving as director of the Woodrow Wilson Center.

  • Hamilton died on Tuesday, February 4, 2026.
  • He was first elected to Congress in 1964 at the age of 33.
  • Hamilton retired from Congress in 1999 after serving for 34 years.
  • He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015.

The players

Lee Hamilton

A longtime Democratic congressman from Indiana who was a leading voice on foreign affairs and helped lead the investigation into the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Thomas Kean

The Republican former governor of New Jersey who served as the chairman of the 9/11 Commission, working alongside Hamilton as the vice chairman.

Ronald Reagan

The former Republican president whose administration was investigated by the Iran-Contra committee that Hamilton co-chaired.

Dick Cheney

A Republican congressman who served on the Iran-Contra committee and criticized the committee's report as a political document.

Barack Obama

The former Democratic president who awarded Hamilton the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

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What they’re saying

“The fact of the matter is, we just didn't get it in this country. We could not comprehend that people wanted to kill us, they wanted to hijack airplanes and fly them into big buildings.”

— Lee Hamilton, Vice Chairman, 9/11 Commission

“There was too much secrecy and deception. Information was withheld from the Congress, other officials, friends and allies and the American people.”

— Lee Hamilton, Co-Chairman, Iran-Contra Committee

“The United States must be — and must be seen as — an optimistic and benign power. We must speak and act as a source of optimism, a beacon of freedom, a benign power forging a consensus approach toward a world of peace and growth and freedom. And American power must be accompanied by American generosity.”

— Lee Hamilton

What’s next

Hamilton's family and colleagues are planning a memorial service to honor his life and legacy.

The takeaway

Lee Hamilton's long career in Congress and his leadership on high-profile investigations like the 9/11 Commission and Iran-Contra affair cemented his reputation as a respected, bipartisan statesman who put country over party. His death marks the end of an era for moderate, consensus-building politicians in Washington.