Caspar Weinberger

Former Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger in a June 1992 file photo. Weinberger served in the Cabinets of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and was a central figure in the Iran-Contra scandal. Weinberger died March 28, 2006, he was 88. Caspar Weinberger Jr., told The AP that his father died in Bangor, Maine, and said that he had been on kidney dialysis for a couple years and had suddenly developed pneumonia.

President Richard Nixon, third left, and his top advisors, from left, Chief Domestic Advisor John Ehrlichman, Director of the Office of Management and Budget George Shultz, and Budget Director Casper W. Weinberger spend a rainy morning inside, in this Dec. 3, 1971 file photo at Nixon's Key Biscayne home working on the fiscal budget. Weinberger died Tuesday, March 28, 2006. He was 88.

Former President Nixon, left, meets with then Health Education and Welfare Secretary Caspar W. Winberger in the president's office, in this Feb. 20, 1974 file photo, in Washington. Weinberger, who served in the Cabinets of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, died Tuesday March 28, 2006. He was 88.

Casper W. Weinberger speaks at a news conference in Washington, D.C., in this June 3, 1975 file photo. Weinberger, who served in the Cabinets of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and was central figure in the Iran-Contra scandal, died Tuesday March 28, 2006. He was 88.

President Ronald Reagan, center, meets with Defense Secretary Casper W. Weinberger, left, and Secretary of State Alexander Haig in this Aug. 17, 1981 file photo, before the start of a National Security Council meeting at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. Weinberger, who served in the Cabinets of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, died Tuesday March 28, 2006. He was 88.

Then President Ronald Reagan, right, and Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger during a meeting to discuss the 1984 United States budget on Jan. 10, 1983, in Washington. Weinberger, a conservative Republican and consummate Cold Warrior who served in the Cabinets of Reagan and Richard Nixon and got ensnared in the Iran-Contra scandal, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006. He was 88.

Former President Ronald Reagan with then Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger looking on at left, speaks during a Rose Garden ceremony, in this Sept. 16, 1983 file photo, in Washington. Weinberger, who served in the Cabinets of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, died Tuesday March 28, 2006. He was 88.

Then President Ronald Reagan and Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger on Dec. 19, 1984, during a cabinet meeting in Washington, D.C. Weinberger, a conservative Republican and consummate Cold Warrior who served in the Cabinets of Reagan and Richard Nixon, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006. He was 88.

Caspar W. Weinberger, as Secretary of Defense, June 1, 1986. Weinberger served in the Cabinets of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. He died March 28, 2006, he was 88.

Then Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger answers questions during an interview in Washington, Sept. 16, 1986. Weinberger, who served in the Cabinets of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and was a central figure in the Iran-Contra scandal, died Tuesday March 28, 2006. He was 88.

Then President Ronald Reagan, right, and Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger during a briefing on April 30, 1987, in Washington. Weinberger, a conservative Republican and consummate Cold Warrior who served in the Cabinets of Reagan and Richard Nixon and got ensnared in the Iran-Contra scandal, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006. He was 88.

Caspar Weinberger taking oath, as Secretary of Defense, before Iran Contra Committee, July 31, 1987, on Capitol Hill. Weinberger served in the Cabinets of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and was a central figure in the Iran-Contra scandal. Weinberger died March 28, 2006, he was 88.

Former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger checks his notes as he appears before the Iran-Contra Committee in this July 31, 1987 file photo, on Capitol Hill, in Washington. Weinberger, who served in the Cabinets of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and was central figure in the Iran-Contra scandal, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006. He was 88.

Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger in a June 1988 file photo. Weinberger served in the Cabinets of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and was a central figure in the Iran-Contra scandal. Weinberger died March 28, 2006, he was 88.

Former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger in a December 1992 file photo. Weinberger served in the Cabinets of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and was a central figure in the Iran-Contra scandal. Weinberger died March 28, 2006, he was 88.

Former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger in a September 2001 file photo. Weinberger served in the Cabinets of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and was a central figure in the Iran-Contra scandal. Weinberger died March 28, 2006, he was 88.

Former Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger, right, and former National Security Advisor Samuel Berger, center, appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill Thursday, Aug. 1, 2002. At left, is Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., the committee chairman. Weinberger, who served in the Cabinets of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at the age of 88.

Former Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger takes questions in this file photo during a June 2003 interview in Sarasota, Fla. Weinberger, who served in the Cabinets of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and was central figure in the Iran-Contra scandal, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at the age of 88.