1997 Leadership Award

Dan Coats
U.S. Senator (R-IN)

Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) is a graduate of Wheaton College (1965) and the University of Indiana School of Law (1971). He served in the U.S. Army (1966-1968) and then practiced law before entering politics. He served first as district representative for U.S. Congressman Dan Quayle (1976-1980). He was then elected to the 97th Congress, as well as to the three succeeding Congresses (1981-1989); he was also elected to the 101st Congress but did not serve. Coats was then appointed to the United States Senate December 12, 1988, to fill the vacancy caused by the election of J. Danforth Quayle as Vice President, and was sworn in on January 3, 1989. He was reelected by special election in 1990 to complete the remainder of the term ending January 3, 1993; in 1992 he was reelected to the term ending January 3, 1999. Senator Coats was not a candidate for reelection in 1998.

Senator Coats' primary legislative concern in both houses of Congress has been policies affecting families and children. Known for his leadership in the Project for American Renewal and the Renewal Alliance, the senator has been seeking to change the relation of government to society by means of laws that will strengthen non-government institutions.