Statement on the death of Senator William Roth

Washington, DC, December 15, 2003— I was surprised and saddened upon receiving word that Senator William V. Roth. Jr. had died. Bill was both a colleague and a good friend. Throughout his career in Washington, Senator Roth was a zealous advocate for taxpayers and a tireless champion of tax rate reductions and individual retirement accounts, which bear his name—Roth IRAs. Without Bill’s support in the Senate there would not have been any Kemp-Roth-Reagan tax rate reductions. Senator Roth was a towering figure in American politics but he was an even greater friend.