These opinions represent a newly emerging consensus among policy leaders on the need for US leadership for the elimination of nuclear weapons. While there are many places where opinion diverges, and though these are voices from across the political spectrum, they all agree that the goal of a world without nuclear weapons is both critical and achievable.

Toward a Nuclear-Free World, The Wall Street Journal, January 15, 2008

Former Senator Sam Nunn, President Clinton’s Secretary of Defense William Perry, President Reagan’s Secretary of State George P. Shultz, and President Nixon’s top aide, Henry Kissinger.

"One year ago, in an essay in this paper, we called for a global effort to reduce reliance on nuclear weapons, to prevent their spread into potentially dangerous hands, and ultimately to end them as a threat to the world. The interest, momentum and growing political space that has been created to address these issues over the past year has been extraordinary, with strong positive responses from people all over the world."
 
The Test of Leadership, The Washington Times, Wednesday, July 9, 2008

James E. Goodby, a former U.S. ambassador, was principal negotiator and special representative of the president for nuclear security and dismantlement in the early 1990s, when the United States and Russia began an historic nuclear weapons reduction.

"The American presidential candidates have spoken favorably of boldly moving against the nuclear threat. This is not a party issue. It's an issue of survival, and all Americans have a stake in it....But the one test that will earn them the praise of posterity through future ages, or condemn them to the ranks of failures, will be what they do about ending the nuclear threat. And it can be ended. "

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Summit on Confronting New Threats, July 16, 2008

"It's time to send a clear message to the world: America seeks a world with no nuclear weapons."

Remarks By John McCain on Nuclear Security, May 27, 2008

"A quarter of a century ago, President Ronald Reagan declared, 'our dream is to see the day when nuclear weapons will be banished from the face of the Earth.'  That is my dream, too."