Despite Brooke’s disagreements with Nixon, the president reportedly respected the senator’s abilities; after Nixon’s election he had offered to make Brooke a member of his cabinet, or appoint him as ambassador to the UN.
Brooke earned his undergraduate degree at Howard University in 1941 and served as an infantry officer during World War II, achieving the rank of captain. After being discharged, he earned two law degrees at Boston University and was editor of the Boston University Law Review. After leaving the Senate, Brooke practiced law in Washington, D.C. and was affiliated with various businesses and non-profits.
On January 3, 2015, Brooke died at his home in Coral Gables, Florida, at the age of 95. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
