fection next, a conversation with an unlikely republican maverick, at cross currents with his party, supporting a new arms control party, advocating repeal of don t ask, don t tell, and opposing a republican-led ban on earmarks. senator richard lugar grew up in the heart of the midwest and still managing his family s 600-acre farm outside of indianapolis. he was elected mayor of indianapolis at the age of 35 and in pre-watergate days was dubbed president nixon s favorite mayor. elected in 1976, lugar is a reliable conservative with a reputation as a straight shooter willing to take risks. he opposed the bush administration s surge in iraq as not worth the risk. and though a mccain supporter, he infuriated republicans for praising candidate barack obama s foreign policy. lugar is a steadied and powerful