His political beliefs were characterized by support of civil rights, human rights, and safeguarding the environment, but with an equally strong commitment to oppose totalitarianism in general, and communism in particular. The political philosophies and positions of Scoop Jackson have been cited as an influence on a number of key figures associated with neoconservatism, including Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle, both of whom previously served as aides to the Senator. The Seattle-based Henry M. Jackson Foundation was created in 1983 by his former colleagues and staff as well as his widow and other family members to further his work. In 1987, the Department of Defense gave to the Jackson Foundation a one-time, $10 million appropriation for its endowment in honor of the Senator. To date the Foundation has awarded over $26 million in grants to educational and nonprofit institutions. Jackson also sponsored legislation to form the Foundation to Advance Military Medicine, which was later re-named in his honor at the time of his death, to the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine.