He was the first PSI politicians to become Minister of Defence in Italy (1980–1983); the Ustica Massacre occurred under his tenure. Later he was minister of Sport and Spectales (1983–1986), President of PSI's Deputies and at the European Parliament (1986–1994) and vice-president of the Union of European Community Socialist Parties (1990–1992).
Lagorio also wrote political and historical essays (including L'Ora di Austerlitz, about his period as Minister of Defence), and edited the Florentine magazine Città & Regione.
He died in Florence on 6 January[1] or 7 January[2] 2017.[3]
Mola, Aldo Alessandro (1993). "Lelio Lagorio". Il Parlamento Italiano. Storia parlamentare e politica dell'Italia, Vol. XXIII. Milan.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Tajani, Antonio (1982). Il Granduca. Lagorio: un socialista Ministro della Difesa. Milan.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)