Christopher Dodd
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election. Content may change as the election approaches. |
| Christopher Dodd | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 5, 1981 Serving with Joe Lieberman |
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| Preceded by | Abraham A. Ribicoff |
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| Succeeded by | Incumbent (2011) |
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| Born | May 27 1944  Willimantic, Connecticut |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jackie Marie Clegg |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Signature |  |
Christopher John Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an American lawyer and politician from Willimantic, Connecticut. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Dodd served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut from 1975 until 1981, when he became a U.S. Senator. He is now the state's senior Senator. He currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.
He is a candidate in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
Early life, career, and family
Dodd was born in Willimantic,
Dodd attended Georgetown Preparatory School, a Jesuit boys school in Bethesda, Maryland. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Providence College in 1966.
Dodd served as a Peace Corps volunteer in a small rural town in the Dominican Republic until 1968. While there, he became fluent in Spanish. [2] Dodd then joined the U.S. Army Reserve, and served until 1975.
In 1972, Dodd earned a Juris Doctor at the University of Louisville, where he served as vice president of the law school's student body. The following year, he was admitted to the Connecticut bar, and began practicing law in New London.
In July 1970, he married Susan Mooney. They divorced in October 1982. After the divorce to Susan Mooney he became one of Washington's most eligible bachelors, at different times dating Bianca Jagger and Carrie Fisher.[3] In 1999, he married his second wife, Jackie Marie Clegg, who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The couple have two daughters, Grace (born September 2001) and Christina Dodd (born May 2005).
Dodd lives in East Haddam when Congress is not in session.
He is the godfather of actress/singer Christy Carlson Romano, who once interned in his office. His brother, Thomas J. Dodd Jr., is an emeritus professor of the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University, and served as the U.S. ambassador to Uruguay and Costa Rica under President Bill Clinton.
U.S. House of Representatives
Dodd was part of the "Watergate class of '74" which CNN pundit David Gergen credited with bringing "a fresh burst of liberal energy to the Capitol."[4] Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's second congressional district, and reelected twice, he served from January 4, 1975 to January 3, 1981. During his tenure in the U.S. House, he served on the House Select Committee on Assassinations.
U.S. Senator
Dodd was elected to the Senate in the 1980 election and was subsequently reelected in the 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2004 elections. He is the first Senator from Connecticut to serve five consecutive terms. From 1995 to 1997, he served as General Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. As General Chairman, Dodd was the DNC's spokesman. Donald Fowler served as National Chairman, running the party's day to day operations.
Dodd briefly considered running for President in 2004, but ultimately decided against such a campaign. He was also considered a possible candidate for replacing Tom Daschle as Senate Minority Leader in 109th Congress, but he declined, and that position was instead filled by Harry Reid. Currently he is seeking the Democratic party's nomination for president in 2008.
Dodd has announced in a letter to the Federal Election Commission that he is no longer a candidate for the Senate in 2010. [5]
Bills and issue positions
Dodd's issue positions are generally ranked left of center. His rankings from Americans for Democratic Action have been 95 percent and above since 2000.[6] Similarly, Dodd receives low ratings from conservative groups, such as the John Birch Society, the American Conservative Union, and the Christian Coalition of America.[7]
Foreign policy
The Iraq War
Dodd voted in favor of the Iraq War Resolution in 2002 but has since become an opponent of the war.[8] Dodd has said the Iraq War has been waged “for all the wrong reasons” and that it is eroding both the nation's security and its moral leadership.[9]
Dodd has criticized his congressional colleagues for failing to be more forceful penetrating President George W. Bush's Iraq War troop surge of 2007. "This was debating about debating. This was the House and the Senate at some of its worst. ... I think we missed an opportunity to put our foot down and stop [the surge]."[10]
In May 2007, he voted in the Senate against continued funding for the Iraq war.[9]
He was the only 2008 presidential candidate to co-sponsor the Democrats' most aggressive anti-war bill.[9]
Free Trade
Dodd voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and says that such trade agreements have "...brought increased cooperation and communication. They have been positive forces that promote political and economic stability, as well as growth and democracy.[11]" In the same article he continues, "successful efforts to achieve a Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), and eventually in 2005, a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), will help further these goals. As well, the United States stands to benefit along with our neighbors from increased trade relations throughout the hemisphere."
Latin American relations
Dodd is considered left of center with respect to Latin America. His record, especially with regard to the Sandinistas in Nicaragua and the Farabundo Martí rebels in El Salvador, has led to conflict with Republican administrations. He is highly critical of the United States embargo against Cuba. He favors more lenient U.S. immigration laws. In January 2005, he met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in an effort to mend the strained relations between the two countries. Dodd stressed the need for closer ties, both economically and in the "war on terror" and "war on drugs". On that occasion, he said that Chávez has “demonstrated he was Venezuela’s legitimate democratically elected president by winning a national referendum (on August 15, 2004)…We know there have been problems between the two countries, but today is a new year and we are here to find out if we can begin a new relationship... It is not worthwhile to continue speaking of what is in the past. I hope we can overcome this.”
Domestic policy
Civil liberties
Dodd supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union between 60 and 80 percent of the time from 2000 to 2006.[12]
In 2004, he introduced a bill to enact a Federal Shield law.[13]
Dodd, along with Senators Patrick Leahy, Russ
Feingold, and Robert Menendez introduced the "Restoring the Constitution Act of
2007", which he claims "restores
Domestic Wiretapping
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This section documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. |
[[Category:Current events as of {{#time:F Y|October 2007}}]]
On 18 October 2007, he placed a hold on a Senate bill revamping Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a procedural move that denies the party leadership the unanimous consent they need to bring a bill to the Senate floor.[15] He objected to the bill granting amnesty to telecom companies who spied on their customers on behalf of the executive branch without a judicial warrant.[15] "By granting immunity to telecommunications companies that participated in the President's terrorist surveillance program, even though such participation may have been illegal, the FISA reform bill sets a dangerous precedent by giving the President sweeping authorization to neglect the right to privacy that Americans are entitled to under the Constitution," Dodd explained in a statement outlining his concerns.[16]
Environmental issues
Dodd supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters between 80 and 100 percent of the time from 1999 to 2006.[17] Dodd has proposed a carbon tax on corporations as a measure to reduced carbon dioxide emissions and reduce global warming.[18]
National Service
Dodd proposes mandatory community service for all high school students. A returned Peace Corps volunteer who served in the Dominican Republic, Dodd also proposes doubling the size of the Peace Corps to 15,000 volunteers by 2011 and expanding AmeriCorps to 1 million participants. Dodd says his goal is to see 40 million people volunteering in some form by 2020.[19], [20]
Children's issues
Dodd is perhaps best known for bringing attention to children’s issues. He formed the first children’s caucus in the Senate and spent almost a decade fighting to enact the Family and Medical Leave Act.
He also authored legislation aimed at providing better access to safe and affordable child care.[21] Dodd has received a 100 percent rating from the Children's Defense Fund each year since 2000.[22]
Gun control
Dodd was one of 16 senators who voted against the Vitter Amendment to prohibit federal funding of the confiscation of legally owned firearms during a disaster.
Health care
As a senior member of the Senate committee responsible for health care, Dodd extended health insurance to 5 to 7 million uninsured children and has consistently supported community health centers and initiatives aimed at child nutrition, maternal and child health, and infant mortality prevention. He successfully led the effort to modernize the Food and Drug Administration approval process for drugs and medical devices. He authored legislation to protect the mentally ill from abusive and deadly restraint and seclusion practices in mental hospitals. He continues to push for a patient’s bill of rights.[23]
Marijuana Decriminalization
During the HuffPo/Yahoo!/Slate Candidate Mashup (September 2007), Dodd responded to a surprise question regarding the legalization of marijuana. He stated "We're cluttering up our prisons, frankly, when we draw distinctions" between alcohol and marijuana, Dodd said. "So I would decriminalize, or certainly advocate as president, the decriminalization of statutes that would incarcerate or severely penalize people for using marijuana." [24] Dodd does not support full legalization of marijuana, however. "I want to be careful, and I know there are a lot of people across the political spectrum who would just totally legalize [Marijuana]," he clarified. "I don't go that far."
Tort reform
Dodd has been a long time supporter of tort reform measures.
Criticism
The Center for Public Integrity has criticized Dodd for "being the leading advocate in the Senate on behalf of the accounting industry."[25]
Golden Leash Award
The Golden Leash Award was presented to Dodd by Public Campaign, April 29, 1998:
- "The Golden Leash is a symbol of the ties between special interest money and elected officials. It is awarded to Members of Congress who demonstrate egregious conduct in the quid pro quo practice of dollar democracy.
- "This award serves as a reminder of Senator Dodd's acceptance of $910,304 in campaign cash from January 1993 to December 1997 from the Securities, Investment, Accounting and High-Tech Computer industries... Goldman, Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley, Salomon Brothers and others donat[ed] $523,551 in PAC and individual contributions. The accounting industry — perhaps the biggest winners in the 1995 securities litigation reform law — donated $345,903 in PAC and individual contributions. This includes such giants as Price Waterhouse, Ernst & Young and Coopers & Lybrand, among others. Deloitte & Touche's contributions to Senator Dodd increased nearly five-fold from 1995 to 1996 soon after Congress passed the reform law the industry championed. The computer industry — a fairly new player in the campaign contribution field — ponied up $40,850 in contributions."
Public Campaign's report cites the following examples: Dodd was an original cosponsor of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and he helped to organize the Senate's override of President Bill Clinton's veto. The National Securities Market Improvement Act, which ultimately weakened oversight that would have protected investors. Dodd lined up as a cosponsor of the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act, an extension of the earlier securities litigation legislation. The bill was strongly supported by The Uniform Standards Coalition, an ad-hoc group of securities, accounting and high-tech computer firms.
Campaign contributions from Enron and Arthur Andersen
On January 30, 2002 Dick Morris wrote in an article for Jewish World Review:
While many candidates of both parties have received campaign contributions from Enron and its self-serving 'independent auditor' Arthur Andersen, very few have passionately fought their cause in Washington as diligently as Chris Dodd. Dodd has received more money from Arthur Andersen than any other Democrat — $54,843.00 — and has aggressively worked to insulate Arthur Andersen and other accounting firms from liability to defrauded investors in cases like Enron.[26]
In February 2003, Morris wrote:
Dodd protested my [previous] accusations in a letter to the New York Post saying "Dick Morris mistakenly contends that legislation cosponsored by Sen. Christopher Dodd is somehow responsible for the Enron fiasco.
But all independent observers seem to disagree with Dodd. The Washington Post editorialized two weeks ago that "Sen. Chris Dodd, who now proposes reformist legislation, led a battle in 1995 to limit auditor's liability." The Post said that "all the players in this scandal — Enron's managers, its auditors, the lawmakers — helped to create the conditions for Enron's collapse.[27]
2008 presidential campaign
In April 2006, Dodd told the Associated Press he was considering running for president in 2008, saying, "it's an itch. Could grow, could disappear." On May 22, 2006 he told the Hartford Courant he had met with key backers, including congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, and was assembling a team to prepare for the 2008 presidential campaign. In June 2006, he held his first major Presidential fundraiser, stunning many Beltway commentators by raising over $1 million in one night.[28]
Dodd also attended a Florida Democratic convention in July 2006, which the Hartford Courant termed a first step in garnering support.[29]
On December 22, 2006, Dodd hired former John Kerry campaign manager Jim Jordan to help him decide whether he should seek the presidency in 2008. Even though Jordan was fired in November 2003 following Kerry's lagging campaign, he is still a sought-after consultant to potential Democratic candidates in the 2008 election.[30] On January 11, 2007, Dodd announced his Presidential candidacy on Imus in the Morning. The head of the New Hampshire Democratic party said Dodd told her that he wasn't "going to do the exploratory thing, I'm going to plunge right in."[31]
On January 19, 2007, Dodd made a formal announcement with Connecticut supporters at the Old State House in Hartford.
On March 12, 2007, Dodd appeared on The Daily Show.
Dodd has included his iPod as part of his campaign, allowing visitors to his website to choose his playlist. [32]
On August 26, 2007, a spokeswoman for Dodd said someone had broken into his Hartford office the previous night.
On August 28, 2007, it was announced that Chris Dodd would receive the endorsement of the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Electoral history
2004 Connecticut United States Senatorial Election
| Christopher Dodd (D) (inc.) 66% |
| Jack Orchulli (R) 32% |
| Timothy Knibbs (Constitution) 1% |
| Lenny Rasch (Lib.) 1% |
1998 Connecticut United States Senatorial Election
| Christopher Dodd (D) (inc.) 68% |
| Gary Franks (R) 32% |
1992 Connecticut United States Senatorial Election
| Christopher Dodd (D) (inc.) 58.8% |
| Brook Johnson (R) 38.1% |
1986 Connecticut United States Senatorial Election
| Christopher Dodd (D) (inc.) 64.8% |
| Roger W. Eddy (R) 35.2% |
1980 Connecticut United States Senatorial Election
| Christopher Dodd (D) 56.3% |
| James L. Buckley (R) 42.9% |
Footnotes
- ^ Battle, Robert. The Ancestors of Chris Dodd.
- ^ http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/1010583.html
- ^ Horowitz, Jason (2006-12-03). Can ’08 Race Make Dodd Bedfellows?. observer.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
- ^ Gergen, David. Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership from Nixon to Clinton. Simon and Schuster, 119. ISBN 074321949X.
- ^ Sen. Dodd Not To Run for Re-Election In 2010, Uses PAC to Buy NH and IA Voter Files. cqpolitics.com. Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ Chris Dodd, Liberal Rankings at Project Vote Smart. vote-smart.org. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ Chris Dodd, Conservative Rankings at Project Vote Smart. vote-smart.org. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes for H.J.Res. 114
- ^ a b c Sen. Dodd Calls For End To Iraq War. Associated Press (2007-05-26).
- ^ Sen. Chris Dodd: House and Senate at Its Worst.. Associated Press. Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ Senator Christopher J. Dodd On The Future of Economic Relations in the Western Hemisphere. dodd.senate.gov. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ Chris Dodd, Civil Liberties at Project Vote Smart. vote-smart.org. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ Thomas, Helen (2006). Watchdogs of Democracy?: The Waning Washington Press Corps and How It Has Failed the Public. Simon and Schuster, 108. ISBN 0743267818.
- ^ Dodd: Restoring Habeas Corpus Rights, Banning Torture, Upholding Geneva Conventions Must Happen Now. dodd.senate.gov. Retrieved on February 26, 2007.
- ^ a b
- ^ Murray, Shailagh (2007-10-18). Dodd Makes Play on FISA Legislation. washingtonpost.com.
- ^ Chris Dodd, Environmental Issues at Project Vote Smart. vote-smart.org. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ Chris Dodd Campaign (2007-05-11). Chris Dodd: Dodd Touts Energy Plan At Biodiesel Plant, Kitchen Tables In Southeast Iowa. Retrieved on 2007-05-29.
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6731171,00.html
- ^ Moon, Freda. Sen. Chris Dodd's Quixotic Quest for the Presidency..
- ^ Official Senate Biograhy. dodd.senate.gov. Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ Family and Children Interest Group Ratings. vote-smart.org. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ Official Senate Biograhy. dodd.senate.gov. Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ Dodd Would Decriminalize Pot. Huffington Post. Retrieved on September 15, 2007.
- ^ Morris, Dick (2004). Off with Their Heads: Traitors, Crooks, and Obstructionists in American Politics, Media, and Business. HarperCollins, 205. ISBN 0060595507.
- ^ The odd couple: Chris Dodd and Arthur Andersen. jewishworldreview.com. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ Dodd scurries for cover. jewishworldreview.com. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ Dodd Raises $1 Million For Possible Run At The Oval Office. allheadlinenews.com. Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ Unknown. courant.com.
- ^ Unknown. courant.com.
- ^ Dodd: Iowa, N.H. may level 2008 field. ap.org. Retrieved on February 21, 2007.
- ^ DoddPod. Chris Dodd for President official website. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
External links
- Chris Dodd Senate office
- Chris Dodd Presidential Campaign
- Genealogy of Chris Dodd
- Christopher Dodd at the Open Directory Project
- Biographical
- Christopher Dodd at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Christopher Dodd at the Internet Movie Database
- Peace Corps biography of Chris Dodd
- Finance
- Federal Election Commission campaign finance reports and data for Congress for President
- Open Secrets campaign contributions for Congress for President
- Issue positions
- Project Vote-Smart profile
- Voting record maintained by the Washington Post
- On the Issues statements
- Chris Dodd at WhereIStand.org
- News
- The New York Times — Christopher J. Dodd News news stories and commentary
- PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer - Vote 2008: Christopher Dodd
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert H. Steele |
Member from Connecticut's 2nd congressional district 1975 – 1981 |
Succeeded by Sam Gejdenson |
| United States Senate | ||
| Preceded by Abraham A. Ribicoff |
Senator from Connecticut (Class 3) 1981 – present Served alongside: Lowell P. Weicker, Jr., Joe Lieberman |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Mitch McConnell |
Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee 2001 – 2003 |
Succeeded by Trent Lott |
| Preceded by Richard Shelby |
Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Debra DeLee |
Chairman of the Democratic National Committee 1995 – 1997 |
Succeeded by Roy Romer |
| United States Senators from Connecticut | |
|---|---|
| Class 1: Ellsworth • Hillhouse • Dana • Boardman • Edwards • Foot • N.
Smith • Niles • Betts •
Huntington • R.S. Baldwin •
Toucey • Dixon • Buckingham • Eaton • Hawley • Bulkeley • McLean • Walcott • Maloney • Hart • R.E.
Baldwin • Benton • Purtell •
T. Dodd • Weicker • Lieberman Class 3: Johnson • Sherman • Mitchell • Trumbull • Tracy • Goodrich • Daggett • Lanman • Willey • Tomlinson • P. Smith • Niles • T. Smith • Gillette • Foster • Ferry • English • Barnum • Platt • Brandegee • Bingham • Lonergan • Danaher • McMahon • Purtell • Bush • Ribicoff • C. Dodd |
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| Connecticut's current delegation to the United States Congress | |
|---|---|
| Senators | Christopher Dodd (D), Joe Lieberman (ID) |
| Representative(s) | John Larson (D), Joe Courtney (D), Rosa DeLauro (D), Chris Shays (R), Chris Murphy (D) |
| All delegations | Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands |