Legal Profile of Candidates

Sen. Joe Lieberman

• Born: February 12, 1942
• B.A., Yale (1974)
• LLB, Yale Law School (1967)

Legal Career

• Wiggin and Dana, LLP (1967 - 1969)

Political Career

• Connecticut State Senator (1970 - 1980)
• Conn. Attorney General (1983 - 1988)
• U.S. Senate (1989 - present)
• Won 1989 race, defeating GOP Senator Lowell Weicker in an upset.
• A Democrat in the Senate for 17 years, but now an Independent.
• In 2006 he became an Independent for his 2006 Senate re-election campaign, but identifies himself as an 'Independent Democrat.'
• 2000 Vice-Presidential Nomination
• Former Senator Al Gore chose Lieberman as his Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2000 election.
• 2004 Presidential Campaign
• Announced his bid on January 13, 2003 and withdrew his bid one year later on 'Mini-Tuesday', February 3, 2004
• Failed to win Gore's endorsement
• 2008 Presidential Election - Supports McCain
• Even though he was an Independent, Lieberman is seen as having crossed party lines, by endorsing McCain for president.
• Described by Newsweek senior editor Jonathan Alter as a "hatchet man" for McCain.
• Co-authored op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal with McCain, arguing against withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
• When announcing his endorsement, Lieberman contended that McCain is "the most capable to be commander in chief on day one of his administration, and the most capable of uniting the country so that we can prevail against Islamic extremism."

Pivotal career moments involving law

• Delivered strident speech on U.S. Senate floor, supporting Clarence Thomas' nomination before law professor Anita Hill - a former EEOC attorney and employee of Thomas at the agency - testified that Thomas' allegedly sexually harassed her when she worked at the agency.
• Leberman's daughter complained about her father's support for Thomas when she saw him testify, reportedly convincing Lieberman to change his mind and vote against Thomas' confirmation

Personal Life

• Lieberman is a religious, Orthodox Jew
• He is the father of three children, stepfather of one son, and grandfather to five grandchildren.
• Married twice
  • First marriage: To Betty Haas (1965) during law school
  • Second wife: Married Hadassah Freilich Tucker in 1982 while running for CT Attorney General.