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Christopher Dodd
United States Senator from Connecticut
Incumbent
Assumed office January 5, 1981–Serving with Joe Lieberman
Preceded by	Abraham A. Ribicoff
Succeeded by	Incumbent (2011)
Personal details
Nationality	american
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Jackie Marie Clegg
Profession	Lawyer

Christopher John Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an American lawyer and politician from Willimantic, Connecticut. He is a member of the Democratic Party, served as U. S. Representative from Connecticut, and is currently a U. S. Senator from Connecticut. He has been the state's senior Senator since 1989 and is a candidate for the 2008 presidential election. Among the candidates who are running for President, he is the second most experienced in terms of length of service in the federal government having become a Congressman in 1974, surpassed only by one year by Senator Joe Biden.

Early life, career, and family

Dodd was born in Willimantic, Connecticut to Irish-American parents, Grace Mary Murphy and Senator Thomas Joseph Dodd; all eight of his great-grandparents were born in Ireland. Dodd attended Georgetown Preparatory School, a Jesuit boys school in Bethesda, Maryland. After graduating 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. After leaving the Peace Corps, Dodd joined U.S. Army Reserve, where he would stay until 1975. In July 1970, he married Susan Mooney. They later divorced in October, 1982. In 1972, Dodd earned a J.D. 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. Dodd married Jackie Marie Clegg in June 1999.

He is also 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 U.S. ambassador to Uruguay and Costa Rica under president Bill Clinton.

Dodd lives in East Haddam when Congress is not in session, is fluent in Spanish, and is a Roman Catholic. His wife is Jackie Marie Clegg. She held high posts at the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The couple has two daughters, Grace and Christina, ages 5 and 2 years old.

Senator Dodd also shares the same name, but no relation, as Australian National athlete Chris Dodd, a well-known High Jumper.

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1974, Dodd was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's second congressional district. He was reelected twice, serving 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 U.S. 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 had been rumored to be strongly considering a run for Governor of Connecticut in 2006. He decided not to seek this post. 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. Dodd has been a long time supporter of tort reform measures.

Senator Dodd has announced in a letter to the Federal Election Commission that he is no longer a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010. This is deemed as insignificant since this decision can be reversed and is pursuant to the law in order for him to transfer his funds from a Senate campaign to a presidential campaign.

Bills and issue positions

Senator Dodd's issue positions are generally ranked left of center. His rankings from Americans for Democratic Action have been 95% and above since 2000. Similarly, Dodd receives low ratings from conservative groups, such as the John Birch Society, the American Conservative Union, and the Christian Coalition of America. Dodd has repeatedly refused to provide any responses to issue questions on the National Political Awareness Test.

Domestic policy

Civil liberties

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Senator Dodd supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union between 60 and 80% of the time from 2000 to 2006.

Dodd, along with Senators Patrick Leahy, Russ Feingold, and Robert Menendez introduced the "Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007" which he claims "restores Habeas Corpus rights, bars evidence gained through torture or coercion and reinstates U.S. adherence to the Geneva Conventions in order to protect the nation’s military personnel abroad." The bill is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First, The Center for Victims of Torture, Open Society Institute, and Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International.

Environmental issues

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Senator Dodd supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters between 80 and 100% of the time from 1999 to 2006.

Children's issues

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Senator 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. Some of the protections under this act include:

• Twelve (12) workweeks of leave per twelve (12) months for various reasons such as
  • Caring for a newborn child
  • Handling adoption or foster care placement issues
  • Caring for a sick child, spouse or parent
  • Being physically unable to perform one's job
• Restoration to the same position upon return to work. If the same position is unavailable, the employer must provide the worker with a position that is substantially equal in pay, benefits, and responsibility.
• Protection of employee benefits even while on leave. An employee is entitled to reinstatement to all benefits that the employee was receiving before going on leave.
• Protection of the employee to not have their rights under the Act interfered with or denied by an employer.
• Protection of the employee from retaliation by an employer for exercising rights under the Act.

He also authored legislation aimed at providing better access to safe and affordable child care. Dodd has received a 100% rating from the Children's Defense Fund each year since 2000.

Gun control

On the issue of gun politics, Senator Dodd has been condemned by the National Rifle Association. He 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

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As a senior member of the Senate committee responsible for health care, Chris Dodd has been a voice for innovation in patient care. He was instrumental in extending health insurance to 5 to 7 million of the nation’s uninsured children and has consistently fought to support 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, getting innovative therapies to patients more quickly without compromising safety and effectiveness. He authored critically important 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, which would give Americans basic assurances in their health care services and a greater right to choose their health care provider. And he is working to enact new legislation to ensure that the medicines taken by consumers are safe and effective.

Foreign policy

Latin America

Senator 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 embargo and restrictions the U.S. has towards the country of Cuba. He favors more lenient 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 fight against terrorism and drug trafficking. 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,” adding, “It is not worthwhile to continue speaking of what is in the past. I hope we can overcome this.”

The Iraq War

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Dodd has criticized his congressional colleagues for failing to be more forceful in challenging President Bush's U.S. Troop increase in Iraq, "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 that (proposed increase in troops in Iraq)".

Free Trade

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Dodd voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and says that such agreements have "...brought increased cooperation and communication. They have been positive forces that promote political and economic stability, as well as growth and democracy." 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."

Controversy

Lamont campaign

In 2006 Dodd faced some criticism from Democrats for initially supporting Joe Lieberman, but pledged to support whoever won the Democratic primary race between Lieberman and Ned Lamont. Since Lamont acquired the Democratic nomination, Chris Dodd endorsed Lamont. However, Lieberman ran as an independent and defeated Lamont in the November elections. Soon after, on January 11, 2007, Dodd officially announced his intent on running for president on the Imus in the Morning radio program.

The fact that Lamont is now supporting Dodd's presidential run seems to offset this line of criticism.

Golden Leash Award

The Golden Leash Award was presented 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 $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 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."

And in February 2003, Morris wrote:

Dodd protested my 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."

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 of 2006, he held his first major Presidential fundraiser, stunning many beltway commentators by raising over $1 million in one night.

Dodd also attended a Florida state Democratic convention in July 2006, which the Hartford Courant newspaper termed a first step in garnering support.

On December 22, 2006, Dodd hired former John Kerry campaign manager Jim Jordan to help him decide whether or not he should seek the presidency in 2008. Even though Jordan was fired in November of 2003 following Kerry's lagging campaign, he is still a sought-after consultant to potential Democratic candidates in the 2008 presidential election. On January 11, 2007, Dodd announced his Presidential candidacy on the "Don Imus in the Morning" radio show. 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."

On January 19, 2007, Dodd made a formal announcement with Connecticut supporters at the Old State House in Hartford.

On March 12, 2007, Dodd went on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart to try to generate some press and excitement for his campaign.

Trivia

• Dated Bianca Jagger and Carrie Fisher
• Partook in legendary donut fight with Harold Ford, Sr.
• "When they were both unattached, he and Senator Edward Kennedy were legendary Washington, D.C., hell-raisers..." Dodd and Kennedy formed a "human sandwich" with a female waiter, allegedly sexually assaulting the woman, as she was jammed between the two senators with Dodd on the bottom during a 1985 back-room romp at a Washington, D.C. eatery.
• His Ipod is called the Dodd Pod

Footnotes

1. http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/2954
2. http://www.wargs.com/political/dodd.html
3. Candidate Forum, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, February 21, 2007, available on C-SPAN
4. "Sen. Dodd Not To Run for Re-Election In 2010, Uses PAC to Buy NH and IA Voter Files". cqpolitics.com. Retrieved February 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
5. "Chris Dodd, Liberal Rankings at Project Vote Smart". vote-smart.org. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
6. "Chris Dodd, Conservative Rankings at Project Vote Smart". vote-smart.org. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
7. "Senator Dodd - Issue Positions (NPAT)". vote-smart.org. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
8. "Chris Dodd, Civil Liberties at Project Vote Smart". vote-smart.org. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
9. "Dodd: Restoring Habeas Corpus Rights, Banning Torture, Upholding Geneva Conventions Must Happen Now". dodd.senate.gov. Retrieved February 26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
10. "Chris Dodd, Environmental Issues at Project Vote Smart". vote-smart.org. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
11. "Official Senate Biograhy". dodd.senate.gov. Retrieved February 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
12. "Family and Children Interest Group Ratings". vote-smart.org. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
13. "Official Senate Biograhy". dodd.senate.gov. Retrieved February 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
14. "Sen. Chris Dodd: 'House and Senate at Its Worst'". Associated Press. Retrieved February 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
15. "Senator Christopher J. Dodd On The Future of Economic Relations in the Western Hemisphere". dodd.senate.gov. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
16. "Lieberman petition effort puts Dodd, state's other Dem senator, in unique spot". journalinquirer.com. Retrieved February 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
17. "Ned Lamont Backs Habeas Corpus -- and Chris Dodd". The Nation. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
18. "The odd couple: Chris Dodd and Arthur Andersen". jewishworldreview.com. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
19. "Dodd scurries for cover". jewishworldreview.com. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
20. "Dodd Raises $1 Million For Possible Run At The Oval Office". allheadlinenews.com. Retrieved February 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
21. "Unknown". courant.com.
22. "Unknown". courant.com.
23. "Dodd: Iowa, N.H. may level 2008 field". ap.org. Retrieved February 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
24. "Can '08 Race Make Dodd Bedfellows?". observer.com. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
25. "Can '08 Race Make Dodd Bedfellows?". observer.com. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
26. "How fauxthentic is it?". boston.com. Retrieved February 25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
27. http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/politics/national/features/2165/ New York Magazine "Washington's Sexual Awakening," 9 February 1998; accessed 26 February 2007
28. http://www.newsmax.com/cgi-bin/showinside.pl?a=2002/2/5/135214 NewsMax "Dodd Waves Off Waitress Sandwich Query," 5 February 2002; accessed 26 February 2007

External links

• Chris Dodd Senate office
• Chris Dodd Presidential Campaign
• Chris Dodd's Myspace Page

Biographical

• Peace Corps biography of Chris Dodd
• Congresspedia profile
• Federal Election Commission campaign finance reports and data
• Open Secrets campaign contributions
• United States Congress. "Chris Dodd (id: d000388)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Christopher Dodd at IMDb

Issue positions

• Project Vote-Smart profile
  • Detailed voting record
  • Interest group ratings
• 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

v t e Current United States senators
President: ▌ Kamala Harris (D) ‧ President pro tempore: ▌ Chuck Grassley (R)
AL: ▌ Tuberville (R)⎣ ▌ Britt (R) AK: ▌ Murkowski (R)⎣ ▌ Sullivan (R) AZ: ▌ Kelly (D)⎣ ▌ Gallego (D) AR: ▌ Boozman (R)⎣ ▌ Cotton (R) CA: ▌ Padilla (D)⎣ ▌ Schiff (D) CO: ▌ Bennet (D)⎣ ▌ Hickenlooper (D) CT: ▌ Blumenthal (D)⎣ ▌ Murphy (D) DE: ▌ Coons (D)⎣ ▌ Blunt Rochester (D) FL: ▌ Rubio (R)⎣ ▌ R. Scott (R) GA: ▌ Ossoff (D)⎣ ▌ Warnock (D) HI: ▌ Schatz (D)⎣ ▌ Hirono (D) ID: ▌ Crapo (R)⎣ ▌ Risch (R) IL: ▌ Durbin (D)⎣ ▌ Duckworth (D) IN: ▌ Young (R)⎣ ▌ Braun (R) IA: ▌ Grassley (R)⎣ ▌ Ernst (R) KS: ▌ Moran (R)⎣ ▌ Marshall (R) KY: ▌ McConnell (R)⎣ ▌ Paul (R) LA: ▌ Cassidy (R)⎣ ▌ Kennedy (R) ME: ▌ Collins (R)⎣ ▌ King (I) MD: ▌ Van Hollen (D)⎣ ▌ Alsobrooks (D) MA: ▌ Warren (D)⎣ ▌ Markey (D) MI: ▌ Peters (D)⎣ ▌ Slotkin (D) MN: ▌ Klobuchar (D)⎣ ▌ Smith (D) MS: ▌ Wicker (R)⎣ ▌ Hyde-Smith (R) MO: ▌ Hawley (R)⎣ ▌ Schmitt (R) MT: ▌ Daines (R)⎣ ▌ Sheehy (R) NE: ▌ Fischer (R)⎣ ▌ Ricketts (R) NV: ▌ Cortez Masto (D)⎣ ▌ Rosen (D) NH: ▌ Shaheen (D)⎣ ▌ Hassan (D) NJ: ▌ Booker (D)⎣ ▌ Kim (D) NM: ▌ Heinrich (D)⎣ ▌ Luján (D) NY: ▌ Schumer (D)⎣ ▌ Gillibrand (D) NC: ▌ Tillis (R)⎣ ▌ Budd (R) ND: ▌ Hoeven (R)⎣ ▌ Cramer (R) OH: ▌ Vance (R)⎣ ▌ Moreno (R) OK: ▌ Lankford (R)⎣ ▌ Mullin (R) OR: ▌ Wyden (D)⎣ ▌ Merkley (D) PA: ▌ Fetterman (D)⎣ ▌ McCormick (R) RI: ▌ Reed (D)⎣ ▌ Whitehouse (D) SC: ▌ Graham (R)⎣ ▌ T. Scott (R) SD: ▌ Thune (R)⎣ ▌ Rounds (R) TN: ▌ Blackburn (R)⎣ ▌ Hagerty (R) TX: ▌ Cornyn (R)⎣ ▌ Cruz (R) UT: ▌ Lee (R)⎣ ▌ Curtis (R) VT: ▌ Sanders (I)⎣ ▌ Welch (D) VA: ▌ Warner (D)⎣ ▌ Kaine (D) WA: ▌ Murray (D)⎣ ▌ Cantwell (D) WV: ▌ Capito (R)⎣    Vacant WI: ▌ Johnson (R)⎣ ▌ Baldwin (D) WY: ▌ Barrasso (R)⎣ ▌ Lummis (R)
▌ Republican: 52 ▌ Democratic: 45 ▌ Independent: 2

• 1944 births
• Connecticut lawyers
• Democratic National Committee chairs
• Roman Catholic politicians
• United States Army officers
• Members of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut
• United States Senators from Connecticut
• Irish-American politicians
• Living people
• University of Louisville alumni
• Peace Corps volunteers
• Providence College alumni