Who is Senator Chris Dodd?

On January 11, 2007, Senator Chris Dodd (D), of Connecticut announced his candidacy for President of the United States. As the 2008 presidential election looms ahead, many Americans are not even sure who all the candidates are, let alone what they stand for. As of the time of this writing there were officially 8 Democrats and 8 Republicans running for the office. "Officially" meaning that they have released an actual statement of candidacy. So, who is Senator Chris Dodd?

Dodd was born in Willimantic, CT on May 27, 1944. He was the fifth of six children born to the late Senator Thomas J. Dodd and Grace Murray Dodd. The senior Senator Dodd was a lead prosecutor during the Nuremburg trials.

He attended Georgetown Preparatory School and graduated from Providence College with a B.A. in English Literature in 1966. He then joined the Peace Corps and served in the Dominican Republic, where he assisted in the construction of a school and a maternity clinic. After he had completed his two-year commitment with the Peace Corps, he returned to the United States and enlisted in the Army National Guard. He later served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1969-1975.

Mr. Dodd then attended the University of Louisville School of Law, where he earned his law degree in 1972. After graduation he practiced law in New London, CT.

Chris was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974. He served as the Congressman from the 2^nd District of Connecticut for 6 years before being elected to the United States Senate in 1980.

Mr. Dodd is now in his 6^th term as a United States Senator. He is the chair of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. He has also served as the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics, Chairman of the Subcommittee of Education and Early Childhood Development of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and as a Member of the Rules Committee. He was General Chairman of the Democratic National Party from 1995-1997.

Chris Dodd is a tireless champion for children. He is a strong advocate of early childhood education and has helped to enact landmark childcare legislation. He spent 7 years working to get the Family and Medical Leave Act passed. The National Head Start Association named him "Senator of the Decade."

He received the Edmund S. Muskie Distinguished Public Service Award and is a recognized expert on Latin and South America.

A Roman Catholic, Mr. Dodd is married to Jackie Clegg Dodd, with whom he has two daughters, Grace and Christina.