Joe Lieberman: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Joe Lieberman

| jr/sr = United States Senator

| state = [[Connecticut]]

| death_place = New York City, U.S.

| restingplace = [[Congregation Agudath Sholom]]

| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Betty Haas|1965|1981|end=div}}|{{marriage|[[Hadassah Freilich]]|1982}}}}

| children = 3

}}

{{Joe Lieberman series}}

 

Lieberman was elected as a Democrat in 1970 to the [[Connecticut Senate]], where he served three terms as majority leader. After an unsuccessful bid for the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] in 1980, he served as the [[Connecticut attorney general]] from 1983 to 1989. He narrowly defeated [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] incumbent [[Lowell Weicker]] in [[1988 United States Senate election in Connecticut|1988]] to win election to the U.S. Senate and was re-elected in [[1994 United States Senate election in Connecticut|1994]], [[2000 United States Senate election in Connecticut|2000]], and [[2006 United States Senate election in Connecticut|2006]]. He was the Democratic Party nominee for vice president in the 2000 presidential election, running with [[presidential nominee]] and then Vice President [[Al Gore]], and becoming the first [[American Jews|Jewish]] candidate on a U.S. [[major party]] presidential ticket.<ref name="EDAH">{{cite web |url=http://www.edah.org/backend/coldfusion/search/document.cfm?title=The%20Lieberman%20Phenomenon&hyperlink=The_Lieberman_Phenomenon.html&type=JournalArticle&category=Orthodoxy%20and%20Modernity&authortitle=Dr.&firstname=Samuel&lastname=Heilman&pubsource=The%20Edah%20Journal%20Volume%201%3A1&authorid=278&pdfattachment=heilman.pdf |title=The Lieberman Phenomenon |work=Dr. Samuel Heilman&nbsp;– The Edah Journal Volume 1:1 |access-date=December 31, 2011 |archive-date=February 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202072750/http://www.edah.org/backend/coldfusion/search/document.cfm?title=The%20Lieberman%20Phenomenon&hyperlink=The_Lieberman_Phenomenon.html&type=JournalArticle&category=Orthodoxy%20and%20Modernity&authortitle=Dr.&firstname=Samuel&lastname=Heilman&pubsource=The%20Edah%20Journal%20Volume%201%3A1&authorid=278&pdfattachment=heilman.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washtimes.com/elections/candidate/336/ |title=Joseph Lieberman |work=The Washington Times |access-date=September 3, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Lieberman was officially listed in Senate records for the [[110th United States Congress|110th]] and [[111th United States Congress|111th]] congresses as an Independent Democrat,<ref name="senate party">{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?Name=Lieberman |title=Senators of the 110th Congress |publisher=[[U.S. Senate]] |date=January 3, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061227185804/https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?Name=Lieberman |archive-date=December 27, 2006 }}</ref> and sat as part of the [[Senate Democratic Caucus]]. After [[2008 Republican National Convention#Tuesday, September 2, 2008|his speech at the 2008 Republican National Convention]] in which he endorsed [[John McCain 2008 presidential campaign|John McCain]] for president, he no longer attended Democratic Caucus leadership strategy meetings or policy lunches.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/conventions-over-lieberman-embarks-on-lonely-september-2008-09-09.html |title=The Hill |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |access-date=May 24, 2010 |archive-date=December 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209132723/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/conventions-over-lieberman-embarks-on-lonely-september-2008-09-09.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Senate Democratic Caucus voted to allow him to keep the chairmanship of the [[Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]]. Subsequently, he announced that he would continue to caucus with the Democrats.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/us/politics/19cong.html?nl=pol&emc=pola1 | work=[[The New York Times]] | title=Democrats Gain as Stevens Loses Race | first=Carl | last=Hulse | date=November 19, 2008 | access-date=March 27, 2010 | archive-date=February 2, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202072756/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/us/politics/19cong.html?nl=pol&emc=pola1 | url-status=live }}</ref> Before the 2016 election, he endorsed [[Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign|Hillary Clinton]] for president and in 2020 endorsed [[Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|Joe Biden]] for president.

 

 

==Early life==

On August 9, 2006, [[Hillary Clinton]], the junior [[List of United States senators from New York|U.S. senator from New York]], affirmed her pledge to support the primary winner, saying "voters of Connecticut have made their decision and I think that decision should be respected",<ref>Fouhy, Beth. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/10/AR2006081001659.html Clinton Reiterates Pledge to Back Lamont.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914022359/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/10/AR2006081001659.html |date=September 14, 2018 }} ''[[The Washington Post]]'' August 10, 2006.</ref> and [[Howard Dean]] called for Lieberman to quit the race, saying he was being "disrespectful of Democrats and disrespectful of the Democratic Party".<ref>Nagourney, Adam.[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/09/washington/09cnd-senate.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1155182400&en=386129a0dcd5f147&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=login PRIMARY IN CONNECTICUT: NEWS ANALYSIS; A Referendum On Iraq Policy.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523091803/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/09/washington/09cnd-senate.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1155182400&en=386129a0dcd5f147&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=login |date=May 23, 2018 }} ''[[The New York Times]]'' August 9, 2006.</ref> On August 10, in his first campaign appearance since losing the Democratic primary, referencing the [[2006 transatlantic aircraft plot]], Lieberman criticized Lamont, saying: "If we just pick up like Ned Lamont wants us to do, get out [of Iraq] by a date certain, it will be taken as a tremendous victory by the same people who wanted to blow up these planes in this plot hatched in England. It will strengthen them and they will strike again."<ref name="Offensive">Healy, Patrick and Medina, Jennifer. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/11/nyregion/11conn.html?ex=1155441600&en=c8a5d8aa54c3a879&ei=5087%0A Lieberman Goes on the Offensive, Linking the Terror Threat to Iraq.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102124026/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/11/nyregion/11conn.html?ex=1155441600&en=c8a5d8aa54c3a879&ei=5087%0A |date=January 2, 2016 }} ''[[The New York Times]]'' August 11, 2006.</ref> Lamont noted Lieberman's position was similar to [[George W. Bush]] and [[Dick Cheney]]'s position. Lamont said, "That comment sounds an awful lot like Vice President Cheney's comment on Wednesday. Both of them believe our invasion of Iraq has a lot to do with 9/11. That's a false premise."<ref name="Offensive" /> Lieberman's communications director replied that Lamont was politicizing national security by "portraying [Lieberman] as a soul mate of President Bush on Iraq".<ref name="Offensive" />

 

 

Despite still considering himself a Democrat, Lieberman was endorsed by numerous Republicans who actively spoke out in favor of his candidacy. Lieberman was also the focus of websites such as ConservativesforLieberman06.com.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://therightperspectivepodcastblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/liebermans-victory-analysis.html |title=The Right Perspective Podcast Blog |access-date=February 6, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526001131/http://therightperspectivepodcastblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/liebermans-victory-analysis.html |archive-date=May 26, 2008}} The Right Perspective Podcast Blog, November 11, 2006.</ref> On November 7, Lieberman won re-election with 50% of the vote. [[Ned Lamont]] garnered 40% of ballots cast and [[Alan Schlesinger]] won 10%.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/CT/S/01/index.html Joe Lieberman wins CT Senate race.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213023444/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/CT/S/01/index.html |date=December 13, 2020 }}. Retrieved November 7, 2006.</ref> Lieberman received support from 33% of Democrats, 54% of independents and 70% of Republicans.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/CT/S/01/epolls.0.html | publisher=[[CNN]] | title=CNN.com&nbsp;– Elections 2006 | access-date=May 6, 2010 | archive-date=January 29, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129064315/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/CT/S/01/epolls.0.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

Lieberman was a major opponent of the [[whistle-blowing|whistleblowing]] website [[WikiLeaks]]. His staff "made inquiries" of [[Amazon.com]] and other internet companies such as [[PayPal]], [[Visa Inc.|Visa]], and [[MasterCard]] which resulted in them suspending service to WikiLeaks. Journalist [[Glenn Greenwald]] called Lieberman's actions "one of the most pernicious acts by a U.S. Senator in quite some time," and accused Lieberman of "emulat[ing] Chinese dictators" by "abusing his position as [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Homeland Security]] Chairman to thuggishly dictate to private companies which websites they should and should not host&nbsp;– and, more important, what you can and cannot read on the Internet."<ref>[[Glenn Greenwald|Greenwald, Glenn]] (December 2, 2010) [https://web.archive.org/web/20101203184232/http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/12/01/lieberman/index.html Joe Lieberman emulates Chinese dictators], ''[[Salon.com]]''</ref> Lieberman also suggested that "''[[The New York Times]]'' and other news organisations publishing the U.S. embassy cables being released by WikiLeaks could be investigated for breaking [[Espionage Act of 1917|US espionage laws]]."<ref>Owen, Paul; Adams, Richard; and McAskill, Ewen (December 7, 2010) [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/07/wikileaks-joe-lieberman-new-york-times-investigated WikiLeaks: US Senator Joe Lieberman suggests New York Times could be investigated] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620233457/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/07/wikileaks-joe-lieberman-new-york-times-investigated |date=June 20, 2012 }}, ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref>

 

 

{{blockquote|It leaves intact the current World War I–era Espionage Act provision, 18 U.S.C. 793(e), a law [with] many problems&nbsp;... and then takes a currently well-drawn law and expands its scope to the point that it covers a lot more than the most reckless of media excesses. A lot of good journalism would be a crime under this provision; after all, knowingly and willfully publishing material "concerning the human intelligence activities of the United States or any foreign government" is no small part of what a good newspaper does.<ref name=Wittes/>}}

 

On July 17, 2018, Lieberman published an opinion piece in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' imploring people to vote for [[Joe Crowley]], who was defeated in the Democratic primary by [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]]. Crowley would run on the [[Working Families Party]] line, without support of a major party, similar to how Lieberman defeated Lamont in 2006. Lieberman continued to remain critical of Ocasio-Cortez, stating that "With all respect, I certainly hope she's not the future, and I don't believe she is."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/424879-ocasio-cortez-responds-to-joe-liebermans-criticisms-new-party-who-dis/|title=Ocasio-Cortez responds to Joe Lieberman's criticisms: 'New party, who dis?'|first=Morgan|last=Gstalter|date=January 11, 2019|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=March 28, 2024|archive-date=October 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002203616/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/424879-ocasio-cortez-responds-to-joe-liebermans-criticisms-new-party-who-dis/|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2019 Lieberman officially registered as a lobbyist working for [[ZTE]] but stated that his work for the corporation will be limited to assess national security concerns and will not include actual lobbying.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/14/joe-lieberman-zte-to-lead-national-security-assessment-of-products.html|title=Joe Lieberman joins ZTE to lead national security assessment|last=Breuninger|first=Kevin|date=December 14, 2018|publisher=[[CNBC]]|access-date=January 4, 2019|archive-date=January 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130224147/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/14/joe-lieberman-zte-to-lead-national-security-assessment-of-products.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2022, Lieberman became one of the founding members of a group of U.S. business and policy leaders which shares the goal of engaging constructively with China and improving U.S.-China relations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 7, 2022 |title=We Want to Rebuild U.S. Relations With China – WSJ |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/we-want-to-rebuild-us-china-relations-trade-business-economic-growth-antony-blinken-foreign-policy-11657141306 |access-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707140754/https://www.wsj.com/articles/we-want-to-rebuild-us-china-relations-trade-business-economic-growth-antony-blinken-foreign-policy-11657141306 |url-status=bot: unknown |last1=Greenberg |first1=Maurice R.}}</ref>

 

==Personal life and death==

 

[[File:Senator Joe Lieberman and his wife Hadassah on their way to the Capitol in 2011.jpg|thumb|Senator Lieberman and his wife [[Hadassah Lieberman|Hadassah]] riding the [[United States Capitol subway system]] to the [[United States Capitol|U.S. Capitol]] in 2011]]

 

Joe and Hadassah Lieberman had a daughter, Hana. In 2018 she made [[Aliyah]] to Israel with her family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/249563|title=Joe Lieberman: Proud my daughter is making aliyah|date=July 26, 2018|access-date=March 28, 2024|archive-date=September 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929201531/https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/249563|url-status=live}}</ref> Lieberman also had a stepson from Hadassah's previous marriage with [[Gordon Tucker]], [[Ethan Tucker]]. Lieberman's son, Matt, graduated from [[Yale University]] and from [[Yale Law School]].<ref name="ajc-matt-edu">{{cite news |last1=Bluestein |first1=Greg |title=Matt Lieberman, son of former VP nominee, runs for Senate in Georgia |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/matt-lieberman-son-former-nominee-runs-for-senate-georgia/7N34hRub7lcxqc2lAjciQL/ |access-date=March 28, 2024 |work=Political Insider (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) |publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=October 3, 2019 |language=English |archive-date=October 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005023535/https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/matt-lieberman-son-former-nominee-runs-for-senate-georgia/7N34hRub7lcxqc2lAjciQL/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He is the former head of the school of [[Greenfield Hebrew Academy]] in [[Atlanta]].<ref name="ajt-matt-headmaster">{{cite news |last1=Ladinsky |first1=Kaylene |title=Lieberman Novel Embroiled in Racial Controversy |url=https://www.atlantajewishtimes.com/lieberman-novel-embroiled-in-racial-controversy/ |access-date=March 28, 2024 |work=Atlanta Jewish Times |date=August 10, 2020 |archive-date=March 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328004744/https://www.atlantajewishtimes.com/lieberman-novel-embroiled-in-racial-controversy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was an unsuccessful candidate in the [[2020 United States Senate special election in Georgia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Matt Lieberman |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Matt_Lieberman |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=January 4, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125161455/https://ballotpedia.org/Matt_Lieberman |url-status=live }}</ref> Rebecca, Lieberman's daughter, graduated from [[Barnard College]] in 1991, and from the [[University of Pennsylvania Law School]] in 1997.<ref name="observer-rebecca-lieberman">{{cite news |last1=Goldman |first1=Andrew |title=Joe Lieberman's Daughter Rebecca Is Campaigning for Board of Ed |url=https://observer.com/2000/09/joe-liebermans-daughter-rebecca-is-campaigning-for-board-of-ed/ |access-date=March 28, 2024 |work=Observer |publisher=Observer Media |date=September 11, 2000 |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625235115/https://observer.com/2000/09/joe-liebermans-daughter-rebecca-is-campaigning-for-board-of-ed/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lieberman's stepson Ethan graduated from [[Harvard College]] in 1997 and received his rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.<ref name="jfgnh-tucker">{{cite web |title=Elm City Kallah with Rabbi Ethan Tucker {{!}} Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven |url=https://www.jewishnewhaven.org/eventlist/elm-city-kallah-with-rabbi-ethan-tucker-2021rev2 |website=Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven |access-date=March 28, 2024 |archive-date=March 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328003723/https://www.jewishnewhaven.org/eventlist/elm-city-kallah-with-rabbi-ethan-tucker-2021rev2 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishledger.com/articles/2006/02/23/news/news08.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623101312/http://jewishledger.com/articles/2006/02/23/news/news08.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 23, 2009 |title=Jewish Geography |publisher=jewishledger.com |access-date=February 21, 2008 |last=Jacobson |first=Judie }}</ref>

[[File:Joe Lieberman Marty Markowitz BBF 2011 Shankbone.JPG|thumb|left|Lieberman with [[Marty Markowitz]] at the 2011 [[Brooklyn Book Festival]] to discuss the role spirituality played in his life]] Lieberman described himself as an "observant" Jew.<ref name="EDAH"/> His first wife, Betty Haas, is a [[Reform Jew]]. After the death of his grandmother, a deeply religious immigrant, in 1967, he found a renewed interest in religious observance. His second wife, Hadassah, is also an observant [[Modern Orthodox Jew]]. "Hadassah calls herself my right wing", said Lieberman.<ref name=GoJoe/> In Lieberman's 1988 upset of [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] incumbent Senator [[Lowell Weicker]], Lieberman's religious observance was mostly viewed in terms of refusal to campaign on the [[Shabbat|Jewish Sabbath]]. This changed when Al Gore chose Lieberman as the running mate; a Lieberman press officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "He refers to himself as observant, as opposed to Orthodox, because he doesn't follow the strict Orthodox code and doesn't want to offend the Orthodox, and his wife feels the same way."<ref name="query.nytimes.com" />

 

 

Lieberman was the first person of Jewish background or faith to run on a major party presidential ticket.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 20, 2004 |title=Joe Lieberman's Historic Run |url=https://forward.com/opinion/6358/joe-lieberman-s-historic-run/ |access-date=September 29, 2023 |website=The Forward |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327230827/https://forward.com/opinion/6358/joe-lieberman-s-historic-run/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lieberman said that he liked to sing and was a fan of [[Frank Sinatra]], whose song "[[My Way]]" was the theme of his first Senate campaign.<ref name=":0" /> He chanted the classic section of Proverbs "[[Proverbs 31|Eshet Hayil]]" to his wife every Friday night.<ref name=":0" />

{{s-aft

| after = [[Chris Murphy]]

}}

|-

| title = Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Senate Governmental Affairs Committee]]

| years = 2001–2003

}}

{{s-aft

[[Category:Candidates in the 2004 United States presidential election]]

[[Category:Centrism in the United States]]

[[Category:Connecticut Democrats]]

[[Category:Connecticut Independents]]