Christopher Dodd

Christopher John Dodd
Senior Senator from Connecticut
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 5, 1981 Serving with Joe Lieberman
Preceded by	Abraham A. Ribicoff
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Robert H. Steele
Succeeded by	Sam Gejdenson
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
In office January 3 – January 20, 2001
Preceded by	Mitch McConnell
Succeeded by	Mitch McConnell
In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Mitch McConnell
Succeeded by	Trent Lott
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 4, 2007
Preceded by	Richard Shelby
Born	May 27, 1944 (1944-05-27) (age 65) Willimantic, Connecticut
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Jackie Marie Clegg
Children	Grace Dodd Christina Dodd
Residence	East Haddam, Connecticut
Alma mater	Providence College University of Louisville
Occupation	attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic
Website	Chris Dodd

Christopher John Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician, who is currently serving as the senior U.S. Senator from Connecticut.

Dodd served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut from 1975 until 1981, when he became a Senator. He served as general chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1995 to 1997. He is now the state's senior Senator. He currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.^[1]

Currently Dodd is the longest-serving Senator in Connecticut's history, the 14th most senior of current Senators and one of three from the 1980 freshman class who are still serving (the others are Republicans Arlen Specter and Chuck Grassley).^[2]

Early life and education

Dodd was born in Willimantic, Connecticut. His parents were Grace Mary Dodd (née Murphy) and U.S. Senator Thomas Joseph Dodd; all eight of his great-grandparents were born in Ireland.^[3] Dodd is a Roman Catholic. He is the fifth of six children;^[4] his eldest brother, Thomas J. Dodd Jr., is a professor emeritus 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.

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. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in a small rural town in the Dominican Republic from 1966 to 1968. While there, he became fluent in Spanish.^[5] Dodd then joined the United States Army Reserve, serving until 1975.

In 1972, Dodd earned a Juris Doctor at the University of Louisville, where he served as vice magistrate 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, Dodd married Susan Mooney; they divorced in October 1982. Afterwards, he dated at different times Bianca Jagger and Carrie Fisher, among others.^[6] 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 has two daughters, Grace (born September 2001) and Christina Dodd (born May 2005). Dodd is also the godfather of singer/actress Christy Carlson Romano, who once interned in his office.

Dodd lives in East Haddam, Connecticut when Congress is not in session. He also owns a vacation home in Connemara, Ireland.

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."^[7] Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 2nd congressional district and reelected twice, he served from January 4, 1975 to January 3, 1981. During his tenure in the House, he served on the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations.

U.S. Senator

Senator Dodd giving a speech at Naval Submarine Base New London, July 1985.

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 has also involved himself in children’s and family issues, founding the first Senate Children’s Caucus^[8] and authoring the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA),^[9] which guarantees employees unpaid leave in the event of illness, a sick family member, or the birth or adoption of a child. To date, more than 50 million employees have taken advantage of FMLA protections. He is currently working to support a bill that would provide paid family and medical leave. For his work on behalf of children and families, the National Head Start association named him “Senator of the Decade” in 1990.^[9]

The Center for Public Integrity has criticized Dodd for "being the leading advocate in the Senate on behalf of the accounting industry."^[10][11] Political consultant and commentator Dick Morris wrote that Dodd had received more from accounting firm Arthur Andersen than any other Democrat and bore responsibility for trying to shield accounting firms from investor fraud liability in cases such as the Enron scandal.^[12]

During the 1994 elections, the Republicans won the majority in both houses of Congress. Dodd therefore entered the minority for the second time in his Senate career. He ran for the now vacant position of Senate Minority Leader, but was defeated by South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle by one vote. The vote was tied 23-23, and it was Colorado Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell who cast the deciding vote by absentee ballot in favor of Daschle. Shortly after that, Campbell switched parties and became a Republican.

Dodd briefly considered running for President in 2004, but ultimately decided against such a campaign and endorsed fellow U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman. He then was considered as a likely running mate for his friend, eventual Democratic nominee John Kerry. He was also considered a possible candidate for replacing Tom Daschle as Senate Minority Leader in the 109th Congress, but he declined, and that position was instead filled by Harry Reid.

Dodd announced in a letter to the Federal Election Commission that he was no longer a candidate for the Senate in 2010.^[13]

A 2008 poll of Connecticut voters suggested Dodd would have difficulty winning re-election in 2010, with 46% viewing his job performance as fair or poor.

2008 Presidential campaign

Main article: Christopher Dodd presidential campaign, 2008

Dodd speaking on the campaign trail, January 2007.

On January 11, 2007, Dodd announced his candidacy for the office of President of the United States on the Imus in the Morning show. On January 19, 2007, Dodd made a formal announcement with supporters at the Old State House in Hartford.

The watchdog group opensecrets.org pointed out that the Dodd campaign was heavily funded by the financial services industry, which is regulated by committees Dodd chairs in the Senate.^[14][15]

In May, he trailed in state and national polls and acknowledged he wasn't keeping pace with rival campaigns' fund raising. However, he said that as more voters became aware of his opposition to the Iraq War, they would support his campaign.^[16] However, his prospects did not improve; a November 7, 2007 Gallup poll placed him at 1%.^[17] Dodd dropped out of the primary race on the night of the January 3, 2008 Iowa caucuses after placing seventh with almost all precincts reporting.^[2]

Among eight major candidates for the nomination Dodd, even with later states where he was on the ballot after withdrawal, won last place by popular vote in primary (after Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich, Joe Biden and Mike Gravel, also including uncommitted delegates and scattering votes).^[18] He won a total of 25,252 votes in delegates primaries and 9,940 in penalized contests.

Dodd had said he is not interested in running for Vice President or Senate Majority Leader.^[19] Dodd endorsed former rival Barack Obama on February 26, 2008.^[20]

Countrywide Financial loan controversy

Further information: Countrywide financial political loan scandal

As Dodd in his role as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee proposed a housing bailout to the Senate floor in June 2008 that would assist troubled subprime mortgage lenders such as Countrywide Financial in the wake of the United States housing bubble's collapse,^[21] Condé Nast Portfolio reported that in 2003 Dodd had refinanced the mortgages on his homes in Washington, D.C. and Connecticut through Countrywide Financial and had received favorable terms due to being placed in a "Friends of Angelo" program. Dodd received mortgages from Countrywide at allegedly below-market rates on his Washington, D.C. and Connecticut homes.^[21] Dodd has not disclosed the below-market mortgages in any of six financial disclosure statements he filed with the Senate or Office of Government Ethics since obtaining the mortgages in 2003.^[22]

Dodd's press secretary said the "Dodds received a competitive rate on their loans", and that they "did not seek or anticipate any special treatment, and they were not aware of any", then declined further comment.^[23] Republican State Chairman Chris Healy stated that "Dodd has crossed the ethics line by obtaining two generous mortgage deals with a company that is the corporate poster-child for the national subprime lending meltdown."^[24] The Hartford Courant reported Dodd had taken "a major credibility hit" from the scandal.^[25] The Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee Kent Conrad and the head of Fannie Mae Jim Johnson received mortgages on favorable terms due to their association with Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo.^[26] The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and two Connecticut papers have demanded further disclosure from Dodd regarding the Mozilo loans.^{[27][28][29][30]}

On June 17, 2008, Dodd met twice with reporters and gave accounts of his mortgages with Countrywide. He admitted to reporters in Washington, D.C. that he knew as of 2003 that he was in a VIP program, but claimed it was due to being a good customer, not due to his political position. He omitted this detail in a press availability to Connecticut media.^[31]

The top recipient of insurance industry contributions was Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT).^[32] The leading contributor from the insurance industry — as measured by total political contributions — was AFLAC, Inc., which contributed $907,150 in 2007.^[33]

Countrywide has also contributed a total of $21,000 to Dodd’s campaigns since 1997. Dodd has received approximately $70,000 in campaign contributions from Bank of America, which is buying Countrywide, in the last year-and-a-half before the Countrywide Financial loan scandal broke.^[34] Only Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have received more money from Bank of America than Dodd with Senator John McCain slightly trailing him at $64,000. ^[34] However, no American politician has received more contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac than Dodd's combined $133,900.^[35]

On June 20, 2008, the Heritage Foundation alleged staffers from Bank of America had drafted Dodd's housing bailout bill (FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act of 2008) in March 2008, before it was introduced in the Senate.^[36] The Los Angeles Times also reported on this story on June 21.^[37]

On June 19, Dodd told the Danbury News-Times "I don't believe I did anything wrong."^[38] The state's leading newspaper, The Hartford Courant however concluded Dodd was negligent in accepting the Countrywide mortgage and suggested it was time "Dodd got off his high horse, came clean and admit he screwed up."^[39] A New York Times editorial the same day accused Dodd and fellow Senator Kent Conrad of being painfully out of touch regarding the "Friends of Angelo" loans.^[40] Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has called for House and Senate to investigate Senators Dodd and Conrad.^[41]

In a Connecticut public appearance in October 2008, Dodd again refused to release his Countrywide loan documents^[42] and suggested the press was inappropriately placing blame for the mortgage crisis. An October 21, 2008 editorial in the New York Times sharply criticised Dodd's failure to produce his loan documents, stating "his excuses are wearing ridiculously thin."^[43]

An October 2008 poll taken by UCONN confirmed the Countrywide controversy had seriously damaged Dodd's image in Connecticut, as 42% of voters approved of his job performance, while 48% disapproved.^[44]

Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac controversies

Senator Dodd was involved in issues related to the federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis.

As part of Dodd's overall mortgage bill the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 before Congress in the summer of 2008, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson sought provisions enabling the Treasury to add additional capital and regulatory oversight over these government sponsored enterprises. These provisions were part of the bill signed by President George W. Bush. At the time, it was estimated that the federal government would need to spend $25 billion on a bailout of the firms.^[45]

During this period, Dodd denied rumors these firms were in financial crisis. He called the firms "fundamentally strong",^[46] said they were in "sound situation" and "in good shape" and to "suggest they are in major trouble is not accurate".^[47]

In early September, after the firms continued to report huge losses,^[48] Secretary Paulson announced a federal takeover of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Dodd expressed skepticism of the action, which the Treasury estimated could cost as much as $200 Billion. See federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Dodd is the number one recipient in Congress of campaign funds from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.^[49] Critics also charge that Dodd ignored repeated warnings that the two firms were in need of major reform.

Political positions

Main article: Political positions of Christopher Dodd

Dodd favors a one-year troop withdrawal timetable to end the Iraq War^[50] and is against warrantless surveillance.^[51] Dodd has supported amending the Family Medical Leave Act to include paid leave,^[52] restoring the rule of law to the U.S. immigration system,^[53] and a corporate carbon tax to combat global warming.^[54]

While Dodd has blamed President Bush for the subprime mortgage crisis, efforts to address this issue in 2007 were delayed. While House Banking Committee chairman Barney Frank worked towards legislation, Dodd spent the fall on the presidential campaign trail.^[55] Following the failure of his presidential bid, Dodd proposed that the federal government buy up to $400 billion in defaulted mortgages. He denied that this was a taxpayer funded bailout of the mortgage business.^[56]

Committee Assignments

• United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
  • Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Near East and South and Central Asian Affairs
  • Subcommittee on European Affairs
• United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (Chairman)
  • As Chairman of the committee, Dodd is an ex officio member of all subcommittees.
  • Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance
• United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
  • Subcommittee on Children and Families (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
• United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
• Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
• United States Congress Joint Committee on the Library

Electoral history

Main article: Electoral history of Christopher Dodd

References

External links

• Senator Chris Dodd official U.S. Senate website
• Chris Dodd official campaign website
• Christopher Dodd at the Open Directory Project

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
• Congressional profile at GovTrack.us

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