By SUSAN HAIGH (Associated Press)
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Joe Lieberman, a former U.S. Senator from Connecticut, died in New York City due to complications from a fall, according to a statement from his family. He was almost elected as Vice President on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in the controversial 2000 election and was also close to being chosen as Republican John McCain’s running mate eight years later.
Lieberman died in New York City on Wednesday as a result of a fall, the statement confirmed. He was 82 years old.
The politician, who switched from being a Democrat to an independent, was not afraid to diverge from the party's policies.
Lieberman’s independent approach, including his criticism of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential race, irked many Democrats, despite his support for issues such as gay rights, civil rights, abortion rights, and environmental causes at various times, which earned him praise from numerous liberals over the years.
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, described Lieberman as a unique and principled figure, stating, “In an era of political carbon copies, Joe Lieberman was a singularity. One of one. He fought for what he believed was right and for the state he adored.”
In recent years, Lieberman was involved with No Labels, a centrist third-party movement, and had been a proponent of offering unnamed candidates for president and vice president. Some Democratic-aligned groups opposed this movement, fearing it might assist presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in winning the presidency.
The No Labels group expressed deep sorrow at Lieberman’s sudden passing, describing him as a unique figure in American politics who always prioritized his country over party affiliation.
Lieberman came very close to winning the vice presidency in the fiercely contested 2000 presidential race, which was ultimately decided by a 537-vote margin victory for George W. Bush in Florida after a prolonged recount, legal challenges, and a Supreme Court decision. He was the first Jewish candidate on a major party’s presidential ticket and would have been the first Jewish Vice President.
In a statement on Wednesday night, Al Gore expressed profound sadness at the loss of his former running mate. He described Lieberman as a truly gifted leader with a strong and affable personality, noting that his commitment to equality and fairness began at a young age, as Lieberman had traveled to the South to join the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
“It was an honor to stand side-by-side with him on the campaign trail,” Gore said.
Lieberman pursued the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 but withdrew after performing poorly in the early primaries. Four years later, as an independent, he was very close to being selected as McCain’s running mate. He and McCain were close friends who shared hawkish views on military and national security issues.
McCain was heavily leaning towards choosing Lieberman for the ticket as the 2008 GOP convention approached, but at the last minute, he opted for Sarah Palin due to intense backlash from conservatives over Lieberman’s liberal record, according to Steve Schmidt, who managed McCain’s campaign.
Lieberman caused controversy in 1998 by scolding President Bill Clinton, his long-time friend, for “disgraceful behavior” in a fiery speech on the Senate floor during the peak of the scandal over his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. However, Lieberman later voted against Clinton's impeachment.
Even though he had a difficult relationship with Democrats, Lieberman justified his party switches as a matter of conscience, stating that he always had the best interests of Connecticut voters in mind. Critics accused him of pursuing narrow self-interest and political expediency.
When announcing his retirement from the Senate in 2013, Lieberman admitted that he did “not always fit comfortably into conventional political boxes” and felt his primary responsibility was to serve his constituents, state and country, not his political party.
During his final Senate speech, Lieberman urged Congress to look past party lines and partisan hostility to break Washington gridlock.
“It requires reaching across the aisle and finding partners from the opposite party,” said Lieberman. “That is what is desperately needed in Washington now.”
Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, who served as Senate Democratic leader, once said that while he didn’t always agree with the independent-minded Lieberman, he respected him.
“Regardless of our differences, I have never doubted Joe Lieberman’s principles or his patriotism,” Reid said. “And I respect his independent streak, as it stems from strong convictions.”
Privately, some Democrats were often less charitable about Lieberman’s forays across party lines, which they saw as disloyal. He bolted his party and turned independent after a 2006 Senate primary loss in Connecticut.
Lieberman’s strong support of the Iraq War had hurt his statewide popularity. Democrats rejected Lieberman and handed the 2006 primary to a political newcomer and an antiwar candidate, Ned Lamont, who is now serving a second term as Connecticut governor. Citing his Senate experience, congressional clout and support for the state’s defense industry, Lieberman went on to win reelection to a fourth term as an independent.
Many of his Democratic allies and long-time friends, including former Sen. Chris Dodd, had supported Lamont in that election. Lieberman was frank about feeling betrayed by old pals like Dodd, but the two men later reconciled.
In a statement issued Wednesday expressing condolences, Lamont said he and Lieberman eventually became friends after their grueling and contentious race.
“While the senator and I had our political differences, he was a man of integrity and conviction, so our debate about the Iraq War was serious,” Lamont said in a statement. “I believe we agreed to disagree from a position of principle.”
“When the race was over, we stayed in touch as friends in the best traditions of American democracy. He will be missed,” he added.
After his rebound reelection in 2006, Lieberman decided to caucus with Democrats in the Senate, who let him head a committee in return because they needed his vote to help keep control of the closely divided chamber. But it wasn’t long until Lieberman was showing his independent streak and ruffling his Democratic caucus colleagues.
He was a strong supporter of McCain in the 2008 presidential race, and his speech at the 2008 GOP presidential nominating convention criticizing Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, resonated deeply.
Lieberman portrayed Obama as a political figurehead, a lightweight with a limited track record of achievements in the Senate despite his compelling speaking skills.
“In the Senate, during the 3 1/2 years that Sen. Obama has been a member, he has not reached across party lines to … achieve anything significant, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party to get something done,” Lieberman said at the convention.
“Eloquence is no substitute for a record,” he said.
Lieberman actively campaigned nationwide for McCain. Many Democrats viewed it as a betrayal of Obama and his former party colleagues.
“Joe Lieberman has said things that are totally irresponsible when it comes to Barack Obama,” House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California said in a radio interview during the 2008 race. In a message posted Wednesday on X, Pelosi called Lieberman a “leader of integrity and patriotism” while acknowledging they often disagreed on politics.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Lieberman’s death was “devastatingly sad” and speculated that McCain, who died in 2018, was “giving him an earful about how screwed up things are.”
After the election, there was speculation Senate Democrats might strip Lieberman of his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as payback. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chair of the Judiciary Committee, was among those who said Lieberman should lose his chairmanship. Leahy branded Lieberman’s attacks on Obama as “beyond the pale.”
But at Obama’s urging, Senate Democrats decided not to punish Lieberman for supporting McCain and the GOP ticket. Obama was eager to strike a bipartisan tone for his presidency and giving Lieberman a pass helped reinforce that message. On Wednesday, Obama acknowledged they “didn’t always see eye-to-eye,” but noted Lieberman had an “extraordinary career in public service.”
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent and staunch liberal, called Lieberman’s convention comments a “slap in the face” for millions of Americans who backed Obama.
Connecticut Democrats considered censuring Lieberman. Longtime friend Nick Balletto, former chairman of the state party, acknowledged many were unhappy with Lieberman and noted that the discontent overshadowed everything he had done for the state. Before the U.S. Senate, Lieberman served in the state Senate and as Connecticut Attorney General.
“He was the most genuine, honest, straightforward politician you’d probably ever meet. What you saw is what you got,” said Balletto. “His issues were the issues of the people. … He didn’t move because it was where the wind wanted to be today. He stayed strong in what he believed in his heart and his mind.”
Lieberman was known in the Senate for his hawkish foreign policy views, his pro-defense bent and his strong support for environmental causes.
Five weeks after the September 11, 2001, attacks, he was one of the first politicians to call for the removal of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and later voted in support of the military invasion of Iraq. His strong backing for the war would later hurt his chances in the 2006 Connecticut Democratic primary.
Lieberman tended to side with Democrats on most issues and was a long-time advocate of abortion rights, a position that would have caused issues with conservatives if McCain had picked him as his running mate in 2008.
He played an important part in the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.
Lieberman was raised in Stamford, Connecticut, where his father managed a liquor store. Lieberman graduated from Yale University and Yale Law School in New Haven. As Connecticut’s attorney general from 1983 to 1988, he was a strong supporter of consumers and the environment. Lieberman entered the Senate by defeating moderate Republican incumbent Lowell Weicker in 1988.
After leaving the Senate in 2013, Lieberman joined a law firm in New York City. His funeral will take place Friday at Congregation Agudath Sholom in his hometown of Stamford. An additional memorial service will be announced at a later date.
Lieberman and his wife, Hadassah, have four children.
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