MIKE GRAVEL- PROVEN LEADER FOR AMERICA

Maurice Robert “Mike” Gravel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on May 13, 1930. Gravel studied for one year at American International College in Springfield before joining the army in 1951. He served in West Germany as an intelligence and counter-intelligence specialist until he left the service in 1954. He received a degree in economics from Columbia University in 1956. That same year he moved to Alaska and worked in real estate and railroads. In 1959 he married Rita Jeanette Martin and together they have two children. Gravel is a Unitarian.

From 1963-66 Gravel served in the Alaskan state legislature, holding the post of Speaker of the House during the last two years. In 1968 he was elected to the US Senate where he served on the Environment and Public Works Committee, Finance Committee, and the Interior Committee, among others. Gravel spoke out about the potential dangers of nuclear power, and helped bring Daniel Ellsberg’s Pentagon Papers to light. He opposed renewing the military draft during Vietnam and supported normalized relations with the People’s Republic of China. Gravel served in the Senate until 1981. After the Senate he again worked in real estate and remained politically active.

Gravel believes drug abuse should be treated as a medical, not a criminal matter, and should be legislated as such. He has supported the idea of a guest worker program for immigrants. He is pro-choice and supports massive tax reform.

Gravel’s years of experience and no-nonsense political ideals make him a wonderful option for the Democratic Party in 2008.