Mike Gravel

Mike Gravel
United States Senate · Public domain · source
Name	Mike Gravel
Caption	Gravel in 1971
Office	United States Senator from Alaska
Term start	January 3, 1969
Term end	January 3, 1981
Predecessor	Ernest Gruening
Successor	Frank Murkowski
Office2	3rd Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives
Term start2	1965
Term end2	1966
Predecessor2	Bruce Kendall
Successor2	William K. Boardman
Birth name	Maurice Robert Gravel
Birth date	13 May 1930
Birth place	Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Death date	26 June 2021
Death place	Seaside, California, U.S.
Party	Democratic (before 2008, 2010–2021)
Otherparty	Libertarian (2008), Green (2020)
Spouse	Rita Martin (m. 1959; div. 1970), Whitney Stewart (m. 1976; div. 2014)
Education	Assumption College, Columbia University (BA)
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1951–1954
Unit	Counterintelligence Corps, Communications Security Establishment

Mike Gravel was an American politician and author who served as a United States Senator from Alaska from 1969 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he was notable for his anti-war stance, famously reading the Pentagon Papers into the public record, and for his later advocacy of direct democracy through initiatives like the National Initiative. His political career was marked by a maverick spirit, which extended into his long-shot presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2020.

Early life and education

Maurice Robert Gravel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, to French-Canadian immigrant parents. After graduating from Assumption College, he moved to New York City and earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Columbia University in 1956. During the Korean War, he served in the United States Army as a member of the Counterintelligence Corps and also worked with the Communications Security Establishment.

Early political career

After moving to Alaska in the late 1950s, Gravel entered politics, winning a seat in the Alaska House of Representatives in 1962. He rose to become the Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives in 1965, a position he held for one term. His early career was focused on state issues, including economic development following the 1964 Alaska earthquake and the nascent oil industry, setting the stage for his federal ambitions.

U.S. Senate career

Elected to the United States Senate in 1968, defeating incumbent Ernest Gruening in the Democratic primary, Gravel quickly established himself as a vocal critic of the Vietnam War. His most famous act was in 1971, when he staged a one-man filibuster to read portions of the Pentagon Papers into the public record of a subcommittee he chaired, an act challenged but ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in Gravel v. United States. He was also a principal sponsor of legislation that ultimately created the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.

2008 and 2020 presidential campaigns

Gravel sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, running on an anti-establishment platform that emphasized ending the Iraq War and promoting direct democracy. After poor showings, he briefly sought the nomination of the Libertarian Party before withdrawing. He re-emerged in the 2020 election cycle, using unconventional online tactics and participation in debates hosted by CNN and The Young Turks to promote similar themes, though he failed to gain significant traction.

Political positions and legacy

Gravel was a staunch advocate for a non-interventionist foreign policy, nuclear disarmament, and the adoption of a National Initiative to allow citizens to enact federal laws directly. His political evolution saw him embrace elements of libertarian socialism and align with progressive movements, influencing figures like Tulsi Gabbard and Dennis Kucinich. His legacy is largely defined by his early and principled opposition to the Vietnam War and his lifelong challenge to concentrated political power.

Personal life and death

Gvel was married twice, first to Rita Martin and later to Whitney Stewart, with whom he had two children. In his later years, he lived in Seaside, California, and remained active in political discourse through writing and media appearances. He died at his home on June 26, 2021, from multiple myeloma. His papers are archived at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Category:Mike Gravel Category:1930 births Category:2021 deaths Category:United States Senators from Alaska