Former Alaska Senator
Age 77
CAREER: Served in U.S. Army, 1951-54; served as special adjutant in the Communication Intelligence Services and as a Special Agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps. Later founded and served as president of The Democracy Foundation, Philadelphia II, and Direct Democracy, nonprofit corporations dedicated to the establishment of direct democracy in the United States through the enactment of the National Initiative for Democracy by American voters.
POLITICAL CAREER: Served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1963-66, and as Speaker from 1965-66. Senator from Alaska from 1969-81 (was unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1980). His official bio says he waged a successful one-man filibuster for five months that forced the Nixon administration to cut a deal, effectively ending the U.S. draft. He is also known for leaking the Pentagon Papers.
EDUCATION: Bachelor's in economics from Columbia University.
FAMILY: Wife, Whitney Stewart Gravel; two children; four grandchildren.
ISSUES:
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GAY MARRIAGE:
- Is only one of two Democrats who support it.
WEBSITE:
www.gravel2008.us
www.bioguide.congress.gov
