I learned yesterday that Joe Lieberman passed away. I was sorry to hear. He was US Senator from Connecticut the entire time we lived in the Nutmeg State. There are many reasons why I admired him. There was also one very special reason.
While a member of the Armenian Church of the Holy Ascension, I took it on myself to our Senators and Congressmen to see if they would visit our church on a Sunday and speak to the parishioners during our coffee hours after church services. The first person I wrote was Christopher Shays who was our congressman. He was more than happy to do visit our church and it was a special Sunday for the Holy Ascension Community.
I decided, next, to reach out to Senator Lieberman’s office and see if he might come and visit our church some Sunday. My expectation was lower only because Senators have larger constituencies and are, presumably busier than representatives. I was impressed that I got a call from a fellow on Senator Lieberman’s staff in relatively short order. He informed me that the Senator would be happy to visit our parish if we were amenable to having his wife, Haddasah, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, address the congregation. Given that she would relate her familial experiences to that of Armenian Genocide survivors, it was a more than agreeable idea. We arranged a date and Senator and Mrs. Lieberman joined us for our coffee hour. They both addressed the congregation. They were warm and engaging. It was a very wonderful and memorable time for our church. Since then, I was a fan and follower of Senator Lieberman. The more I learned about him, the more I liked him.
Joseph Isadore Lieberman was born in Stamford, Connecticut on February 24, 1942, to a Jewish family of Polish and Austrian descent. He graduated from Yale University in 1964 and Yale Law School in 1967, after which he began his career in public service.
Lieberman's political journey began in the Connecticut State Senate, where he served from 1971 to 1981. He then became the Attorney General of Connecticut, holding the position from 1983 to 1989. In 1988, he made a successful bid for the United States Senate, becoming the first Orthodox Jew to be elected to the Senate.
As a Senator, Lieberman gained prominence for his centrist views and willingness to work across party lines. He was known for his positions on national security, advocating for a strong defense and a proactive foreign policy. He also played a key role in various legislative initiatives, including environmental protection, healthcare reform, and campaign finance reform. He was a fiscal conservative and social moderate to liberal.
In 2000, Lieberman was selected as the Democratic nominee for Vice President, running alongside Al Gore in the presidential election. Although they ultimately lost to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, Lieberman's candidacy marked a significant moment in American politics as the first Jewish candidate on a major party's presidential ticket.
Throughout his Senate career, Lieberman gained a reputation as a pragmatic and independent-minded politician. He occasionally broke ranks with his party on issues such as national security and social policy, earning both praise and criticism from different quarters.
Lieberman retired from the Senate in 2013 after serving for 24 years. Following his Senate tenure, he remained active in public life, working as a consultant, commentator, and advocate for various causes, including national security, healthcare, and religious freedom.
Joe Lieberman's legacy is marked by his dedication to public service, his efforts to bridge political divides, and his contributions to key policy debates during his time in office. In the current political climate and polarization in this country, we certainly could use more representatives and Senators with the sense, centrist views, and leadership qualities of Joe Lieberman.
Besides his wonderful service to our county, I will never forget his visit to our church.
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