George J. Mitchell

A Senator from Maine. Born in Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, August 20, 1933. Attended the public schools. Graduated, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, 1954. Graduated, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D. C. , 1960. Served in the United States Army Counter Intelligence Corps, Berlin, Germany, 1954-1956. Admitted to the District of Columbia and Maine bars in 1960 and commenced practice in Portland, Maine, 1965. Trial attorney, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. , 1960-1962. Executive assistant to Senator Edmund S. Muskie 1962-1965. Practiced law, Portland, 1965-1977. Assistant county attorney for Cumberland County, Maine, 1971. Unsuccessful candidate for governor of Maine in 1974. United States Attorney for Maine 1977-1979. United States District Judge for Maine 1979-1980. Appointed on May 17, 1980, as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Edmund S. Muskie for the term ending January 3, 1983. Sworn in May 19, 1980. Elected in 1982 and again in 1988 and served from May 17, 1980 to January 3, 1995. Not a candidate for reelection in 1994. Chairman, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (Ninety-ninth Congress). Co-chairman, Democratic Policy Committee, Democratic Conference (One Hundredth through One Hundred Third Congresses). Majority leader (1989-1995). Special Advisor to the President and the Secretary of State for Economic Initiatives in Ireland (1995-2000). Chairman, Sharm el-Sheikh International Fact-Finding Committee to examine crisis in Middle East (2000-2001). Engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D. C. (1995-). Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on March 17, 1999. Appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as Special Envoy for Middle East Peace (2009-2011).