Chris Dodd facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Dodd
CEO of the Motion Picture Association
In office March 17, 2011 – September 5, 2017
Preceded by	Dan Glickman
Succeeded by	Charles Rivkin
United States Senator from Connecticut
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Abraham Ribicoff
Succeeded by	Richard Blumenthal
Senate positions Chair of the Senate Banking Committee In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 Preceded by Richard Shelby Succeeded by Tim Johnson Chair of the Senate Health Committee Acting June 9, 2009 – September 9, 2009 Preceded by Ted Kennedy Succeeded by Tom Harkin Chair of the Senate Rules Committee In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 Preceded by Mitch McConnell Succeeded by Trent Lott In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001 Preceded by Mitch McConnell Succeeded by Mitch McConnell
General Chair of the Democratic National Committee
In office January 21, 1995 – January 21, 1997 Serving with Donald Fowler (National Chair)
Preceded by	Debra DeLee (Chair)
Succeeded by	Roy Romer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Robert Steele
Succeeded by	Sam Gejdenson
Personal details
Born	Christopher John Dodd (1944-05-27) May 27, 1944 (age 81) Willimantic, Connecticut, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Susan Mooney ​ ​ (m. 1970; div. 1982)​ Jackie Clegg ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	2
Relatives	Thomas J. Dodd (father) Thomas J. Dodd Jr. (brother) Helena Foulkes (niece)
Education	Providence College (BA) University of Louisville (JD)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1969–1975
Unit	United States Army Reserve

Christopher John Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an American lobbyist, lawyer, and Democratic Party politician. He served as a United States senator for Connecticut from 1981 to 2011. He is the longest-serving senator in Connecticut's history. Before becoming a senator, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1981.

Chris Dodd grew up in Connecticut and went to Providence College. His father, Thomas J. Dodd, was also a U.S. Senator. Chris Dodd spent two years in the Peace Corps before going to law school. He also served in the United States Army Reserve.

After law school, Dodd returned to Connecticut. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974. He then won a seat in the United States Senate in 1980. From 1995 to 1997, he was the general chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He also led the Senate Banking Committee from 2007 until he retired.

In 2006, Dodd ran for President of the United States but later stopped his campaign. In 2010, he announced he would not run for re-election to the Senate. After leaving the Senate, he became the chairman and chief lobbyist for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) from 2011 to 2017. In 2018, he started working as a lawyer again. He has also been an advisor to President Joe Biden.

Early Life and Education

Chris Dodd was born in Willimantic, Connecticut. His parents were Grace Mary Dodd and U.S. Senator Thomas Joseph Dodd. All of his great-grandparents were from Ireland. He is one of six children. His older brother, Thomas J. Dodd Jr., was a U.S. ambassador.

Dodd went to Georgetown Preparatory School in Maryland. He earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Providence College in 1966. From 1966 to 1968, he was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic. There, he learned to speak Spanish very well. He received his law degree from the University of Louisville in 1972. He also served in the United States Army Reserve until 1975.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (1975–1981)

Chris Dodd was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974. He represented Connecticut's 2nd congressional district. He was reelected twice and served from 1975 to 1981. During his time in the House, he was part of a special committee that investigated assassinations.

Serving in the U.S. Senate (1981–2011)

Senate Elections

Dodd was first elected to the United States Senate in 1980. He was reelected four more times in 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2004. He is the first senator from Connecticut to serve five terms in a row.

In January 2010, Dodd announced he would not run for re-election. This decision came after polls showed he might have a tough time winning. Many voters felt it was time for a change.

Key Work in the Senate

When Republicans gained control of Congress in 1994, Dodd became part of the minority party in the Senate. He tried to become the Senate Minority Leader but lost by one vote.

From 1995 to 1997, he was the General Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. In this role, he was the main spokesperson for the Democratic Party.

Dodd has always cared about issues affecting children and families. He started the first Senate Children's Caucus. He also wrote the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This law allows employees to take unpaid time off for family or medical reasons, like having a baby or caring for a sick family member. Millions of people have used this law. He has also worked to make sure people can get paid family and medical leave. In 1990, he was named "Senator of the Decade" by the National Head Start association for his work.

Dodd considered running for president in 2004 but decided not to. He was also thought of as a possible running mate for John Kerry.

Committee Roles

During his time in the Senate, Chris Dodd served on several important committees:

• Committee on Foreign Relations
• Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (He was the chairman of this committee.)
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
• Committee on Rules and Administration

2008 Presidential Campaign

On January 11, 2007, Chris Dodd announced he would run for President of the United States. He made a formal announcement in Hartford, Connecticut.

Dodd speaking during his presidential campaign in January 2007.

Dodd's campaign received a lot of funding from the financial services industry. This industry is regulated by committees he led in the Senate. He even shared a campaign plane with his friend and fellow Senator Joe Biden to save money.

Despite his efforts, Dodd did not gain much support in polls. He dropped out of the race on January 3, 2008, after the Iowa caucuses. He finished in seventh place. He later supported Barack Obama for president.

After the Senate

Motion Picture Association of America

In February 2011, Chris Dodd became the chairman and chief lobbyist for the MPAA. This group represents major movie studios.

In 2012, Dodd spoke out against websites that protested anti-piracy laws. He said it was "irresponsible" for them to "skew the facts" to get users to support their corporate interests. He also suggested that politicians who did not support these laws might lose campaign donations from the MPAA.

Dodd left his role at the MPAA on September 4, 2017.

Law Practice

After leaving the MPAA, Dodd joined the law firm Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C.

Work with President Joe Biden

During the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Dodd was an advisor to his friend Joe Biden's campaign. He was also part of the committee that helped Biden choose his running mate.

Chris Dodd with President Joe Biden in 2021.

In March 2021, a company called Teneo hired Dodd as a senior advisor. Teneo also bought a part of WestExec Advisors, a consulting firm with close ties to the Biden administration.

Political Views

Dodd giving a speech at Naval Submarine Base New London in July 1985.

Dodd supported changing the Family and Medical Leave Act to include paid leave. He also supported a tax on carbon to help fight global warming.

He helped create the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act of 2009. This law was signed by President Barack Obama in 2009. It made rules for credit card companies. For example, it requires them to give 45 days' notice before raising interest rates. It also stops them from raising rates on existing balances without a good reason. The law also made it harder for people under 21 to get a credit card without showing income or having a co-signer.

In 2009, Dodd announced his support for same-sex marriage. He said his views had changed over time. Same-sex marriage became legal in Connecticut in November 2008.

Personal Life

Chris Dodd married Susan Mooney in 1970, and they divorced in 1982. He later dated famous people like Bianca Jagger and Carrie Fisher.

In 1999, Dodd married Jackie Marie Clegg. She was an aide to a Republican senator. They have two daughters, Grace (born 2001) and Christina (born 2005).

Dodd was raised Catholic and attends Mass. He has said his Catholic faith taught him to "promote the common good" and help those who are most vulnerable. His daughters were baptized in the Catholic tradition and blessed in the Mormon tradition.

He had a small role as himself in the 1993 movie Dave.

In July 2009, Dodd announced he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had successful surgery in New York.

Awards and Honors

In 2008, Dodd received the Washington Office on Latin America's Human Rights Award.

In 2014, he received The Media Institute's Freedom of Speech Award.

In 2016, he received the Brass Ring Award for his work helping children.

In 2025, Dodd received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Joe Biden. This is the second highest award for civilians.

See also

In Spanish: Chris Dodd para niños

• Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act