Patrick Leahy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrick Leahy
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Official portrait, c. 2021
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| United States Senator from Vermont |
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| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | George Aiken |
| Succeeded by | Peter Welch |
| President pro tempore of the United States Senate | |
| In office January 20, 2021 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Chuck Grassley |
| Succeeded by | Patty Murray |
| In office December 17, 2012 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Daniel Inouye |
| Succeeded by | Orrin Hatch |
| President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – January 20, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Ted Stevens (2009) |
| Succeeded by | Chuck Grassley |
| State's Attorney of Chittenden County | |
| In office May 10, 1966 – January 2, 1975 |
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| Preceded by | John Fitzpatrick |
| Succeeded by | Francis Murray |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 31, 1940 Montpelier, Vermont, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Marcelle Pomerleau
(m. 1962) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Lawrence Jackson (son-in-law) |
| Education | Saint Michael's College (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Patrick Joseph Leahy (born March 31, 1940) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as a U.S. Senator for the state of Vermont from 1975 to 2023. As a member of the Democratic Party, he was the first Democrat ever elected to the U.S. Senate from Vermont.
Leahy served in the Senate for 48 years, making him the third-longest-serving senator in U.S. history. During his time in office, he held several important leadership roles. He was the President pro tempore of the United States Senate, a position given to the most senior senator of the party in power. This role put him third in the line of presidential succession after the Vice President and the Speaker of the House.
One of his most famous achievements is the Leahy Law. This law stops the U.S. from giving money to foreign military groups that have been found to violate human rights. In 2023, the airport in Burlington, Vermont, was renamed the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport in his honor.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Patrick Leahy was born in Montpelier, Vermont. His mother's family was from Italy, and his father's family was from Ireland. Since birth, he has been legally blind in his left eye. His family ran a printing business and published a newspaper.
Leahy went to St. Michael's High School in Montpelier and graduated in 1957. He then attended Saint Michael's College, where he earned a degree in government in 1961. After college, he went to Georgetown University Law Center and received his law degree in 1964.
Early Career as a Lawyer
After law school, Leahy returned to Vermont and worked as a lawyer. In 1966, he was appointed as the State's Attorney for Chittenden County. This job is like a head prosecutor for the county. He was elected to this position twice, in 1966 and 1970.
As a prosecutor, he became known for his work on a case involving an undercover police officer who had lied in court. This led to several wrongful convictions being overturned. In 1974, the National Association of District Attorneys named him one of the top three prosecutors in the country.
A Long Career in the U.S. Senate
In 1974, Leahy decided to run for the U.S. Senate. He won the election and, at age 34, became the youngest senator in Vermont's history. He was also the first Democrat to be elected to the Senate from Vermont since 1856.
Leahy was reelected seven times, serving a total of eight terms. Over his long career, he became one of the most powerful and respected members of the Senate.
Important Roles and Legislation
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Leahy served as the chairman of several important Senate committees. These included the Agriculture Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Appropriations Committee. A committee is a group of senators who focus on specific topics, like farming or the justice system. The chairman is the leader of the committee.
As chairman of the Agriculture Committee, he worked on laws related to food safety and farming. He also helped create a law in 1992 to ban the export of landmines, which are dangerous hidden explosives.
As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Leahy played a key role in the process of confirming federal judges, including Supreme Court justices. He was also involved in creating laws related to technology and privacy, such as the Protect IP Act (PIPA), which aimed to stop online piracy.
Working for Human Rights
One of Leahy's most important contributions is the Leahy Law. This law, first passed in 1997, prevents the U.S. government from providing military aid to foreign security forces if there is credible evidence that they have committed major human rights violations. This law helps ensure that U.S. tax dollars are not used to support groups that harm innocent people.
Presiding Over an Impeachment Trial
In 2021, Leahy had the rare duty of presiding over the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. Because he was the president pro tempore of the Senate, he acted as the judge for the trial. He was the first senator in history to preside over the impeachment trial of a former president.
Political Views
Throughout his career, Leahy was known for his progressive political views. Here are some of his key positions:
- Civil Rights: He strongly supported civil rights, including affirmative action and rights for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
- Environment: He was a strong supporter of environmental protection and policies to fight climate change. He supported the development of clean energy sources like solar and wind power.
- Gun Control: Leahy supported some gun control measures, such as requiring background checks for all gun sales.
- Health Care: He believed in making health care more accessible to everyone and supported programs like Medicare. He was a co-sponsor of the Medicare for All Act.
- Internet Privacy: Leahy was a leading advocate for privacy online. He sponsored the Email Privacy Act to give emails better privacy protections.
Personal Life and Fun Facts
Leahy married Marcelle Pomerleau in 1962. They have three children. His wife is a registered nurse, and her family is from Quebec, Canada.
Leahy is a published photographer and a big fan of the Grateful Dead rock band. He is also a huge fan of comic books, especially the character Batman.
Batman Cameos
Leahy's love for Batman led to him making several cameo appearances in Batman movies and TV shows. A cameo is a brief appearance by a famous person.
- Batman: The Animated Series (1995): He was the voice of a governor in one episode.
- Batman & Robin (1997): He appeared as himself.
- The Dark Knight (2008): He played a board member of Wayne Enterprises who stands up to the Joker.
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012): He returned as the same board member.
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016): He played a senator.
He donated all the money he earned from his acting roles to charities, including the library in Vermont where he learned to read as a child.
Retirement
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In November 2021, Leahy announced that he would not run for a ninth term in the Senate. His final term ended in January 2023. He was the last remaining member of Congress who was first elected in the 1970s, a group often called the "Watergate Babies" because they were elected after the Watergate scandal.
After retiring, Leahy joined the University of Vermont as a distinguished fellow, where he advises students and faculty. The university also named its Honors College after him in 2023.
Images for kids
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2006 dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy small.jpg
A 2007 cartoon about the dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy.
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Leahy speaking at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
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Senator Leahy with Judge Merrick Garland in March 2016.
See also
In Spanish: Patrick Leahy (político) para niños
