Paul G. Kirk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul G. Kirk
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| United States Senator from Massachusetts |
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| In office September 24, 2009 – February 4, 2010 |
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| Appointed by | Deval Patrick |
| Preceded by | Ted Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | Scott Brown |
| Chair of the Democratic National Committee | |
| In office February 2, 1985 – February 10, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Manatt |
| Succeeded by | Ron Brown |
| Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee | |
| In office June 29, 1983 – February 1, 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Curry |
| Succeeded by | Sharon Pratt |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Paul Grattan Kirk Jr.
January 18, 1938 Newton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Gail Loudermilk
(m. 1974) |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | William Henry O'Connell (great-uncle) Bill Cleary (brother-in-law) |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1960–1968 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | United States Army Reserve |
Paul Grattan Kirk Jr. (born January 18, 1938) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Senator for Massachusetts from 2009 to 2010. He was chosen to fill the spot after Senator Ted Kennedy passed away. From 1985 to 1989, he was the leader of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
Paul Kirk also helped lead the Commission on Presidential Debates. This group organizes debates for presidential candidates. He was also the chairman of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. This foundation supports the library dedicated to President Kennedy.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Paul Kirk was born in Newton, Massachusetts, on January 18, 1938. He was one of five children. His father, Paul G. Kirk Sr., was a judge on the highest court in Massachusetts. His family had Irish and English roots.
Paul Kirk went to The Roxbury Latin School and then St. Sebastian's School, graduating in 1956. He later studied at Harvard College, finishing in 1960. He then went to Harvard Law School and became a lawyer in 1964.
While in college, Kirk joined a program called the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. He became a second lieutenant in the Army in 1960. He served for six months and then stayed in the United States Army Reserve until 1968. He left the Army as a captain.
Political Career
Paul Kirk worked as a special assistant for Senator Ted Kennedy from 1969 to 1977. This was an important role helping the Senator. In 1983, he became the treasurer for the national Democratic Party. This meant he managed the party's money.
Leading the Democratic Party
In 1985, Paul Kirk was chosen to be the chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The DNC is the main organization for the Democratic Party. As chairman, he helped lead the party's efforts.
Under Kirk's leadership, the Democrats won back control of the Senate in the 1986 elections. The Republicans had controlled the Senate since 1980. Kirk stepped down as DNC chairman in 1989. This was after Republican George H. W. Bush won the 1988 presidential election. Ron Brown took over as DNC chairman after him.
During his time as DNC Chair, Paul Kirk helped create a plan to manage presidential debates. This made the debates more organized. In 2008, Paul Kirk supported Barack Obama for president.
Serving in the U.S. Senate
In August 2009, Senator Ted Kennedy passed away. This left an empty Senate seat for Massachusetts. Five years earlier, a law was passed in Massachusetts. This law said the governor could not appoint someone to fill a Senate spot right away. Instead, a special election had to be held months later. This law was made to stop the Republican governor at the time, Mitt Romney, from appointing a Republican.
However, Senator Kennedy's death meant Democrats in the U.S. Senate lost a key vote. They needed 60 votes to pass important laws, like health care reform. Many people wanted an interim senator to be appointed quickly. This would ensure Massachusetts had full representation until the special election. Senator Kennedy himself had asked for this change before he died.
In September 2009, the Massachusetts government changed the law again. This allowed the governor to appoint someone temporarily until the special election. Governor Deval Patrick announced that Paul Kirk would be appointed on September 24, 2009. Kirk promised he would not run in the special election. Scott Brown, a Republican, later won that election.
Paul Kirk was sworn into office as a U.S. Senator on September 25, 2009. On the same day, a judge dismissed a lawsuit that tried to stop his appointment. Kirk served until February 4, 2010, when Scott Brown took office.
Later Career
After his time in the Senate, Paul Kirk continued to be involved in politics. He supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries. Kirk has also written opinion articles for The Boston Globe newspaper.
Personal Life
In 1974, Paul Kirk married Gail Loudermilk. They live in Marstons Mills, Massachusetts.
Paul Kirk is the great-nephew of Cardinal William O'Connell. He is also the brother-in-law of Bill Cleary, a famous ice hockey player and coach.
See also
- List of Harvard University politicians
