Lieberman died ” due to complications from a fall” his family announced Wednesday. He was 82 years old.
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Joe Lieberman, the first Jewish vice-presidential nominee of a major party whose conscience and independent streak later led him to a journey away from his home in the Democratic Party, has died at age 82, according to a statement from his family.
“He was accompanied by his beloved wife, Hadassah, and members of his family as he passed. Senator Lieberman’s love of God, his family and America endured throughout his life in the public interest,” the statement said.
Lieberman, a prominent Jewish politician who represented Connecticut, was Al Gore’s running mate on the Democratic ticket in 2000. A political maverick who eventually became an independent, he nearly joined former Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain as his running mate on the presidential ticket. Both were friends and both were defense hawks, advocating a muscular US posture abroad.
“His intense dedication to these values was evident even as a young man. In the 1960s when he was about to travel south to join the civil rights movement, he wrote: “I am going because there is much work to be done. I am an American. And it’s a race, or it’s nothing.” These are the words of a champion of civil rights and a true patriot, which is why I shared that quote when I announced Joe as my running mate.
“It was an honor to stand alongside him on the campaign trail. I will be forever grateful for his tireless efforts to build a better future for America,” Gore’s statement concluded.
Former President George W. Bush released a statement, calling Lieberman “one of the nicest people” he had ever met in Washington.
“Laura and I are saddened by the loss of Joe Lieberman. Joe was as good an American as they come and one of the most decent people I have met during my time in Washington,” her statement read. “As a Democrat, Joe was not afraid to engage with neighborhood senators and worked hard to win votes from outside his party. He engaged in serious and thoughtful debate with opposing voices on important issues. And in both defeat and victory, Joe Lieberman was always a gentleman. was. I am grateful for Joe Lieberman’s principled service to our country and the dignity and patriotism he brought to public life. Laura and I pray for Hadassah and the Lieberman family, as we pray that Joe’s example of decency guides our nation’s leaders now and into the future. does.”
Former President Barack Obama expressed his condolences in a statement on X.
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“Joe Lieberman and I haven’t always seen eye to eye, but he has had a remarkable career in public service, including four decades fighting for the people of Connecticut. He worked hard to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and our Affordable Care Act.” helped pass. The politics of both cases were difficult, but he stuck to his principles because he knew it was the right thing to do. Michelle and I offer our deepest condolences to the Hadassah and Lieberman families,” his statement read.
Connecticut lawmakers honored Lieberman after news of his death broke.
“Connecticut is shocked by the sudden passing of Senator Lieberman. In an era of political carbon copies, Joe Lieberman was a singularity. One of a kind. He fought and won for what he believed in and the state he loved. My thoughts are with Hadassah and the entire family,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“On the global and national level, he helped define and frame an era in history,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a statement. “He was a fierce advocate, a man of deep conscience and conviction, and a courageous leader who sought to bridge gaps and bring people together. He was devoted to family and faith and was the epitome of public service. He never stopped. The words of both friends and adversaries. Listening. He left a lasting legacy as a fighter for consumerism, environmental values, civil rights and other great causes of our time, and he worked tirelessly for Connecticut no matter how far or high he went.”
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, who defeated Lieberman in the 2006 Senate Democratic primary but then lost to him in the general election when Lieberman ran as an independent, said they had ideological differences but respected Lieberman as a “man of integrity and conviction” and that “we Staying in touch as friends in the best traditions of American democracy” after their run ended.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called the death of her longtime friend “devastatingly sad.”
