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Edmund Muskie

Edmund Muskie
MuskieEd.jpg
58th United States Secretary of State
In office
May 8, 1980 – January 20, 1981
President Jimmy Carter
Deputy Warren Christopher
Preceded by Cyrus Vance
Succeeded by Alexander Haig
Chair of the Senate Budget Committee
In office
January 3, 1975 – May 8, 1980
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Fritz Hollings
United States Senator
from Maine
In office
January 3, 1959 – May 7, 1980
Preceded by Frederick Payne
Succeeded by George Mitchell
64th Governor of Maine
In office
January 5, 1955 – January 2, 1959
Preceded by Burton Cross
Succeeded by Robert Haskell
Personal details
Born Edmund Sixtus Muskie
(1914-03-28)March 28, 1914
Rumford, Maine, U.S.
Died March 26, 1996(1996-03-26) (aged 81)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place Arlington National Cemetery
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Jane Gray (1948–1996)
Children 5
Alma mater Bates College
Cornell University
Religion Roman Catholicism
Signature
Military service
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Navy
Years of service 1942–1945
Rank US-O3 insignia.svg Lieutenant
Battles/wars World War II

Edmund Sixtus "Ed" Muskie (March 28, 1914 – March 26, 1996) was an American statesman, author, academic, and reformer, of Polish origin, who served as the 58th United States Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter. As head of the U.S. State Department, Muskie was influential in establishing diplomatic ties with foreign entities, developed numerous measures in U.S. foreign policy, and assisted Carter in the diplomatic resolution of the Iran hostage crisis, widely considered a pivotal episode in the history of Iran–United States relations. In the final days of the Carter presidency, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on January 16, 1981. He is widely considered one of the most influential politicians in the history of Maine.

A native of Rumford, Maine, Muskie graduated from Bates College in 1936, where he was a member of and eventually the President of the Brooks Quimby Debate Council, participated in several sports, and was elected to student government. He went on to earn a law degree from Cornell Law School in 1939. After a short stint practicing law, he served in the United States Navy during World War II and rose to the rank of lieutenant. After the conclusion of his service, he returned to private law practice in Waterville, Maine. While practicing law in Waterville, he helped grow the presence of the Democratic Party in a Republican Maine. He successfully began his political career as a member of the Maine House of Representatives before deciding to run for Governor of Maine. His political influence in Maine continued to grow as he was elected as Governor in 1955 and served until 1959. After concluding his time as Governor, he was elected to the United States Senate, and served from 1959 to 1980. Muskie was reelected in 1964, 1970 and 1976, each time with over 60 percent of the vote.


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