Dodd, Christopher J. (Christopher John), 1944-

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Christopher John Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an American lobbyist, lawyer, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Connecticut's 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1975 to 1981 and as U.S. Senator from Connecticut from 1981 to 2011. Dodd is the longest-serving senator in Connecticut's history.

Born in Willimantic, Connecticut, he graduated from Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, Maryland, and Providence College before serving in the Peace Corps for two years prior to entering the University of Louisville School of Law; during law school, he concurrently served in the United States Army Reserve. Dodd returned to Connecticut, winning election in 1974 to the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 2nd congressional district and was reelected in 1976 and 1978. During his tenure in the House, he served on the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations.

Dodd was elected to the United States Senate in 1980. During his tenure as Senator, he was Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and served on the Committees on Foreign Relations and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, among others. He was a principal author of numerous bills that became law, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Child Care Act, and the Help America Vote Act, among others, and he was deeply involved in the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Dodd served as general chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1995 to 1997. In 2006, Dodd decided to run for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, but eventually withdrew after running behind several other competitors.

In January 2010, Dodd announced that he would not run for re-election. Dodd was succeeded by fellow Democrat Richard Blumenthal. Dodd then served as chairman and chief lobbyist for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) from 2011 to 2017. In 2018, Dodd returned to the practice of law, joining the firm Arnold & Porter. In addition to being a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One, Dodd is a close advisor to President Joe Biden and served on his vice presidential selection committee.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Records of the U.S. Senate. 1789 - 2015. Committee Papers. 1885 - 2011. S. 277, A Bill to Authorize the Establishment of the National African American Museum Within the Smithsonian Institution Center for Legislative Archives
creatorOf Marin, Michael F. Correspondence, 1980-1984. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Records of the Peace Corps. 1961 - 2000. Interviews Relating to Volunteer Service. 1982 - 1982. Mildred Leet, Nana Seshibe, Senator Chris Dodd and Senator Dan Inouye Interviews National Archives at College Park
referencedIn University of Connecticut, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center Records, undated, 1965- Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Records of the National Organization for Women, 1959-2002 (inclusive), 1966-1998 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn University of Connecticut, President's Office Records [John A. DiBiaggio, 1979-1985], undated, 1952-1986. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf Dlubac, Paul. Papers, 1984-1989. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Duncan, Kenneth. Correspondence, 1993-1999. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Connecticut Citizens Action Group Records., undated, 1964-2002 Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Student Coalition for Soviet Jewry at Brandeis University Records Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society
referencedIn The Benny Goodman Papers, 1910-1992, inclusive Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Dodd, Christopher J. (Christopher John), 1944-. Christopher J. Dodd : commercials , 1986-1992. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
referencedIn Photographs of Peace Corps Activities and Personnel (Contact Sheet File), 1961 - 1990 National Archives at College Park
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center corporateBody
associatedWith Biden, Joseph R. (Joseph Robinette), Jr., 1942- person
associatedWith Connecticut Citizens Action Group. corporateBody
associatedWith Dlubac, Paul. person
childOf Dodd, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph), 1907-1971 person
associatedWith Duncan, Kenneth. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Georgetown Preparatory School corporateBody
associatedWith Goodman, Benny, 1909- person
associatedWith Marin, Michael F. person
associatedWith Motion Picture Association of America corporateBody
associatedWith National Organization for Women. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Providence College corporateBody
associatedWith Student Coalition for Soviet Jewry- Brandeis University corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. House person
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate corporateBody
associatedWith University of Connecticut. President's Office. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Louisville. Law School. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Willimantic CT US
District of Columbia DC US
Bethesda MD US
Providence RI US
Louisville KY US
Subject
Advertising, political
Television advertising
Occupation
Lawyers
Lobbyists
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Senators, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1944-05-27

Male

Americans

English,

Spanish; Castilian

Information

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