Other major legislation championed by Senator Mitchell included the first major acid rain bill, reauthorization of the Clean Air Act, an important transportation bill in 1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Superfund toxic cleanup legislation, campaign finance reform, and universal health care in 1994. In 1980 Senator Mitchell worked with Senator William Cohen to achieve authorization of the settlement of the Maine Indian land claims. Senator Mitchell served on the Finance Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, the Veterans Affairs Committee, the Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Senate Democratic Steering Committee. He won the election in his own right in 1982 and was reelected in 1988 by a record 81%. This was the beginning of Mitchell's fourteen-year career in the Senate. The senator recommended to Governor Joseph Brennan that Mitchell be appointed to complete the remaining two years of his term. In 1980 Senator Muskie was appointed Secretary of State. Two years later President Jimmy Carter appointed Mitchell a U.S. In the 1970s he returned to public law practice, serving as a part-time assistant county attorney for Cumberland County while still working for the law firm of Jensen, Baird, Gardner and Henry.

Mitchell himself made an unsuccessful run for governor of Maine in 1974. In 19 Mitchell also served as deputy director for Muskie's respective vice-presidential and presidential campaign bids. He then held the post of Democratic national committeeman from Maine between 19. In 1960 he earned a law degree from Georgetown University.Īfter serving as a trial lawyer in the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department for two years, he took a position as executive assistant to Senator Edmund Muskie from Maine, who became Mitchell's most important political mentor.Īlthough he returned to Maine from Washington, D.C., in 1965 to work for the private law firm of Jensen, Baird, Gardner and Henry, he remained active in politics by serving as the state chairman for the Maine Democratic Party from 1966 to 1968. Army Counter Intelligence Corps until 1956. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College in 1954, he served as an officer in the U.S. Senator Mitchell spent his youth in Waterville.

Mitchell was born on August 20, 1933, in Waterville, Maine, to Mary Saad, a factory worker, and George Mitchell, a laborer.

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