Christopher John Dodd, a seasoned American politician, lobbyist, and lawyer, has left an indelible mark on the country's legislative landscape. Born on May 27, 1944, Dodd is a native of Connecticut, and his legacy is deeply rooted in the state's history. His father, Thomas J. Dodd, was a United States Senator from 1959 to 1971, and Chris Dodd would follow in his footsteps, serving as a senator from 1981 to 2011.
Dodd's journey to the Senate began with his graduation from Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, Maryland, and Providence College. Before entering the University of Louisville School of Law, he served in the Peace Corps for two years. Concurrently, he served in the United States Army Reserve during law school.
Dodd's political career took off in 1974 when he won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 2nd congressional district. He was reelected in 1976 and 1978 before being elected to the United States Senate in 1980. His tenure in the Senate was marked by numerous notable positions, including serving as general chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1995 to 1997 and Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee from 2007 until his retirement from politics.
In 2006, Dodd decided to run for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States but eventually withdrew from the race. In January 2010, he announced that he would not run for re-election, and he was succeeded by fellow Democrat Richard Blumenthal.
After leaving politics, Dodd served as chairman and chief lobbyist for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) from 2011 to 2017. He then returned to the practice of law, joining the firm Arnold & Porter in 2018. Additionally, Dodd is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One and has served as a close advisor to President Joe Biden, including serving on his vice presidential selection committee.
