mike gravel born american politician democratic united_states senator alaska served terms candidate presidential election born raised springfield massachusetts french canadian immigrant parents gravel served west_germany later graduated moved alaska late 1950s real estate developer entering politics served speaker gravel elected senator gravel nationally known forceful unsuccessful attempts end draft war vietnam putting pentagon papers public record risk conducted unusual campaign democratic nomination vice president united_states played crucial role getting congressional approval trans alaska pipeline elected senate gradually alienated bid term defeated primary election gravel returned business ventures went difficult times suffering corporate personal amid poor health advocate direct democracy gravel began run democratic nomination president united_states promote ideas campaign gained internet following national attention forceful humorous politically unorthodox debate appearances found little support national polls march announced switching compete presidential nomination inclusion national initiative platform failed counts announced political electoral career ended subsequently executive marijuana products company continued speak political issues including democratic_party politics early life military service education gravel born springfield massachusetts children born french canadian immigrant parents marie née parents quebec raised working class neighborhood great depression speaking french seven years old calling mike early age father valued work mother stressed importance education gravel educated schools roman catholic struggled later said left grade completed elementary school class voted charming personality summer job led gravel handing campaign local candidates behalf boss gravel immediately impressed political office gravel boarded worcester massachusetts performance initially mediocre english teacher gave personal attention improving gravel language skills instructing public speaking gravel grades improved final year graduated sister nun gravel struggled catholic faith studied year catholic school worcester transferred sophomore year springfield journalist philosopher strongly influenced gravel willingness challenge assumptions oppose social convention political authority gravel saw drafted instead enlisted year term basic training school fort maryland south_carolina went fort georgia expected sent korean war graduated second lieutenant early instead assigned west_germany special adjutant army adventurous time moving country conducting surveillance operations civilians paying spies year transferred france french language abilities accent allowed infiltrate french communist rallies worked special agent eventually lieutenant following discharge gravel entered new_york_city studied economics received moved new_york flat broke supported working bar boy hotel driving working investment bond department time left catholic religion alaska gravel decided pioneer place moved pre alaska august funds job looking place social political connections viable candidate public office alaska voting age states played role decision cooler climate broke arrived immediately found work real estate sales winter arrived gravel employed working snow clearing train anchorage run subsequently opened small real estate anchorage territory alaska requiring license saved work railroad gravel joined continue sporadic relationship movement life gravel married anchorage april children born respectively went washington campaign tennessee plan dressed rode petition steps capitol seeing alaska wide open place political establishment entrenched interests slogan gravel prosperity ran territorial legislature lost went national speaking tour concerning tax reform sponsored ran avail city_council anchorage time successful real estate agent election property developer mobile home park outskirts anchorage partner ran financial difficulty project went chapter bankruptcy gravel forced state legislator support alaska wholesale supermarket builder gravel ran representing anchorage initially assigned 10th 8th districts won gravel served january january winning election term served minority member house committees commerce labor management sponsored act created chief architect law created regional high school system rural alaska allowed attend schools near lived instead having schools run lower states half years legislature session gravel resumed real estate work backing successful property developer served speaker house surprising observers winning post gravel convinced speaker try position promising taylor promise gravel denied later press charges promised delivered committee speaker fellow imposing legislature committees feuded president gravel run election instead choosing run alaska seat losing primary term incumbent democrat votes splitting democratic_party process rivers lost general election year republican state senator following defeat gravel returned real estate business anchorage senator election senate ran year old incumbent democratic senator popular governor alaska territory considered fathers alaska party nomination gravel campaign primarily based youth issue differences hired self described political consultant late spent year half planning short day primary election campaign featured alaska let state distribution collection essays entitled jobs jobs creation half hour produced biographical film gravel man alaska film shown twice day television station alaska carried plane shown home hundreds alaska native villages heavy quickly reversed lead polls gravel lead gravel visited remote villages seaplane showed thorough understanding needs bush country fishing oil industries gravel benefited deliberately ambiguous vietnam policy senators vote opposition president war policies democratic electorate according gravel stand deal subject people assume right point fact left gravel beat primary tight result margin votes found unexpected defeat hard thought aspects opponent biographical film viewers general election gravel faced republican banker mayor anchorage college students state run write campaign independent legal battles prevented senator getting approval weeks left late appearance anti war presidential candidate offset lack funds endorsements gravel saturated local media filmed biographies november gravel won general election gaining percent vote percent percent senate assignments style gravel joined senate january requested received seat interior direct relevance issues got spot held time senate finally member chair chair later gravel initially named gravel interior instead member chair body hoc admission gravel new effective senate usual means based committee assignments negotiating deals senators seen arrogant senior members gravel instead relied attention getting gestures achieve wanted hoping national exposure force senators listen voted southern democrats senate rule place accordingly supported opposed senate leadership battles retrospective assessment history professor loose cannon good description gravel senate career wall guy weren sure nuclear issues cold war late 1960s early 1970s process performing tests nuclear anti missile tests tests planned involving nuclear bombs alaska test exercise second larger test measure effectiveness gravel opposed tests congress test took place october wrote significant risks earthquakes adverse consequences called independent national commission nuclear seismic safety created personal appeal president nixon stop test conducted continued pressure environmental groups going forward larger test claimed tested obsolete gravel sent letter hearings held anchorage said risk test worth taking eventually group involving gravel took case declined issue injunction test took place scheduled november gravel failed stop tests notwithstanding later claims presidential campaign nuclear power considered environmentally clean alternative commercial generation electricity popular national policy peaceful use atomic energy 1950s 1960s gravel publicly opposed policy dangers nuclear testing vocal critic oversaw american nuclear efforts powerful united_states atomic energy nuclear policy gravel tried gravel sponsored bill impose nuclear power plant construction power utilities liable nuclear accidents proposing similar gravel allied organization opposing nuclear power months secretary state secret mission july gravel introduced legislation recognize relations china including proposal unity talks taiwan chinese seat gravel reiterated position favor recognition senators agreement senate hearings june vietnam war draft pentagon papers president richard_nixon campaigned promise end military draft decision endorsed february report existing draft law scheduled conclude end june senate faced contentious debate extend vietnam war continued nixon administration announced february wanted year extension june draft end army planners operating assumption year extension volunteer force place chairman thought unrealistic wanted year extension year proposal went forward congress early gravel indicated intention draft renewal legislation halting conscription bringing involvement war rapid end june democratic senators opposed war wanted limit renewal year extension wanted end immediately gravel reiterated saying war way away away draft senate vote june indicated majority support year extension june gravel announced intention counteract renewal legislation defending practice associated blocking civil rights legislation attempt failed june votes senate voted fifth time protracted negotiations took place house conference negotiations bill revolving large senate majority leader eventually unsuccessful amendment tie renewal troop withdrawal vietnam time draft law expired august nixon administration pleaded renewal senate went gravel blocked attempt limit debate vote held finally september senate invoked gravel second attempt vote passed year draft extension gravel attempts stop draft failed notwithstanding gravel later claims stopped shortened draft taken face value media reports presidential campaign june new_york_times began printing large portions pentagon papers papers large collection secret government documents studies pertaining vietnam war analyst unauthorized copies determined public year half approached members congress publishing documents grounds speech debate clause constitution congressional members immunity prosecution refused instead gave documents times immediately tried halt publication grounds information revealed papers harmed national interest weeks federal court injunction halted publication times washington_post newspapers began publishing parts documents halted matter went arguments looking alternate publication mechanism returned idea having member congress read chose gravel based efforts draft gravel agreed previously arranged papers given gravel june washington_post editor gravel counter intelligence experience choose midnight transfer center washington night june gravel attempted read papers floor senate draft thwarted formed gravel instead convened session chaired got new_york congressman testify war soaked funding public buildings making discussion war relevant committee began reading papers press attendance supporting documents felt compromise national security declaring constitutional obligation protect security people free flow information absolutely essential democratic decision making read tears said longer physically continue previous nights fear future having taken toll gravel ended session senators present establishing unanimous consent insert pages papers following day supreme_court united_states decision ruled favor newspapers publication times resumed july published inexpensive paperback edition papers containing material times published gravel wanted privately publish portion papers read record believing immediate disclosure contents papers change policy supports war turned commercial publishers august reached agreement publishing arm gravel member announced august published october volume relatively expensive set senator gravel edition studies labeled complete edition pentagon papers published edited included additional volume articles origins progress war edited subjected fbi investigation gravel united_states court case ruled june held speech debate clause grant immunity gravel reading papers grant immunity gravel congressional aide granted immunity relation publishing papers events changed gravel months following obscure freshman senator far corner country nationally visible political figure sought speaker college circuit political opportunities welcomed lectures honest way senator supplement income democratic candidates presidential election sought endorsement january gravel endorse maine senator hoping endorsement help party left wing ethnic french canadian areas primary state new_hampshire won strongly campaign soon april gravel appeared network nightly nixon administration reliance making reference secret document stated years defend gravel excerpts study public attempt read blocked senators run vice president gravel actively campaigned office vice president united_states presidential election announcing june month began interested running nomination choice opened convention delegates end began delegates support advance convention effort governor running campaign post prior year likely presidential nominee fact considering unusual naming acceptable vice presidential candidates letting delegates choose convention final day july presidential nominee selected announced senator missouri vice presidential choice unknown delegates choice traditional ticket balancing considerations delegates willing look gravel nominated alaska nomination breaking tears words maybe trying withdraw nomination case won delegate votes coming texas chaotic included candidates efforts gravel attracted attention famed writer provided considerable excitement good looking played leads films rolling_stone correspondent said gravel probably said things worth hearing different circumstances process disastrous democrats time consumed speeches vice presidential candidates lost attention delegates floor pushed speech selected led surprise past mental health treatments revealed withdrew ticket soon convention replaced election senate years earlier alaska politicians speculated gravel hard time getting elected term expired given originally elected base party organization tended focus national local issues nonetheless gravel elected senate winning percent vote percent republican state senator national officer second term september gravel named seventh special session united_nations met discuss problems related economic development international economic cooperation june gravel focus federal investigation allegations involved sex vote arrangement congressional staff clerk subject sex scandal led downfall representative stated august sex gravel aboard instruction representative boss time gray allegedly wanted secure gravel support funding construction washington troubled project jurisdiction members chaired congressional said witnessed boat encounter gravel said time met women gravel gray strongly denied arrangement legislation charged wrongdoing decades later gravel wrote sex ray changed votes issues gravel urging construction argued pipeline addressing environmental concerns saying pipeline builders operators total absolute responsibility consequent environmental damage years later debate pipeline came new_york_times describing holy war major oil companies february blocked issuance permits construction gravel fellow senator reacted urging congress pass legislation court decision opposed pipeline sought use recently passed advantage gravel designed amendment pipeline bill pipeline court challenges law speed construction passage amendment key battle pipeline july dramatic roll vote gravel amendment approved tie broken favor vice president actual bill enabling pipeline passed easily gravel opposition fishing industry gravel advocated american participation formation years opposed legislation established mile marine resources senators vote senate approval expanded zone saying undermine position law sea negotiations nations extending fishing rights limits produce anarchy seas legislation passed united_states signed ratified law sea treaty year urged abolition early 1970s gravel supported demonstration project established links villages maryland medical communications gravel helped secure private grant facilitate conference attended representatives alaska canada greenland conferences include representatives russia gravel helped lead effort eventually led named subsequently gravel proposed built development near mountain consist giant dome hotels golf courses commercial buildings key emotional issue state time locking alaska making reference allocation vast land gravel blocked passage procedural delays walking house senate conference committee meetings complex bill represented compromise land use policy bill alaska vast federal land holdings state control preserving portions federal parks action earn gravel fellow alaska senator new lands bill came consideration favorable interests liked set aside acres km2 alaska acres km2 national parks conservation areas restricted federal uses gravel blocked ensuring future development state new compromise version bill came forward reduced land set aside acres km2 gravel representation interests tried stop bill including staging senate voted passed bill frustrated gravel said legislation denies alaska rights state denies crucial strategic resources commented senate little bit like tank gravel authored secured passage law tax code internal revenue code originally failed ballot initiative paid citizens pipeline related revenue turned significant development economics loss senate seat gravel challenged democratic_party nomination state representative grandson man gravel defeated primary years earlier factors gravel vulnerable candidate gravel established firm party base liking hunt fish culturally suspect state group democrats including future governor led campaign gravel gravel actions respect lands bills major issue especially given happened week primary sources gravel campaign funds came political action committees outside state issue contest factor alaska blanket primary system time allowed unlimited voting party lines republicans believed easier candidate defeat general election won fought primary percent vote gravel percent gravel later time defeat alienated constituency alaska lost general election republican gravel democrat represent alaska congress years anchorage mayor defeated stevens aged iconic figure convicted seven taking gifts close protracted election result mid november charges stevens subsequently dropped misconduct career leaving senate difficult transition gravel took defeat hard recalling years later lost career lost marriage years defeat wanted hire important felt like worthless didn know later description gravel senate december wife separated filed divorce september later senate pension income 1980s gravel real estate developer anchorage alaska consultant real estate ventures business forced declare bankruptcy lawsuit ensued gravel worked partnership buy losses financially troubled tax sell large national companies looking tax gravel married second wife administrative assistant senator return politics politics founded led promotes direct democracy established corporation seeks replicate original constitutional convention bringing direct democracy began helping gravel technical level death took role running gravel websites technology efforts gravel led effort amendment allow voter initiated federal legislation similar state ballot initiatives argued americans able act amendment national initiative allow american citizens law makers gravel director admired institute founder work direct democracy switzerland gravel chair institute turn director gave introduction gravel presidential announcement mike whitney gravel lived virginia reside california grown children marriage grandchildren whitney gravel income sustained couple 2000s decade gravel suffered poor health requiring pain medical expenses debts political causes declared personal bankruptcy began taking salary non profit organizations working income lent presidential campaign declared zero net worth controversy june gravel gave speech direct democracy conference hosted event journal holocaust denial wake criticism appearance gravel said repeatedly share view stating better believe know million jews killed seen footage touring camps referring publisher don think happened newspaper intended interview gravel gravel later recounted background event liked idea figured opportunity discuss far right far left pitch gave free subscription send today flip extreme views lot ads extreme want later contacted speak barnes review conference heard didn know stood coming presentation maybe minutes tell people room mainly old men pretty extreme gave speech answered questions left saw agenda day listened presentations group invited gravel speak declined political positions gravel stated advocate national universal single profit health care system united_states utilize enable citizens choose doctor proposed index veteran health care account increases costs care medicine supports drug policy drugs treating drug abuse medical issue criminal matter gravel favors guest worker program supports proposal calls eliminating income tax replacing progressive national sales tax percent newly manufactured items services retaining taxes spending poverty level household gravel advocated carbon energy provide funding global effort bring world scientific engineering communities develop energy alternatives significantly reduce world energy dependence carbon gravel principle object use stem cells medical research purposes pro choice issue abortion women reproductive rights supports constitutional amendments direct democracy political convictions manifesto people platform presidential campaign start gravel decided best way promote direct democracy run president april gravel candidate democratic nomination president united_states election announcing run speech washington campaign cash took public transportation announcement principal gravel positions withdrawal troops iraq days single national health care system term limits gravel campaigned time new_hampshire primary state following announcement opinion polls contenders democratic nomination showed gravel percent support end march gravel campaign cash hand debts nearly time senate gravel invited early democratic presidential debates initial april suggested bill requiring president withdraw iraq pain criminal penalties advocated positions opposing nuclear war stated iraq war effect creating terrorists war lost day invaded iraq fraudulent basis fellow candidates said got tell standing people media stories said gravel responsible heat taken place gravel gained considerable publicity shaking normally multiple candidate format media critic said gravel steal debate outrageous statements internet benefit youtube video responses debate viewed times ranking seventeenth views week news politics clips fifteenth searched website garnered traffic barack_obama gravel appeared popular television campaign career national publications salon campaign videos rock fire released youtube late hits eventually gained views respectively rock turn given episode daily thirty years achieved national spotlight found improve performance polls cnn poll showed percent support democrats gravel debates case cnn reversed decision exclude gravel second tier candidates time leaders june new_hampshire debate lasted hours asked questions allowed speak minutes seconds july cnn youtube presidential debate gravel responded audience applause complained lack said thank fair far detractors began uncle lives attic angry old guy want berkeley political scientist found directed roughly percent questions gravel poll asking best debate gravel placed seventh candidates national opinion polls contenders democratic nomination continued gravel percent zero percent numbers end quarter gravel cash hand collected total far election cycle continuing run campaign minimal staff beginning october philadelphia event gravel excluded debates debate sponsors saying gravel campaign met fund raising polling local campaign organizational philadelphia exclusion gravel blamed corporate censorship sponsor owner alleged military industrial complex member general_electric exclusion mounted counter gathering debate video screen short distance away lost easiest publicity reaction supporters organized mass donation days try help campaign gain momentum funds december anniversary repeal prohibition gravel compete initial vote iowa subjected false report pulled race afterward gravel focus attention second vote new_hampshire primary received votes cast percent taking time improve health resumed campaigning fared better subsequent states end january hillary_clinton barack_obama gravel remaining democrats initial debates running gravel vowed stay presidential campaign november march gravel continued remain democratic race additionally endorsed candidate president saying wanted help johnson prevail rivals late march gravel fundraising ballot democratic march gravel announced leave democrats join saying views strong stance war military industrial complex american tolerated democratic_party touch average american reject empowerment american citizens offered democratic_party beginning presidential campaign following day gravel entered race presidential nomination saying run party candidate needed public exposure came earlier democratic debates gravel initial notion running fusion candidate parties met skepticism pursued candidate gravel faced resistance liberal past unorthodox positions garnered support democrat placing second april straw polls national convention denver gravel finished fourth candidates initial ballot votes total trailed congressman eventual winner author businessman gravel position subsequently improve eliminated fourth ballot stated ended political career vowed continue promoting positions writer lecturer campaigns june gravel endorsed saying measure create citizens commission government commission power officials true investigation happened september terrorist attacks gravel subsequently said individuals government certainly participated obviously known perpetrators act suspicions analysis presented government obviously act triggered wars iraqi continuing war terror extensively investigated government avoids addressing august gravel speaking crowd supporters years earlier pleaded guilty sentenced prison charge conspiracy helping specially designated terrorist organization caught tape saying prosecutor find lives find kids school find office picket time racist signs injustice want face time gravel criticized potentially involving children prosecutor family sentiments gravel defended alaska governor chosen republican presidential nominee john_mccain running mate september praised record standing corruption republicans thought national inexperience asset predicted investigation fired state official come favor gravel clear support vote general election following year gravel said politics terrible doesn fact talented person predicted run president going surprise lot people run gravel prediction accurate found violated ethics laws october gravel gave lectures south korean universities korean adaption proposed united_states december gravel praised news year war documents leak iraq war documents leak united_states diplomatic cables leak significant effort save democracy slowly eclipsed military industrial complex release pentagon papers gravel indicated december run president possibly challenge president obama democratic nomination presidential election gravel attended february noting conference attended elements extremes saying necessary discuss film industry portrayed iran order prevent insane war nations gravel members congress accept advocacy group ufo disclosure holding termed disclosure modeled congressional hearings supposed government suppression evidence concerning gravel said monitoring planet monitoring planet faced areas media government effort ridicule people specific knowledge december announced new ceo company makes marijuana infused products medicinal recreational use subsidiary inc independent director democratic_party presidential gravel spoke high praise saying gifted politicians observed person great integrity clever predicted presidential campaign end elected president unable key reforms congress supporters proposals awards honors gravel received annual electoral history writings gravel mike jobs jobs gravel mike people platform isbn revised reissued mandate change isbn gravel mike joe political odyssey rise american man fight stop isbn gravel mike david isbn gravel mike voice speeches writings senator gravel mike foreword poisoned power case nuclear power plants inc june
Mike Gravel