Paul G. Kirk
Paul G. Kirk Jr. | |
|---|---|
| File:PaulGKirkJr.jpg Paul G. Kirk, Jr., at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library | |
| 39th Chairman of the Democratic National Committee | |
| In office 1985–1989 | |
| Preceded by | Charles T. Manatt |
| Succeeded by | Ron Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Gail Kirk |
| Residence | Marstons Mills, Massachusetts |
| Alma mater | Harvard Law School (J.D.) Harvard University (B.A.) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Paul Grattan Kirk Jr. (born January 18, 1938) was chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 1985 to 1989. He currently co-chairs the Commission on Presidential Debates, is the chairman of the board of directors of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, and is a member of the board of directors of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.
Early life and Education
Kirk is one of the five children of Massachusetts Supreme Court Judge Paul Gratton Kirk, Sr. and Josephine Kirk née O'Connell. He attended The Roxbury Latin School in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, and graduated from St. Sebastian's School, class of 1956. He graduated from Harvard College in 1960, and Harvard Law School in 1964. In 1974, he married Gail Loudermilk.
Political career
Kirk served as an assistant to U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy from 1969-1977. In 1983, he was named Treasurer of the national Democratic Party.
In 1985, Kirk was elected as chairman of the DNC despite opposition from Virginia Governor Chuck Robb and a group of southern state Democrats who went on to form the Democratic Leadership Council.[1] In the 1986 mid-term elections, under Kirk's chairmanship, the Democrats regained control of the Senate, which had been under a Republican majority since the 1980 elections. Kirk resigned shortly following Republican Vice President George H. W. Bush's victory over Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis in the 1988 Presidential Election. He was succeeded by Ron Brown as DNC chair.
On May 2, 2008, Paul Kirk formally pledged his superdelegate vote to Barack Obama.[2]
On September 23, 2009, the Boston Globe and CNN reported that Kirk was favored by the family of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy to be the senator's interim replacement, and that the family had communicated their preference to Gov. Deval Patrick.[3] [4]
Business and civic involvement
Kirk is affiliated with Sullivan & Worcester LLP of Boston, Massachusetts, a law firm of which he was a partner from 1977-1990. He is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kirk & Associates, Inc., a business advisory and consulting firm located in Boston.
Kirk is a member of the Board of Directors of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., Rayonier, Incorporated and Cedar Shopping Centers, Inc. He served on the Board of Directors of ITT Corporation from 1989 - 1997 and Bradley Real Estate, Inc. from 1991 - 2000.
Kirk is a Trustee of Stonehill College. He is past Chairman of the Harvard Board of Overseers Nominating Committee and presently serves as Chairman of the Harvard Overseers Committee to Visit the Department of Athletics.
From 1992 to 2001 Kirk served as Chairman of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.
Personal life
Kirk is married and has six nieces (Paula Cleary, Kate Cleary, Mikaela McDermott, Beth McDermott, Katharine Kirk, and Molly Kirk) as well as two nephews (Bill Cleary III and Andrew McDermott).
References
- ^ Rae, Nicol C. (1994). Southern Democrats. Oxford University Press. p. 113. ISBN 0195087097.
- ^ Salant, Jonathan D. Former Democratic Party Leader Paul Kirk Backs Obama Bloomberg, May 2, 2008
- ^ "Senate OK’s Kennedy successor bill" Boston Globe, September 23, 2009
- ^ http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/23/kirk-is-kennedy-family-favorite-to-fill-mass-senate-seat/
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