Say hello to Richard Blumenthal, champion of the old

Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal (D) 

Biography 

Age: Born February 13th, 1946 (68)

Residence: Greenwich, Connecticut (Born in New York City)

Family: Wife, Cynthia. Has four children.

Religion: Judaism

Early Life and Education  

Richard Blumenthal was born and grew up in Brooklyn New York, the son of a Jewish immigrant from Frankfurt Germany. Senator Blumenthal received his B.A. from Harvard University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Senator Blumenthal then attended Yale Law School where he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Law Journal. Blumenthal served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 1970-1976, when he was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant. 

Previous Experience

Senator Blumenthal started his political career serving as an administrative assistant to US Senators Abraham Ribicoff and Daniel P. Moynihan. Blumenthal also served as a clerk to US Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun. From 1977-1981 he was the United States Prosecutor for the District of Connecticut. Blumenthal became a state representative in 1984, representing the 145th district of Connecticut.  In 1987 Blumenthal became a state senator representing Connecticut's 27th district. Blumenthal was elected Connecticut's Attorney General in 1990, a position he held until his election to the senate in 2011.

In the Senate 

This is Blumenthal's first term in the senate, having been elected in 2011. Senator Blumenthal is the ranking member for the Committee on Veterans Affairs, as well as serving on the Committee on the Judiciary, Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Fun Facts 

-Blumenthal was classmates with future President Bill Clinton and future Secretary of State Hilary Clinton at Yale

-Blumenthal was awarded the Fiske Fellowship which allowed Blumenthal to spend a year studying at Cambridge University in England following his graduation from Harvard

-Senator Blumenthal is a large advocate for senior citizens, voicing commitment for the preservation of social security and medicare, as well as sponsoring legislation to stop elderly abuse

-Senator was an opponent of the death penalty. As an attorney he represented a client who was wrongly convicted, staving off his execution 15 hours before he was set to be killed by the state. Following his run for attorney general he switched his position to supporting the death penalty  

Connecticut 

Statehood- 1788

Origin of name-  Based on the word “Quinnehtukqut,” which is Mohegan for “Long River Place” or “Beside the Long Tidal River” 

State Motto- Qui Transtulit Sustinet, “He Who Transplanted Still Sustains”

State Nickname- “The Constitution State,” adopted in 1959

State Capital- Hartford

Fun Fact- Connecticut was one of only two states that did not ratify the 18th Amendment (Prohibition). The other being Rhode Island. Yay beer!

Demographics (2014)

Population- 3,596,677

White- 81%

Black or African American- 11.3%

Hispanic- 14.7%

Median Household Income- $69,461 (US average is $53,046) 

Sources:

• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/09000.html 
• file:///C:/Users/Eric/Downloads/Connecticut%20Fun%20Facts%20(1).pdf
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Blumenthal
• http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/nyregion/20conn.html?_r=0
• http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/biography
• http://www.factmonster.com/us-states/connecticut.html
• http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question3444.html
• http://www.world-wide-gifts.com/images/large/acrylic-fridge-magnet-united-states-of-america-connecticut-state-flag.jpg