Joseph Lieberman, a former Connecticut senator who became the first Jewish American to be nominated on a major party’s ticket, died at 82 years old. According to a statement from his family, Lieberman died following complications from a fall. His family said in a statement, “Former United States Senator Joseph I. Lieberman died this afternoon, March 27, 2024, in New York City due to complications from a fall. He was 82 years old. His beloved wife, Hadassah, and members of his family were with him as he passed.”
Lieberman’s funeral will be held at Congregation Agudath Sholom in his hometown of Stamford, Connecticut. He was a longtime member of the U.S. Senate from 1989 to 2013. Initially elected as a Democrat, Lieberman won re-election in 2006 as an independent after losing the Democratic party primary. In 2000, he was the Democratic vice presidential nominee, the first Jewish candidate on a major party presidential ticket. He bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 but dropped out after a weak showing in early primaries.
In his retirement announcement from the Senate in 2013, Lieberman reflected on his service to the American people. He said, “I have decided it is time to turn the page to a new chapter. This was not an easy decision for me to make because I have loved serving in the Senate, and I feel good about what I have accomplished. But I know it is the right decision, and I must say, I am excited about beginning a new chapter of life with new opportunities.”
He continued, “At the end of this term, I will have served 24 years in the U.S. Senate and 40 years in elective office. So for me, it’s time for another season and another purpose under Heaven.” In recent years, Lieberman served as the founding chairperson of No Labels, a group that is against partisan politics and aims for centrist candidates. The group said in a statement, “Senator Lieberman was a singular figure in American political life who always put his country before party. He was a deeply principled and pragmatic leader who believed public service was a privilege and who dedicated his life to the betterment of others.”
The group continued, “But Senator Lieberman’s legislative record — as impressive as it is — can’t begin to tell the story of his impact on America’s public life. He was a man of uncommon integrity who did the right things for the right reasons. As American politics became progressively coarser and angrier, Senator Lieberman was unfailingly civil and decent to political allies and opponents alike.” In a statement, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., shared his condolences to Liberman’s family and called him a “one of one” for his political “singularity.”
He said in a statement on X, “Connecticut is shocked by Senator Lieberman’s sudden passing. In an era of political carbon copies, Joe Lieberman was a singularity. One of one. He fought and won for what he believed was right and for the state he adored,” Murphy said. “My thoughts are with Hadassah and the entire family.”
Former President George W. Bush called Lieberman “one of the most decent people” he met in Washington. The former president said in a statement, “Laura and I are saddened by the loss of Joe Lieberman. Joe was as fine an American as they come and one of the most decent people I met during my time in Washington. As a Democrat, Joe wasn’t afraid to engage with Senators from across the aisle and worked hard to earn votes from outside his party. He engaged in serious and thoughtful debate with opposing voices on important issues,” he said. “And in both loss and victory, Joe Lieberman was always a gentleman. I’m grateful for Joe’s principled service to our country and for the dignity and patriotism he brought to public life.”
Bush continued, “As Laura and I pray for Hadassah and the Lieberman family, we also pray that Joe’s example of decency guides our Nation’s leaders now and into the future.”