George J. Mitchell was appointed to the United States Senate in 1980 to complete the unexpired term of Senator Edmund S. Muskie, who resigned to become Secretary of State. He was elected to a full term in the Senate in 1982 in a stunning come-from-behind victory. After trailing in public opinion polls by 36 points, Senator Mitchell rallied to win the election, receiving 61 percent of the votes cast. Senator Mitchell went on to an illustrious career in the Senate spanning 14 years.

In 1988, he was reelected with 81 percent of the vote, the largest margin in Maine history. He left the Senate in 1995 as the Senate Majority leader, a position he had held since January 1989.

Senator Mitchell enjoyed bipartisan respect during his tenure. It has been said, "there is not a man, woman or child in the Capitol who does not trust George Mitchell." For six consecutive years he was voted "the most respected member" of the Senate by a bipartisan group of Senate aides.

Senator Mitchell served as chairman of the Peace Negotiations in Northern Ireland. Under his leadership an historic accord, ending decades of conflict, was agreed by the governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom and the political parties of Northern Ireland. In May 1998, the agreement was overwhelmingly endorsed by the voters of Ireland, North and South, in a referendum.

While in the Senate, Senator Mitchell served on the Finance, Veterans Affairs and Environment and Public Works Committees.

Senator Mitchell led the successful 1990 reauthorization of the Clean Air Act, including new controls on acid rain toxins. He was the author of the first national oil spill prevention and clean up law.

Mitchell led the Senate to passage of the nation's first childcare bill and was principal author of the low-income housing tax credit program.

He was instrumental in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, landmark legislation extending civil rights protections to the disabled.

Mitchell's efforts led to the passage of a higher education bill that expands opportunities for millions of Americans.

Senator Mitchell was a leader in opening markets to trade and led the Senate to ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement and creation of the World Trade Organization.

Senator Mitchell received his undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College in 1954, and then served in Berlin, Germany as an officer in the U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corps until 1956. He received an LLB degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1960. From 1960 to 1962 he was a trial lawyer in the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. From 1962 to 1965 he served as Executive Assistant to Senator Muskie.

In 1965 he returned to Maine where he engaged in the private practice of law in Portland until 1977. He was then appointed U.S. Attorney for Maine, a position he held until 1979, when he was appointed U.S. District Judge for Maine. He resigned that position in 1980 to accept appointment to the U.S. Senate.

Senator Mitchell is the author of four books. With his colleague, Senator Bill Cohen of Maine, he wrote Men of Zeal, describing the Iran-Contra investigation. In 1990, Senator Mitchell wrote, World on Fire, describing the threat of the greenhouse effect and recommending steps to curb it. His next book, published in 1997, was Not For America Alone: The Triumph of Democracy and The Fall of Communism. In 1999, Senator Mitchell wrote Making Peace, an account of his experience in Northern Ireland.

Upon leaving the Senate, Senator Mitchell joined the Washington, DC law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand. He serves as a director of the Walt Disney Company, Federal Express Corporation, Xerox Corporation, Staples, Inc., Starwood Hotels and Resorts, UNUM Provident Corporation and Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

Senator Mitchell serves as the Chancellor of The Queens University of Northern Ireland and as president of The Economic Club of Washington. He served as chairman of the Special Commission investigating allegations of impropriety in the bidding process for the Olympic games and as chairman of the National Health Care Commission.

At the request of the British and Irish Governments, he served as chairman of the Peace Negotiations in Northern Ireland. For his service in Northern Ireland, Senator Mitchell has received numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor that the US Government can give, the Philadelphia Liberty Medal, the Truman Institute Peace Prize, the German Peace Prize, and the United Nations (UNESCO) Peace Prize.

At the request of President Clinton, Prime Minister Barak, and Chairman Arafat, he serves as Chairman of an International Fact Finding Committee that is examining the current crisis between Israelis and Palestinians.