Christopher Dodd

<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">Christopher Dodd</h1>

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<div class="imagemap-inline">Christopher John Dodd</div>

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<div ><a title="United States Senate" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate">United States Senator</a>

from <a title="Connecticut" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut">Connecticut</a></div>

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<td colspan="2" ><a title="Incumbent" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incumbent">Incumbent</a></td>

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<td colspan="2" >Assumed office

January 5, 1981

Serving with <a title="Joe Lieberman" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Lieberman">Joe Lieberman</a></td>

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<th>Preceded by</th>

<td><a title="Abraham A. Ribicoff" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_A._Ribicoff">Abraham A. Ribicoff</a></td>

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<div >Member of the <a title="United States House of Representatives" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives">U.S. House of Representatives</a>

from <a title="Connecticut" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut">Connecticut</a>'s <a title="Connecticut's 2nd congressional district" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut%27s_2nd_congressional_district">2nd</a> district</div>

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<td colspan="2" >In office

January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981</td>

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<th>Preceded by</th>

<td><a title="Robert H. Steele" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_H._Steele">Robert H. Steele</a></td>

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<th>Succeeded by</th>

<td><a title="Sam Gejdenson" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Gejdenson">Sam Gejdenson</a></td>

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<div >Chairman of the <a title="United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Rules_and_Administration">Senate Committee on Rules and Administration</a></div>

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<td colspan="2" >In office

January 3 – January 20, 2001</td>

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<th>Preceded by</th>

<td><a title="Mitch McConnell" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_McConnell">Mitch McConnell</a></td>

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<th>Succeeded by</th>

<td><a title="Mitch McConnell" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_McConnell">Mitch McConnell</a></td>

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<td colspan="2" >In office

June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003</td>

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<th>Preceded by</th>

<td><a title="Mitch McConnell" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_McConnell">Mitch McConnell</a></td>

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<th>Succeeded by</th>

<td><a title="Trent Lott" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Lott">Trent Lott</a></td>

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<div >Chairman of the <a title="United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Banking,Housing,and_Urban_Affairs">Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs</a></div>

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<td colspan="2" ><a title="Incumbent" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incumbent">Incumbent</a></td>

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<td colspan="2" >Assumed office

January 4, 2007</td>

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<th>Preceded by</th>

<td><a title="Richard Shelby" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Shelby">Richard Shelby</a></td>

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<div ><a title="Democratic National Committee" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_National_Committee">General Chairman of the Democratic National Committee</a></div>

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<td colspan="2" >In office

1995 – 1997</td>

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<th>Preceded by</th>

<td><a title="Debra DeLee" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debra_DeLee">Debra DeLee</a></td>

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<th>Succeeded by</th>

<td><a title="Donald Fowler" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Fowler">Donald Fowler</a></td>

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<td>May 27, 1944 (1944-05-27) (age 64)

<a title="Willimantic" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willimantic">Willimantic</a>, <a title="Connecticut" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut">Connecticut</a></td>

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<th>Nationality</th>

<td>American</td>

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<th>Political party</th>

<td><a title="Democratic Party (United States)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_%28United_States%29">Democratic</a></td>

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<th>Spouse</th>

<td>Jackie Marie Clegg</td>

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<th>Children</th>

<td>Grace Dodd

Christina Dodd</td>

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<th>Residence</th>

<td><a title="East Haddam, Connecticut" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Haddam,_Connecticut">East Haddam, Connecticut</a></td>

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<th><a title="Alma mater" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alma_mater">Alma mater</a></th>

<td><a title="Providence College" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence_College">Providence College</a>

<a title="University of Louisville" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Louisville">University of Louisville</a></td>

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<th>Occupation</th>

<td>attorney</td>

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<th>Website</th>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" title="http://dodd.senate.gov/" href="http://dodd.senate.gov/">Chris Dodd</a></td>

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Christopher John Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an <a title="United States" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States">American</a> <a title="Lawyer" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawyer">lawyer</a> and <a title="Democratic Party (United States)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_%28United_States%29">Democratic</a> <a title="Politician" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politician">politician</a> currently serving as the <a title="Seniority in the United States Senate" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seniority_in_the_United_States_Senate">senior</a> <a title="United States Senate" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate">U.S. Senator</a> from <a title="Connecticut" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut">Connecticut</a>.

Dodd served as a <a title="United States House of Representatives" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives">U.S. Representative</a> from Connecticut from 1975 until 1981, when he became a Senator. He served as general chairman of the <a title="Democratic National Committee" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_National_Committee">Democratic National Committee</a> from 1995 to 1997. He is now the state's <a title="Seniority in the United States Senate" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seniority_in_the_United_States_Senate">senior Senator</a>. He currently serves as Chairman of the <a title="United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Banking,Housing,and_Urban_Affairs">Senate Banking Committee</a>.<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-0">[1]</a>

Currently Dodd is the <a title="List of United States Senators from Connecticut" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Senators_from_Connecticut">longest-serving Senator in Connecticut's history</a>, the <a title="Seniority in the United States Senate" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seniority_in_the_United_States_Senate#current_seniority_list">10th most senior of current Senators</a> and one of three from the <a title="United States Senate elections, 1980" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,1980">1980 freshman class</a> who are still serving (the others are <a title="Republican Party (United States)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party%28United_States%29">Republicans</a> <a title="Arlen Specter" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Specter">Arlen Specter</a> and <a title="Chuck Grassley" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Grassley">Chuck Grassley</a>).<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-withdraws-1">[2]</a>

<h2> Early life and education</h2>

Dodd was born in <a title="Willimantic" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willimantic">Willimantic</a>, <a title="Connecticut" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut">Connecticut</a>. His parents were Grace Mary Dodd (née Murphy) and U.S. Senator <a title="Thomas J. Dodd" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Dodd">Thomas Joseph Dodd</a>; all eight of his great-grandparents were born in <a title="Ireland" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland">Ireland</a>.<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-2">[3]</a> He is the fifth of six children;<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-3">[4]</a> his eldest brother, Thomas J. Dodd Jr., is a professor emeritus of the School of Foreign Service of <a title="Georgetown University" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgetown_University">Georgetown University</a>, and served as the U.S. ambassador to <a title="Uruguay" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguay">Uruguay</a> and <a title="Costa Rica" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rica">Costa Rica</a> under President <a title="Bill Clinton" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton">Bill Clinton</a>.

Dodd attended <a title="Georgetown Preparatory School" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgetown_Preparatory_School">Georgetown Preparatory School</a>, a <a title="Society of Jesus" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Jesus">Jesuit</a> boys' school in <a title="Bethesda, Maryland" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethesda,_Maryland">Bethesda, Maryland</a>. He graduated with a <a title="Bachelor's degree" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor%27s_degree">bachelor's degree</a> in <a title="English literature" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_literature">English literature</a> from <a title="Providence College" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence_College">Providence College</a> in 1966. He served as a <a title="Peace Corps" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Corps">Peace Corps</a> volunteer in a small rural town in the <a title="Dominican Republic" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republic">Dominican Republic</a> from 1966 to 1968. While there, he became fluent in <a title="Spanish language" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language">Spanish</a>.<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-4">[5]</a> Dodd then joined the <a title="United States Army Reserve" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Reserve">United States Army Reserve</a>, serving until 1975.

In 1972, Dodd earned a <a title="Juris Doctor" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_Doctor">Juris Doctor</a> at the <a title="University of Louisville" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Louisville">University of Louisville</a>, where he served as vice magistrate of the law school's student body. The following year, he was <a title="Admission to the bar in the United States" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admission_to_the_bar_in_the_United_States">admitted to the Connecticut bar</a>, and began practicing law in <a title="New London, Connecticut" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_London,_Connecticut">New London</a>.

In July 1970, Dodd married Susan Mooney; they <a title="Divorce" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce">divorced</a> in October 1982. Afterwards, he dated at different times <a title="Bianca Jagger" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bianca_Jagger">Bianca Jagger</a> and <a title="Carrie Fisher" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Fisher">Carrie Fisher</a>, among others.<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-Horowitz-5">[6]</a> In 1999, he married his second wife, Jackie Marie Clegg, who is a member of <a title="The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a>. The couple has two daughters, Grace (born September 2001) and Christina Dodd (born May 2005). Dodd is also the godfather of singer/actress <a title="Christy Carlson Romano" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christy_Carlson_Romano">Christy Carlson Romano</a>, who once interned in his office.

Dodd lives in <a title="East Haddam, Connecticut" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Haddam,_Connecticut">East Haddam, Connecticut</a> when <a title="United States Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress">Congress</a> is not in session. He also owns a vacation home in <a title="Connemara" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connemara">Connemara</a>, <a title="Ireland" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland">Ireland</a>.

Dodd was part of the "<a title="Watergate Babies" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watergate_Babies">Watergate class of '74</a>" which CNN pundit <a title="David Gergen" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gergen">David Gergen</a> credited with bringing "a fresh burst of <a title="Liberalism" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism">liberal</a> energy to the <a title="United States Capitol" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Capitol">Capitol</a>."<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-6">[7]</a> Elected to the <a title="United States House of Representatives" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives">U.S. House of Representatives</a> from <a title="Connecticut's 2nd congressional district" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut%27s_2nd_congressional_district">Connecticut's 2nd congressional district</a> and reelected twice, he served from January 4, 1975 to January 3, 1981. During his tenure in the House, he served on the <a title="United States House Select Committee on Assassinations" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Select_Committee_on_Assassinations">United States House Select Committee on Assassinations</a>.

<h2>U.S. Senator</h2>

Dodd was elected to the Senate in the <a title="United States Senate elections, 1980" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,1980">1980 election</a> and was subsequently reelected in the <a title="United States Senate elections, 1986" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,1986">1986</a>, <a title="United States Senate elections, 1992" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,1992">1992</a>, <a title="United States Senate elections, 1998" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,1998">1998</a>, and <a title="United States Senate elections, 2004" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_2004">2004 elections</a>. He is the first Senator from Connecticut to serve five consecutive terms. From 1995 to 1997, he served as General Chairman of the <a title="Democratic National Committee" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_National_Committee">Democratic National Committee</a>. As General Chairman, Dodd was the DNC's spokesman. <a title="Donald Fowler" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Fowler">Donald Fowler</a> served as National Chairman, running the party's day to day operations.

Dodd has also involved himself in children’s and family issues, founding the first Senate Children’s Caucus<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-7">[8]</a> and authoring the <a title="Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_and_Medical_Leave_Act_of_1993">Family and Medical Leave Act</a> (FMLA),<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-bloomberg1-8">[9]</a> which guarantees employees unpaid leave in the event of illness, a sick family member, or the birth or <a title="Adoption" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoption">adoption</a> of a child. To date, more than 50 million employees have taken advantage of FMLA protections. He is currently working to support a bill that would provide paid family and medical leave. For his work on behalf of children and families, the National <a title="Head Start" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_Start">Head Start</a> association named him “Senator of the Decade” in 1990.<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-bloomberg1-8">[9]</a>

Senator Dodd giving a speech at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Submarine_Base_New_London" title="Naval Submarine Base New London">Naval Submarine Base New London</a>, July 1985.</div>

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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Public_Integrity" title="Center for Public Integrity">Center for Public Integrity</a> has criticized Dodd for "being the leading advocate in the Senate on behalf of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accountancy" title="Accountancy">accounting</a> industry."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-9" title="">[10]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-10" title="">[</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-10" title="">11]</a> Political consultant and commentator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Morris" title="Dick Morris">Dick Morris</a> wrote that Dodd had received more from accounting firm <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Andersen" title="Arthur Andersen">Arthur Andersen</a> than any other Democrat and bore responsibility for trying to shield accounting firms from investor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraud" title="Fraud">fraud</a> liability in cases such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron_scandal" title="Enron scandal">Enron scandal</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-11" title="">[12]</a>

During the 1994 elections, the Republicans won the majority in both houses of Congress. Dodd therefore entered the minority for the second time in his Senate career. He ran for the now vacant position of Senate Minority Leader, but was defeated by South Dakota Senator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Daschle" title="Tom Daschle">Tom Daschle</a> by one vote. The vote was tied 23-23, and it was Colorado Senator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Nighthorse_Campbell" title="Ben Nighthorse Campbell">Ben Nighthorse Campbell</a> who cast the deciding vote by absentee ballot in favor of Daschle. Shortly after that, Campbell switched parties and became a Republican.

Dodd briefly considered running for President in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2004" title="United States presidential election, 2004">2004</a>, but ultimately decided against such a campaign and endorsed fellow U.S. Senator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Lieberman" title="Joe Lieberman">Joe Lieberman</a>. He then was considered as a likely running mate for his friend, eventual Democratic nominee <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerry" title="John Kerry">John Kerry</a>. He was also considered a possible candidate for replacing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Daschle" title="Tom Daschle">Tom Daschle</a> as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_leaders_of_the_United_States_Senate" title="Party leaders of the United States Senate">Senate Minority Leader</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/109th_United_States_Congress" title="109th United States Congress">109th Congress</a>, but he declined, and that position was instead filled by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Reid" title="Harry Reid">Harry Reid</a>.

Dodd announced in a letter to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Election_Commission" title="Federal Election Commission">Federal Election Commission</a> that he was no longer a candidate for the Senate in 2010,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-12" title="">[13]</a> although this action was likely done so he could transfer funds from his re-election bid to his presidential campaign, and not to signal that he would not run for re-election.

A 2008 poll of Connecticut voters suggested Dodd would have difficulty winning re-election in 2010, with 46% viewing his job performance as fair or poor. A 2009 poll by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinnipiac_University" title="Quinnipiac University">Quinnipiac University</a> found a majority of Connecticut voters would vote to replace Dodd in the 2010 election. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-13" title="">[14]</a>

In March 2009 Democratic gubernatorial candidate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Bysiewicz" title="Susan Bysiewicz">Susan Bysiewicz</a> was quoted in the Yale Daily News suggesting Dodd's yet unannounced re-election bid could be a drag on the fortunes of other Connecticut Democrats in the 2010 election <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-14" title="">[15]</a> A poll that month taken by Quinnipiac showed Dodd trailing possible Republican opponent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Simmons" title="Rob Simmons">Rob Simmons</a> for re-election in 2010, although another poll taken less than a week later showed Dodd leading Simmons 45-40. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-15" title="">[16]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-16" title="">[</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-16" title="">17]</a> On March 15, 2009, Simmons announced he was running for the Senate. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-17" title="">[18]</a> An April 2009 Quinnipiac poll showed Dodd losing to Simmons by 16 points and also trailing other possible Republican opponents <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-18" title="">[19]</a>

<h2>2008 Presidential campaign</h2>

<div class="rellink noprint relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd_presidential_campaign,_2008" title="Christopher Dodd presidential campaign, 2008">Christopher Dodd presidential campaign, 2008</a></div>

Dodd speaking on the campaign trail, January 2007.</div>

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On January 11, 2007, Dodd announced his candidacy for the office of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States">President of the United States</a> on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imus_in_the_Morning" title="Imus in the Morning">Imus in the Morning</a> show. On January 19, 2007, Dodd made a formal announcement with supporters at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_State_House_%28Hartford%29" title="Old State House (Hartford)">Old State House</a> in Hartford.

The watchdog group <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Responsive_Politics" title="Center for Responsive Politics">opensecrets.org</a> pointed out that the Dodd campaign was heavily funded by the financial services industry, which is regulated by committees Dodd chairs in the Senate.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-19" title="">[20]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-20" title="">[</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-20" title="">21]</a>

In May, he trailed in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statewide_opinion_polling_for_the_United_States_presidential_election,2008" title="Statewide opinion polling for the United States presidential election, 2008">state</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationwide_opinion_polling_for_the_United_States_presidential_election,2008" title="Nationwide opinion polling for the United States presidential election, 2008">national</a> polls and acknowledged he wasn't keeping pace with rival campaigns' fund raising. However, he said that as more voters became aware of his opposition to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War" title="Iraq War">Iraq War</a>, they would support his campaign.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-0526-AP-21" title="">[22]</a> However, his prospects did not improve; a November 7, 2007 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallup_poll" title="Gallup poll">Gallup poll</a> placed him at 1%.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-22" title="">[23]</a> Dodd dropped out of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_election" title="Primary election">primary</a> race on the night of the January 3, 2008 Iowa caucuses after placing seventh with almost all precincts reporting.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-withdraws-1" title="">[2]</a>

Among eight major candidates for the nomination Dodd, even with later states where he was on the ballot after withdrawal, won last place by popular vote in primary (after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">Barack Obama</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Rodham_Clinton" title="Hillary Rodham Clinton">Hillary Rodham Clinton</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Edwards" title="John Edwards">John Edwards</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Richardson" title="Bill Richardson">Bill Richardson</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Kucinich" title="Dennis Kucinich">Dennis Kucinich</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden" title="Joe Biden">Joe Biden</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Gravel" title="Mike Gravel">Mike Gravel</a>, also including uncommitted delegates and scattering votes).<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-23" title="">[24]</a> He won a total of 25,252 votes in delegates primaries and 9,940 in penalized contests.

Dodd later said he was not interested in running for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_President_of_the_United_States" title="Vice President of the United States">Vice President</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_leaders_of_the_United_States_Senate" title="Party leaders of the United States Senate">Senate Majority Leader</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-24" title="">[25]</a> Dodd endorsed former rival <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">Barack Obama</a> on February 26, 2008.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-25" title="">[26]</a>

<h2>Countrywide Financial loan controversy</h2>

<div class="rellink boilerplate further">Further information: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countrywide_financial_political_loan_scandal" title="Countrywide financial political loan scandal">Countrywide financial political loan scandal</a></div>

As Dodd in his role as chairman of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Banking,Housing,and_Urban_Affairs" title="United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs">Senate Banking Committee</a> proposed a housing bailout to the Senate floor in June 2008 that would assist troubled subprime mortgage lenders such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countrywide_Financial" title="Countrywide Financial">Countrywide Financial</a> in the wake of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_housing_bubble" title="United States housing bubble">United States housing bubble</a>'s collapse,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-Angelo.27s_Angel-26" title="">[27]</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cond%C3%A9_Nast_Portfolio" title="Condé Nast Portfolio">Condé Nast Portfolio</a> reported that in 2003 Dodd had refinanced the mortgages on his homes in Washington, D.C. and Connecticut through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countrywide_Financial" title="Countrywide Financial">Countrywide Financial</a> and had received favorable terms due to being placed in a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelo_Mozilo#.22Friends_of_Angelo.22_VIP_program" title="Angelo Mozilo">Friends of Angelo</a>" program. Dodd received mortgages from Countrywide at allegedly below-market rates on his Washington, D.C. and Connecticut homes.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-Angelo.27s_Angel-26" title="">[27]</a> Dodd has not disclosed the below-market mortgages in any of six financial disclosure statements he filed with the Senate or Office of Government Ethics since obtaining the mortgages in 2003.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-27" title="">[28]</a>

Dodd's press secretary said the "Dodds received a competitive rate on their loans", and that they "did not seek or anticipate any special treatment, and they were not aware of any", then declined further comment.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-28" title="">[29]</a> Republican State Chairman Chris Healy stated that "Dodd has crossed the ethics line by obtaining two generous mortgage deals with a company that is the corporate poster-child for the national subprime lending meltdown."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-29" title="">[30]</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hartford_Courant" title="The Hartford Courant">The Hartford Courant</a> reported Dodd had taken "a major credibility hit" from the scandal.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-30" title="">[31]</a> The Chairman of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_the_Budget" title="United States Senate Committee on the Budget">Senate Budget Committee</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_Conrad" title="Kent Conrad">Kent Conrad</a> and the head of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fannie_Mae" title="Fannie Mae">Fannie Mae</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A.Johnson%28businessman%29" title="James A. Johnson (businessman)">Jim Johnson</a> received mortgages on favorable terms due to their association with Countrywide CEO <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelo_Mozilo" title="Angelo Mozilo">Angelo Mozilo</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-CFC_Friends_Loans-31" title="">[32]</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall_Street_Journal" title="The Wall Street Journal">The Wall Street Journal</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Post" title="The Washington Post">The Washington Post</a>, and two Connecticut papers have demanded further disclosure from Dodd regarding the Mozilo loans.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-32" title="">[33]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-33" title="">[</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-33" title="">34]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-34" title="">[</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-34" title="">35]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-35" title="">[</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-35" title="">36]</a>

On June 17, 2008, Dodd met twice with reporters and gave accounts of his mortgages with Countrywide. He admitted to reporters in Washington, D.C. that he knew as of 2003 that he was in a VIP program, but claimed it was due to being a good customer, not due to his political position. He omitted this detail in a press availability to Connecticut media.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-36" title="">[37]</a>

The top recipient of insurance industry contributions was Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT).<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-37" title="">[38]</a> The leading contributor from the insurance industry — as measured by total political contributions — was AFLAC, Inc., which contributed $907,150 in 2007.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-38" title="">[39]</a>

Countrywide has also contributed a total of $21,000 to Dodd’s campaigns since 1997. Dodd has received approximately $70,000 in campaign contributions from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_America" title="Bank of America">Bank of America</a>, which is buying Countrywide, in the last year-and-a-half before the Countrywide Financial loan scandal broke.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-Bank_of_America_Dodd-39" title="">[40]</a> Only then-Senators <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">Barack Obama</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Rodham_Clinton" title="Hillary Rodham Clinton">Hillary Clinton</a> have received more money from Bank of America than Dodd with Senator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain" title="John McCain">John McCain</a> slightly trailing him at $64,000. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-Bank_of_America_Dodd-39" title="">[40]</a> However, no American politician has received more contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac than Dodd's combined $133,900.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-40" title="">[41]</a>

On June 20, 2008, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_Foundation" class="mw-redirect" title="Heritage Foundation">Heritage Foundation</a> alleged staffers from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_America" title="Bank of America">Bank of America</a> had drafted Dodd's housing bailout bill (FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act of 2008) in March 2008, before it was introduced in the Senate.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-41" title="">[42]</a> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times" title="Los Angeles Times">Los Angeles Times</a> also reported on this story on June 21.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-42" title="">[43]</a>

On June 19, Dodd told the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_News-Times" title="The News-Times">Danbury News-Times</a> "I don't believe I did anything wrong."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-43" title="">[44]</a> The state's leading newspaper, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hartford_Courant" title="The Hartford Courant">The Hartford Courant</a> however concluded Dodd was negligent in accepting the Countrywide mortgage and suggested it was time "Dodd got off his high horse, came clean and admit he screwed up."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-44" title="">[45]</a> A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">New York Times</a> editorial the same day accused Dodd and fellow Senator Kent Conrad of being painfully out of touch regarding the "Friends of Angelo" loans.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-45" title="">[46]</a> Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_for_Responsibility_and_Ethics_in_Washington" title="Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington">CREW</a>) has called for House and Senate to investigate Senators Dodd and Conrad.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-46" title="">[47]</a>

In a Connecticut public appearance in October 2008, Dodd again refused to release his Countrywide loan documents<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-47" title="">[48]</a> and suggested the press was inappropriately placing blame for the mortgage crisis. An October 21, 2008 editorial in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Times" class="mw-redirect" title="New York Times">New York Times</a> sharply criticised Dodd's failure to produce his loan documents, stating "his excuses are wearing ridiculously thin."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-48" title="">[49]</a>

An October 2008 poll taken by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UConn" class="mw-redirect" title="UConn">UConn</a> confirmed the Countrywide controversy had seriously damaged Dodd's image in Connecticut, as 42% of voters approved of his job performance, while 48% disapproved.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-49" title="">[50]</a>

On February 2, 2009 Dodd held a press conference in Hartford with CT media. Dodd made available all documents in his possession related to his 2003 refinancing with Countrywide Financial. He did not permit the media to copy any documents and did not post these documents for public inspection. Reaction to this disclosure, which the Dodd camp claimed vindicated the Senator, ranged from tepid <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-50" title="">[51]</a> to negative <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-51" title="">[52]</a>

<h2>Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac controversies</h2>

<div class="rellink boilerplate further">Further information: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_takeover_of_Fannie_Mae_and_Freddie_Mac" title="Federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac">Federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac</a></div>

Senator Dodd was involved in issues related to the federal takeover of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fannie_Mae" title="Fannie Mae">Fannie Mae</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Mac" title="Freddie Mac">Freddie Mac</a> during the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis.

As part of Dodd's overall mortgage bill the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_and_Economic_Recovery_Act_of_2008" title="Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008">Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008</a> before Congress in the summer of 2008, Treasury Secretary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Paulson" class="mw-redirect" title="Hank Paulson">Hank Paulson</a> sought provisions enabling the Treasury to add additional capital and regulatory oversight over these <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_sponsored_enterprises" class="mw-redirect" title="Government sponsored enterprises">government sponsored enterprises</a>. These provisions were part of the bill signed by President George W. Bush. At the time, it was estimated that the federal government would need to spend $25 billion on a bailout of the firms.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-52" title="">[53]</a>

During this period, Dodd denied rumors these firms were in financial crisis. He called the firms "fundamentally strong",<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-53" title="">[54]</a> said they were in "sound situation" and "in good shape" and to "suggest they are in major trouble is not accurate".<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-54" title="">[55]</a>

In early September, after the firms continued to report huge losses,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-55" title="">[56]</a> Secretary Paulson announced a federal takeover of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Dodd expressed skepticism of the action, which the Treasury estimated could cost as much as $200 Billion.

Dodd is the number one recipient in Congress of campaign funds from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-56" title="">[57]</a> Critics also charge that Dodd ignored repeated warnings that the two firms were in need of major reform.

<h2>Irish Cottage Controversy</h2>

In February 2009 Kevin Rennie, a columnist at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartford_Courant" class="mw-redirect" title="Hartford Courant">Hartford Courant</a> ran an op-ed concerning Dodd's acquisition of his vacation home in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundstone,County_Galway" title="Roundstone, County Galway">Roundstone, Ireland</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-57" title="">[58]</a> The article alleged that Dodd's former partner in buying the home had ties to disgraced <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_Stearns" title="Bear Stearns">Bear Stearns</a> principal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Downe,Jr." title="Edward Downe, Jr.">Edward Downe, Jr.</a> who has since been convicted of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insider_trading" title="Insider trading">insider trading</a> by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securities_and_Exchange_Commission" class="mw-redirect" title="Securities and Exchange Commission">Securities and Exchange Commission</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-58" title="">[</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-58" title="">59]</a> After paying an $11 million fine for his role in the scam, Downe later obtained a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardon" title="Pardon">pardon</a> in the waning days of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Bill Clinton</a> administration. The controversial pardon was granted after Dodd lobbied Clinton on Downe's behalf. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-59" title="">[60]</a> Dodd's letter to the President said "Mr. President, Ed Downe is a good person, who is truly sorry for the hurt he caused others,"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-60" title="">[61]</a>. After Downes' pardon, Dodd bought out the interests of his partner for a price allegedly based on a 2002 bank appraisal of the Roundstone home, which yielded little profit for Dodd's partner.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-61" title="">[62]</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-62" title="">[63]</a> Rennie criticized Dodd for claiming the Roundstone home was worth less than $250,000 in Senate ethics filings; some observers estimated the likely value in excess of $1 million USD. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-63" title="">[64]</a>

<h2>AIG Bailout and Bonuses Controversy</h2>

From the fall of 2008 through early 2009, the United States government spent nearly $170 Billion to bailout the failing insurance giant, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIG" class="mw-redirect" title="AIG">AIG</a>. AIG then spent $165 million of this money to hand out executive "retention" bonuses to its top executives. Public outrage ensued over this perceived misuse of taxpayer dollars.

Senator Chris Dodd was responsible for the inclusion of a clause limiting excessive executive pay in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. On February 14, 2009, the Wall Street Journal published an article, Bankers Face Strict New Pay Cap, discussing a retroactive limit to bonus compensation inserted by Chris Dodd into the stimulus bill that passed in the Senate.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-solomon2009-64" title="">[65]</a>

The same article went on to mention that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Lawrence Summers "had called Sen. Dodd and asked him to reconsider".

When the bill left conference, Dodd's provision had been amended to include a provision preventing limits on bonuses previously negotiated and under contract. This provision was lobbied for by Geithner and Summers.

As Dodd explained in his March 18th interview on CNN,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-65" title="">[66]</a> at Geithner and the Obama Administration's insistence he amended his provision's original language to include Geithner and Summers' request, which thus allowed AIG to give out bonuses under previously negotiated contracts. However, Dodd's provision also includes language allowing the Treasury Secretary to examine bonuses doled out and, if they are found to be in violation of the public interest, recoup those funds.

Dodd retreated from his original statement that he did not know how the amendment was changed<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-66" title="">[67]</a> Dodd was criticized by many in the Connecticut media for the apparent flip-flop.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-67" title="">[68]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-68" title="">[69]</a> In a March 20, 2009 editorial the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Haven_Register" title="New Haven Register">New Haven Register</a> called Dodd "a lying weasel"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-69" title="">[70]</a> The same day, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartford_Courant" class="mw-redirect" title="Hartford Courant">Hartford Courant</a> columnist Rick Green called on Dodd not to seek re-election in 2010.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-70" title="">[71]</a>

The Washington, DC press described Dodd as "reeling" from the controversy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-71" title="">[72]</a> and having "stepped in it" after changing his story as to the bonus amendment.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-72" title="">[73]</a>

At a press conference in Enfield, Connecticut, on Friday, March 20, Dodd responded to critics and explained that his original answer to a CNN answer was based on a misunderstanding of the question.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-73" title="">[74]</a> He also said he was disappointed that the Treasury officials who asked him to make the legislative changes had not identified themselves, refusing to confirm the actual identity of the individuals responsible for changing the amendment.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-74" title="">[75]</a>

The next day, voters in Ridgefield rallied against Dodd and the Obama economic agenda <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-75" title="">[76]</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-76" title="">[77]</a> The Manchester <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_Inquirer" title="Journal Inquirer">Journal Inquirer</a> suggested that "Chris Dodd's explaining may have only begun" <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-77" title="">[78]</a>

Opensecrets.org reports Dodd has received over $223,000 from AIG employees for his recent campaigns. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-78" title="">[79]</a> Additionally, it has recently been revealed that Senator Dodd's wife is a former Director for Bermuda-based IPC Holdings, a company controlled by AIG. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-79" title="">[80]</a>

On March 30, 2009, it was reported that AIG Financial Products head <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Cassano" title="Joseph Cassano">Joseph Cassano</a> personally solicited contributions from his employees via an e-mail suggesting that the contributions were related to Dodd's ascension to the chairmanship of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_Banking_Committee" class="mw-redirect" title="Senate Banking Committee">Senate Banking Committee</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-80" title="">[81]</a>

<h2> Political positions</h2>

<div class="rellink noprint relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Christopher_Dodd" title="Political positions of Christopher Dodd">Political positions of Christopher Dodd</a></div>

Dodd favors a one-year troop withdrawal timetable to end the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War" title="Iraq War">Iraq War</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-81" title="">[82]</a> and is against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSA_warrantless_surveillance_controversy" title="NSA warrantless surveillance controversy">warrantless surveillance</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-82" title="">[83]</a> Dodd has supported amending the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_and_Medical_Leave_Act_of_1993" title="Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993">Family Medical Leave Act</a> to include paid leave,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-83" title="">[84]</a> restoring the rule of law to the U.S. immigration system,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-84" title="">[85]</a> and a corporate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tax" title="Carbon tax">carbon tax</a> to combat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming" title="Global warming">global warming</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-85" title="">[86]</a>

While Dodd has blamed President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush">Bush</a> for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subprime_mortgage_crisis" title="Subprime mortgage crisis">subprime mortgage crisis</a>, congressional Democrats opposed a Bush administration proposal to increase oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2003<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-86" title="">[87]</a> and efforts to address the issue in 2007 were delayed during Dodd's presidential campaign.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-87" title="">[88]</a>

Following the failure of his presidential bid, Dodd proposed that the federal government buy up to $400 billion in defaulted mortgages. He denied that this was a taxpayer funded bailout of the mortgage business.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-88" title="">[89]</a>

Dodd is credited with inserting the last-minute pay limit into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009" title="American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009">American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009</a>. The pay restrictions included prohibition of bonuses in excess of one-third of total salary for any company receiving any money from the plan and was retroactive to companies that received funds under <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troubled_Assets_Relief_Program" title="Troubled Assets Relief Program">Troubled Assets Relief Program</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-BFSNPC-89" title="">[90]</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortune" title="Fortune">Fortune</a> magazine however, panned this provision as likely to "drive the craftiest financial minds away from the most troubled institutions". This article also pointed out the Dodd bill delegated to the Treasury Secretary the right to approve appropriate restaurants for client entertainment. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#cite_note-90" title="">[91]</a>

<h2>Committee assignments</h2>

</div>