Former U.S. senator and Vice Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman has reportedly passed away at 82, according to a statement released by the politician’s family.
Lieberman, a longtime senator for Connecticut, was known as the first Jewish American to receive a nomination on the ticket of a major party.
Per Lieberman’s family, his loved ones were with him at the time of his passing.
Joe Lieberman’s Cause of Death Revealed
The politician died at age 82, and according to his family, he passed away following complications suffered from a fall.
According to Politico, Lieberman’s family revealed that he died “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.”
Another statement via CBS News read, “Senator Lieberman’s love of God, his family, and America endured throughout his life of service in the public interest.”
During his twenty-four-year Senate tenure, Lieberman was selected to be Al Gore’s running mate in the 2000 presidential election. The ticket was lost in what is regarded as one of the closest races in American history.
Joe Lieberman Broke With The Democratic Party
Lieberman’s VP ticket was considered historical for Jews in politics, with the authors of “Jews in American Politics” noting that no Jewish person “had ever sought such a lofty office.”
They added that the “net effect of the nomination has been to change the perception of what is possible for Jewish candidates for office for all time.”
Four years after losing his vice presidential ticket, the politician tried to secure a Democratic presidential nomination but was unsuccessful. His loss was likely tied to his controversial support for the Iraq War.
Subsequently, in 2006, he was elected to his last term in the Senate as an independent. In the 2008 presidential contest, the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain thought about selecting Lieberman to be his running mate.
The Late Senator Was A Founding Member Of The Political Group ‘No Labels’
Lieberman was one of the co-founders of the centrist political group No Labels. The group is reportedly trying to promote a third-party presidential “unity ticket” in the 2024 election.
During a recent interview with Bloomberg, Lieberman stated that No Labels is still “in pursuit of a couple of really good candidates” and would come to a decision within the next two to three weeks.
“I have a lot of admiration and certainly affection for Joe Biden, but I think, unfortunately, he has been dragged to the left along with the Democratic Party, which is now disproportionately influenced by the left wing of the party,” Leiberman noted.
He added, “Thomas Jefferson once said America will need a little political rebellion every now and then, which should be as important in politics as the storms are in the natural world. And I think he meant to clear away the dead wood. And boy, does our political system need a good storm and a political rebellion right now. Hopefully, we can give our voters that choice this fall.”
No Labels Speaks Out On Joe Lieberman’s Death
Following Lieberman’s passing, the political group released a statement expressing shock at his death. They branded him the “moral center” of their movement and paid tribute to the former senator’s legacy.
“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,” the group began.
“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,” they added, per CBS News.
Since news of his death made headlines, several notable figures, including former President Barack Obama, have paid tribute to Lieberman.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Obama wrote, “Joe Lieberman and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but he had an extraordinary career in public service, including four decades spent fighting for the people of Connecticut.”
Obama continued, “He also worked hard to repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ and helped us pass the Affordable Care Act. In both cases the politics were difficult, but he stuck to his principles because he knew it was the right thing to do. Michelle and I extend our deepest condolences to Hadassah and the Lieberman family.”
Joe Lieberman and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but he had an extraordinary career in public service, including four decades spent fighting for the people of Connecticut. He also worked hard to repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and helped us pass the Affordable Care Act. In both…
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 27, 2024
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said 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. My thoughts are with Hadassah and the entire family.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Lieberman as “an extraordinarily kind and loyal personal friend.”
