George Mitchell (politician)

George John Mitchell (born August 20, 1933) was a United States Senator from Maine from 1980 to 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was an attorney from the 1960s until he was appointed to the Senate in May 1980 by the governor when Edmund Muskie resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State. He was elected in 1982, reelected in 1988 and did not run for reelection in 1994. While in the Senate he became one of the most powerful lawmakers, serving as senate majority leader from 1989 to 1995. Since 1995 he has been active in the Northern Ireland peace process.