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Gravel was born on May 13, 1930 in Springfield, Massachusetts, one of five children of French-Canadian immigrant parents, Alphonse and Marie (née Bourassa) Gravel.<ref>[http://www.wargs.com/political/gravel.html Mike Gravel genealogy], Wargs.</ref><ref name="cby-182">''Current Biography Yearbook 1972'', p. 182.</ref><ref name="gravel-70">Gravel and Lauria, ''A Political Odyssey'', pp. 69–70.</ref>
Gravel was born on May 13, 1930 in Springfield, Massachusetts, one of five children of French-Canadian immigrant parents, Alphonse and Marie (née Bourassa) Gravel.<ref>[http://www.wargs.com/political/gravel.html Mike Gravel genealogy], Wargs.</ref><ref name="cby-182">''Current Biography Yearbook 1972'', p. 182.</ref><ref name="gravel-70">Gravel and Lauria, ''A Political Odyssey'', pp. 69–70.</ref>


Gravel "decided to become a pioneer in a faraway place,"<ref name="nyt022776">{{cite news |url=https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F30E14F83A58167493C5AB1789D85F428785F9|title=Senators From Hinterlands Recall Early Years in City; U.S. Senators Recall Their Early Years in City|author=Martin Tolchin|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 27, 1976 |accessdate=December 11, 2007|format=fee required}}</ref> and moved to pre-statehood Alaska in August 1956, without funds or a job, looking for a place where someone without social or political connections could be a viable candidate for public office.<ref name="wapo090907">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/04/AR2007090401794.html?sid=ST2007101600688|title=Last|author=Leahy, Michael|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 9, 2007|access-date=December 20, 2007}}</ref><ref name="salon050707">{{cite web |author=Alex Koppelman |url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/05/07/mike_gravel/index.html |title=Don't worry, be Mike Gravel |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627105316/http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/05/07/mike_gravel/index.html |archive-date=June 27, 2009 |website=salon.com |date=May 7, 2007 |access-date=July 4, 2007}}</ref> Alaska's voting age of 19, less than most other states' 21, played a role in his decision,<ref name="nyt070271">{{cite news |url=https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F20D10FD3A5B1A7493C0A9178CD85F458785F9 |title=Impetuous Senator: Maurice Robert Gravel |author=Warren Weaver, Jr. |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 2, 1971 |access-date=December 24, 2007 |format=fee required}}</ref> as did its newness<ref name="wapo090907" /> and cooler climate.<ref name="salon050707" /> Seeing Alaska as a wide-open place with no political establishment or entrenched interests,<ref name="odyssey-136">Gravel and Lauria, ''A Political Odyssey'', p. 136.</ref> Gravel quickly became part of the civic scene there.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/10383606/?terms=%22mike%2Bgravel%22 |title=Democrats Plan Two-Day Drive For Campaign |newspaper=Fairbanks News-Miner |date=October 7, 1957 |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref><ref name="fnm-statehood">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/11709894/?terms=%22mike%2Bgravel%22 |title=Alaskan Young Demo Tells Conference Statehood Views |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Fairbanks News-Miner |date=June 23, 1958 |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref>
Gravel "decided to become a pioneer in a faraway place,"<ref name="nyt022776">{{cite news |url=https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F30E14F83A58167493C5AB1789D85F428785F9 |title=Senators From Hinterlands Recall Early Years in City; U.S. Senators Recall Their Early Years in City |author=Martin Tolchin |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 27, 1976 |access-date=December 11, 2007 |format=fee required}}</ref> and moved to pre-statehood Alaska in August 1956, without funds or a job, looking for a place where someone without social or political connections could be a viable candidate for public office.<ref name="wapo090907">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/04/AR2007090401794.html?sid=ST2007101600688 |title=Last |author=Leahy, Michael |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 9, 2007 |access-date=December 20, 2007}}</ref><ref name="salon050707">{{cite web |author=Alex Koppelman |url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/05/07/mike_gravel/index.html |title=Don't worry, be Mike Gravel |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627105316/http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/05/07/mike_gravel/index.html |archive-date=June 27, 2009 |website=salon.com |date=May 7, 2007 |access-date=July 4, 2007}}</ref> Alaska's voting age of 19, less than most other states' 21, played a role in his decision,<ref name="nyt070271">{{cite news |url=https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F20D10FD3A5B1A7493C0A9178CD85F458785F9 |title=Impetuous Senator: Maurice Robert Gravel |author=Warren Weaver, Jr. |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 2, 1971 |access-date=December 24, 2007 |format=fee required}}</ref> as did its newness<ref name="wapo090907" /> and cooler climate.<ref name="salon050707" /> Seeing Alaska as a wide-open place with no political establishment or entrenched interests,<ref name="odyssey-136">Gravel and Lauria, ''A Political Odyssey'', p. 136.</ref> Gravel quickly became part of the civic scene there.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/10383606/?terms=%22mike%2Bgravel%22 |title=Democrats Plan Two-Day Drive For Campaign |newspaper=Fairbanks News-Miner |date=October 7, 1957 |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref><ref name="fnm-statehood">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/11709894/?terms=%22mike%2Bgravel%22 |title=Alaskan Young Demo Tells Conference Statehood Views |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Fairbanks News-Miner |date=June 23, 1958 |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref>


== 2008 presidential campaign ==
== 2008 presidential campaign ==
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On March 25, 2008, Gravel announced that he would leave the Democrats and join the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]],<ref name="lp">{{cite web |url=http://www.lp.org/media/article_573.shtml |title=Former U.S. Senator Mike Gravel joins Libertarian Party ranks |date=March 25, 2008 |access-date=March 25, 2008 |publisher=[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326190245/http://www.lp.org/media/article_573.shtml |archive-date=March 26, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gravel2008.us/content/personal-message-mike |title=A Personal Message from Mike |author=Mike Gravel |publisher=Mike Gravel for President 2008 |date=March 26, 2008 |access-date=March 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326185824/http://www.gravel2008.us/content/personal-message-mike |archive-date=March 26, 2008}}</ref> saying: "My libertarian views, as well as my strong stance against war, the military industrial complex and American imperialism, seem not to be tolerated by Democratic Party elites who are out of touch with the average American; elites that reject the empowerment of American citizens I offered to the Democratic Party at the beginning of this presidential campaign with the National Initiative for Democracy."<ref name="lp" /> The following day Gravel entered the race for the [[United States Libertarian presidential candidates, 2008|2008 Libertarian presidential nomination]],<ref name="nw033108">{{cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/129467/ |title=Maverick Mike |author=Sarah Elkins |magazine=Newsweek |date=March 31, 2008 |access-date=April 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506232848/http://www.newsweek.com/id/129467/ |archive-date=May 6, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> saying that he would have run as a third-party candidate all along except that he needed the public exposure that came from being in the earlier Democratic debates.<ref name="nw033108" /> Gravel's initial notion of running as a [[electoral fusion|fusion candidate]] with other parties was met with skepticism<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nysun.com/national/barr-gravel-eye-libertarian-nod-for-president/73744/ |title=Barr, Gravel Eye Libertarian Nod for President |author=Josh Gerstein |newspaper=The New York Sun |date=March 27, 2008 |access-date=May 26, 2008}}</ref> and not pursued.
On March 25, 2008, Gravel announced that he would leave the Democrats and join the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]],<ref name="lp">{{cite web |url=http://www.lp.org/media/article_573.shtml |title=Former U.S. Senator Mike Gravel joins Libertarian Party ranks |date=March 25, 2008 |access-date=March 25, 2008 |publisher=[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326190245/http://www.lp.org/media/article_573.shtml |archive-date=March 26, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gravel2008.us/content/personal-message-mike |title=A Personal Message from Mike |author=Mike Gravel |publisher=Mike Gravel for President 2008 |date=March 26, 2008 |access-date=March 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326185824/http://www.gravel2008.us/content/personal-message-mike |archive-date=March 26, 2008}}</ref> saying: "My libertarian views, as well as my strong stance against war, the military industrial complex and American imperialism, seem not to be tolerated by Democratic Party elites who are out of touch with the average American; elites that reject the empowerment of American citizens I offered to the Democratic Party at the beginning of this presidential campaign with the National Initiative for Democracy."<ref name="lp" /> The following day Gravel entered the race for the [[United States Libertarian presidential candidates, 2008|2008 Libertarian presidential nomination]],<ref name="nw033108">{{cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/129467/ |title=Maverick Mike |author=Sarah Elkins |magazine=Newsweek |date=March 31, 2008 |access-date=April 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506232848/http://www.newsweek.com/id/129467/ |archive-date=May 6, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> saying that he would have run as a third-party candidate all along except that he needed the public exposure that came from being in the earlier Democratic debates.<ref name="nw033108" /> Gravel's initial notion of running as a [[electoral fusion|fusion candidate]] with other parties was met with skepticism<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nysun.com/national/barr-gravel-eye-libertarian-nod-for-president/73744/ |title=Barr, Gravel Eye Libertarian Nod for President |author=Josh Gerstein |newspaper=The New York Sun |date=March 27, 2008 |access-date=May 26, 2008}}</ref> and not pursued.


As a Libertarian candidate, Gravel faced resistance to his liberal past and unorthodox positions;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13249 |title=Will the Real Libertarian Please Stand Up? |author=Philip Klein |magazine=The American Spectator |date=May 21, 2008 |access-date=May 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526112141/http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13249 |archive-date=May 26, 2008}}</ref> nevertheless, he garnered more support than he had as a Democrat, placing second and third in two April 2008 [[straw poll]]s.<ref name="libdebate1">{{cite news |url=http://www.gravel2008.us/content/straw-poll-results |title=Straw Poll Results |publisher=Mike Gravel for President 2008 |date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=April 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409183243/http://www.gravel2008.us/content/straw-poll-results |archive-date=April 9, 2008}}</ref> In the May 25 balloting at the [[2008 Libertarian National Convention]] in Denver, Gravel finished fourth out of eight candidates on the initial ballot, with 71 votes out of a total 618; he trailed former Congressman and eventual winner [[Bob Barr]], author [[Mary Ruwart]], and businessman [[Wayne Allyn Root]].<ref name="lp-vote">{{cite web |url=http://www.lp.org/media/printer_588.shtml |title=Press Releases: Presidential and VP Vote Totals – Updated Live! |publisher=[[Libertarian Party (United States)|LP.org]] |date=May 25, 2008 |access-date=May 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528033121/http://www.lp.org/media/printer_588.shtml |archive-date=May 28, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Gravel's position did not subsequently improve and he was eliminated on the fourth ballot.<ref name="lp-vote" /> Afterwards he stated that "I just ended my political career," but he vowed to continue promoting his positions as a writer and lecturer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/25/libertarians-pick-barr-as-presidential-nominee/ |title=Libertarians Pick Barr as Presidential Nominee |publisher=Fox News |date=May 25, 2008 |access-date=May 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528190001/http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/25/libertarians-pick-barr-as-presidential-nominee/ |archive-date=May 28, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
As a Libertarian candidate, Gravel faced resistance to his liberal past and unorthodox positions;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13249 |title=Will the Real Libertarian Please Stand Up? |author=Philip Klein |magazine=The American Spectator |date=May 21, 2008 |access-date=May 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526112141/http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13249 |archive-date=May 26, 2008}}</ref> nevertheless, he garnered more support than he had as a Democrat, placing second and third in two April 2008 straw polls.<ref name="libdebate1">{{cite news |url=http://www.gravel2008.us/content/straw-poll-results |title=Straw Poll Results |publisher=Mike Gravel for President 2008 |date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=April 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409183243/http://www.gravel2008.us/content/straw-poll-results |archive-date=April 9, 2008}}</ref> In the May 25 balloting at the [[2008 Libertarian National Convention]] in Denver, Gravel finished fourth out of eight candidates on the initial ballot, with 71 votes out of a total 618; he trailed former Congressman and eventual winner [[Bob Barr]], author [[Mary Ruwart]], and businessman [[Wayne Allyn Root]].<ref name="lp-vote">{{cite web |url=http://www.lp.org/media/printer_588.shtml |title=Press Releases: Presidential and VP Vote Totals – Updated Live! |publisher=[[Libertarian Party (United States)|LP.org]] |date=May 25, 2008 |access-date=May 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528033121/http://www.lp.org/media/printer_588.shtml |archive-date=May 28, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Gravel's position did not subsequently improve and he was eliminated on the fourth ballot.<ref name="lp-vote" /> Afterwards he stated that "I just ended my political career," but he vowed to continue promoting his positions as a writer and lecturer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/25/libertarians-pick-barr-as-presidential-nominee/ |title=Libertarians Pick Barr as Presidential Nominee |publisher=Fox News |date=May 25, 2008 |access-date=May 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528190001/http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/25/libertarians-pick-barr-as-presidential-nominee/ |archive-date=May 28, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


== Awards and honors ==
== Awards and honors ==
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== Writings ==
== Writings ==
* Gravel, Mike. ''Jobs and More Jobs''. Mt. McKinley Publishers, 1968.
* Gravel, Mike. ''Jobs and More Jobs''. Mt. McKinley Publishers, 1968.
* Gravel, Mike. ''Citizen Power: A People's Platform''. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1972. {{ISBN|0-03-091465-5}}.
* Gravel, Mike. ''Citizen Power: A People's Platform''. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1972. 0-03-091465-5.
** revised and reissued as ''Citizen Power: A Mandate for Change'', AuthorHouse, 2008. {{ISBN|1-4343-4315-4}}.
** revised and reissued as ''Citizen Power: A Mandate for Change'', AuthorHouse, 2008. 1-4343-4315-4.
* Gravel, Mike and Lauria, Joe. ''A Political Odyssey: The Rise of American Militarism and One Man's Fight to Stop It''. Seven Stories Press, 2008. {{ISBN|1-58322-826-8}}.
* Gravel, Mike and Lauria, Joe. ''A Political Odyssey: The Rise of American Militarism and One Man's Fight to Stop It''. Seven Stories Press, 2008. {{ISBN|1-58322-826-8}}.
* Gravel, Mike and Eisenbach, David. ''The Kingmakers: How the Media Threatens Our Security and Our Democracy''. Phoenix Books, 2008. {{ISBN|1-59777-586-X}}.
* Gravel, Mike and Eisenbach, David. ''The Kingmakers: How the Media Threatens Our Security and Our Democracy''. Phoenix Books, 2008. 1-59777-586-X.
* Gravel, Mike. ''Voice of a Maverick: The Speeches and Writings of Senator Mike Gravel''. Brandywine House, 2008.
* Gravel, Mike. ''Voice of a Maverick: The Speeches and Writings of Senator Mike Gravel''. Brandywine House, 2008.
* Gravel, Mike. Foreword to "Poisoned Power: The Case Against Nuclear Power Plants." [John W. Goffman & Arthur R. Tamplin, Rodale Press, Inc., Emmaus, PA, June 1971].
* Gravel, Mike. Foreword to "Poisoned Power: The Case Against Nuclear Power Plants." [John W. Goffman & Arthur R. Tamplin, Rodale Press, Inc., Emmaus, PA, June 1971].
* Gravel, Mike. ''The Failure of Representative Government and the Solution: A Legislature of the People''. AuthorHouse, 2020. {{ISBN|1-7283-3929-4}}
* Gravel, Mike. ''The Failure of Representative Government and the Solution: A Legislature of the People''. AuthorHouse, 2020. 1-7283-3929-4


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
* ''The Pentagon Papers'' Senator Gravel Edition. Vol. Five. Critical Essays. Boston. Beacon Press, 1972. 341p. plus 72p. of Index to Vol. I–IV of the Papers, Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, editors.
* ''The Pentagon Papers'' Senator Gravel Edition. Vol. Five. Critical Essays. Boston. Beacon Press, 1972. 341p. plus 72p. of Index to Vol. I–IV of the Papers, Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, editors.
* {{cite book |editor=Moritz, Charles |title=Current Biography Yearbook 1972 |publisher=H. W. Wilson Company |location=New York |year=1973 <!-- book has no ISBN --> |title-link=Current Biography Yearbook}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
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