GEORGE MITCHELL AT A GLANCE

Born: August 20, 1933. Home: Portland, Maine. Education: B.A., Bowdoin College; LL.B., Georgetown University. Military Career: United States Army, 1954-56. Occupation: Legislator/lawyer. Religion: Roman Catholic. Family: Divorced. One child, daughter Andrea. Political career: Maine Democratic chairman, 1966-68. Democratic nominee for governor, 1974. Appointed to the US Senate May 19, 1980. Elected Senate majority leader Nov. 29, 1988. Knowledgeable advocate of acid-rain controls, hazardous waste cleanup, and compensation to toxic-waste victims. Coauthored successful 1984 legislation aimed at helping Vietnam veterans with diseases believed to be caused by exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange. Committees: Environment and Public Works. Finance. Veterans' Affairs. As Senate majority leader, he is also ex officio member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.