Mike Gravel

Mike Gravel is a former senator from Alaska. He served two terms, from 1969 to 1981. He is currently competing for the Libertarian Party nomination in the 2008 Presidential Election. As a senator, he worked to end the draft during the Vietnam War, led the push to enter the Pentagon Papers in the public record, lobbied for the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and, in 1972, ran an unusual campaign for the Democratic Vice President nomination. Since leaving office, Gravel has been involved in several business ventures, most ending in bankruptcy, and suffered troubles with his health. In 2006 he began a campaign for nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate in the 2008 election, but, in March, 2008, after repeated poor showings in national polls, announced he was switching to the Libertarian Party. Gravel is an advocate of direct democracy and a leading proponent of the National Initiative.