Mike Gravel is a former Democratic U.S. Senator from Alaska, who served two terms in a row from 1969-1981, and was a candidate in the 2008 presidential election.
Gravel became nationally known for his forceful but unsuccessful attempts to end the draft during the Vietnam War and for having put the Pentagon Papers into the public record in 1971 despite great risk to himself.
He conducted an unusual campaign for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in 1972, and then played a crucial role in getting Congressional approval for the Trans-Alaska pipeline in 1973.
He was re-elected to the Senate in 1974, but gradually alienated a big part of his Alaskan constituencies and his bid for a third term was defeated in a Democratic primary in 1980.
Mike Gravel returned to business ventures and went through hard times, suffering corporate and personal bankruptcies and poor health.
He's doing better now, though, having become a leading advocate of direct democracy and the National Initiative, and in 2006, beginning his run for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in large part to promote those ideas.
Mike Gravel gained a large Internet following with his bid, though his campaign did not result in many votes in caucuses or primaries.
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