By Mark Gray
6:00pm PDT, Mar 31, 2024
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Joe Lieberman — an immensely popular longtime senator and former vice presidential candidate — passed away in New York City on March 27 due to complications from a fall. He was 82.
While well known in Connecticut, where he served as a senator for 24 years, Joe was thrust into national political consciousness when he joined Al Gore's presidential ticket in 2000. At the time, he was the first Jewish American to be nominated on a major party's ticket. He later ran for president but had little success.
Known for working with both Democrats and Republicans, he often aligned himself with Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham — the former even considered tapping him as his running mate during his 2008 presidential campaign.
In 2006, after Connecticut Democrats refused to nominate him for a Senate seat, Joe ran as an independent and won — which only further cemented his popularity.
In the years before he died, Joe desperately vied to find a third-party candidate to unite the country.
After he died, many Congress members from both sides of the political aisle publicly honored him, as did prominent members of the media and Hollywood celebs.
Keep reading to see how they said goodbye…
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"I am profoundly saddened by the loss of Joe Lieberman. First and foremost, he was a man of devout faith and dedication to his family. My heart goes out to [his wife] Hadassah, [his children] Hana, Matt, Rebecca [and] Ethan, his sisters, and all those grieving his loss.
"Joe was a man of deep integrity who dedicated his life to serving his country. He was a truly gifted leader, whose affable personality and strong will made him a force to be reckoned with. That's why it came as no surprise to any of us who knew him when he'd start singing his favorite song: Frank Sinatra's 'My Way.' And doing things Joe's way meant always putting his country and the values of equality and fairness first.
"His fierce dedication to these values was clear even as a young man. When he was about to travel to the South to join the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, he wrote, 'I am going because there is much work to be done. I am an American. And this is one nation, or it is nothing.' Those are the words of a champion of civil rights and a true patriot, which is why I shared that quote when I announced Joe as my running mate.
"It was an honor to stand side-by-side with him on the campaign trail. I'll remain forever grateful for his tireless efforts to build a better future for America." —former Vice President Al Gore
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"[My wife] Laura and I are saddened by the loss of Joe Lieberman. Joe was as fine an American as they come and one of the most decent people I met during my time in Washington. As a Democrat, Joe wasn't afraid to engage with Senators from across the aisle and worked hard to earn votes from outside his party. He engaged in serious and thoughtful debate with opposing voices on important issues. And in both loss and victory, Joe Lieberman was always a gentleman. I'm grateful for Joe's principled service to our country and for the dignity and patriotism he brought to public life. As Laura and I pray for [his wife] Hadassah and the Lieberman family, we also pray that Joe's example of decency guides our Nation's leaders now and into the future." –former President George W. Bush
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"Just heard of my dear friend Joe Lieberman's passing. As I am just now leaving Israel, so many emotions. This is devastatingly sad. I feel fortunate to have been in his presence, traveling the world in support of America's interests as we saw it. To [his wife] Hadassah, I know your heart is broken, but please understand your legion of friends love you dearly. To the Lieberman family, we will be with you through this journey. I look forward to sharing more thoughts about this wonderful man and the incredible life he lived. The good news, he is in the hands of the loving God. The bad news, John McCain is giving him an earful about how screwed up things are. Rest in peace, my dear friend. From the Last Amigo." –Sen. Lindsey Graham
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"Joe Lieberman and I didn't always see eye-to-eye, but he had an extraordinary career in public service, including four decades spent fighting for the people of Connecticut. He also worked hard to repeal 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' and helped us pass the Affordable Care Act. In both cases the politics were difficult, but he stuck to his principles because he knew it was the right thing to do. Michelle and I extend our deepest condolences to [his wife] Hadassah and the Lieberman family." –former President Barack Obama
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"I'm shocked to hear of Joe Lieberman's sudden passing. My heart is with [his wife] Hadassah [and his kids] Hana, Matt, Rebecca and Ethan.
It's tough to honor anyone properly in a tweet, but I'd like to share a little about a man who was a public servant to the core and someone I knew since we were young college students together.
When I chaired the DSCC and recruited Joe to run for the Senate, we sat together in the stands of a football game in New Haven and remembered the causes that inspired us as young people: Kennedy, civil rights, the activism to end the Vietnam War, and the environmental movement unleashed by Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. Joe and I both talked about two of our heroes: Allard Lowenstein and Bobby Kennedy. He ran and won — and went on to become an environmental warrior in the Senate.
Imagine how different America could've been if Al Gore and Joe had become president and vice president in 2000. Sending a big hug to his family — and to our friends in Connecticut who knew him as their Attorney General and US Senator for so many years." —former Senator and Secretary of State John Kerry
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"I am so sad about the passing of Senator Joe Lieberman. I last spoke to him on Monday and he was fully engaged in a conversation of how to overcome the toxic political environment in our country. His whole life was dedicated to putting country before party in all he did." —former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
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"Senator Joseph Lieberman was a wonderful human being, a great Senator, a passionate defender of liberty, an instinctive coalition builder who sought friends on both sides of the aisle (I regarded him as a close friend from the earliest days of my Speakership). He will be deeply missed by all his friends. Our prayers go out to [his wife] Haddasah and the family." —former Rep. Newt Gingrich
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"The loss of Joe Lieberman feels like the end of an era. He was a true statesman who decried toxic partisanship. He rightly promoted the virtues of bipartisanship, compromise and working across the aisle. He was a deeply consequential leader and a good man. He'll be missed." —Alyssa Farah Griffin
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"Joe Lieberman lived according to his principles. Condolences to his family. May his memory be a blessing." —Mia Farrow
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"[My wife] Heidi and I mourn the passing of Joe Lieberman, a statesman who earned the respect of people from across the political spectrum. His contributions to America and to our policy debates are undeniable. Our condolences go out to his wife Hadassah and the rest of his family. May his memory be a blessing." —Sen. Ted Cruz
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"RIP Joe Lieberman! Along with William F. Buckley Jr., I was among the Connecticut 'Republicans For Lieberman' in 1988 when he challenged s****** Senator Lowell Weicker for his Senate seat." —Roger Stone
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"In his extraordinary lifetime of public service, Senator Joe Lieberman personified the ideal of country over party. He was a true patriot and statesman who stood for tireless ideals at home and abroad. In recent years, I was honored to serve with him as National Co-Chair of No Labels for three years. Our prayers are with Joe's wonderful wife Hadassah and all his loved ones at this difficult time." —former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan
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"America has lost a great man. Senator Joseph Lieberman dead at 82. A powerful voice for freedom and civility, I knew the Senator for about 30 years; just interviewed him last month" —Bill O'Reilly
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"Joe Lieberman was a dear friend, a wonderful Senator, and a true patriot. He not only was one of the best legislators I have ever known, but also one of the best human beings." —Sen. Susan Collins
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"[My wife] Barbara and I send our prayers to Joe Lieberman's family after [the] news of his passing. We served together in the Senate and worked on whistleblower initiatives, reining in mismanagement [and to] hold government accountable. Joe was a dedicated public servant working with anyone regardless of political stripe" —Sen. Chuck Grassley
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"My heart goes out to [his wife] Hadassah Lieberman and the Lieberman family on the sudden loss of Senator Joe Lieberman. Joe Lieberman was a good and decent man who I was proud to know. I recall the flood of pride I felt when he was nominated as the first Jewish candidate for Vice President of the United States on a major party ticket. He was someone who inspired confidence in government because even if you didn't agree with him, you knew he made decisions based on the courage of his convictions. I'm saddened today on this loss but know his memory will be a blessing to his family and all who knew him." —Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
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"Growing up, I learned by watching how Senator Lieberman spoke proudly of his faith and conducted himself in public service grounded in our shared Jewish values. I'm grateful for all he taught me and our country about embracing our different faiths and finding commonality of purpose. May his memory be a blessing." –Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
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"Connecticut is shocked by Senator Lieberman's sudden passing. In an era of political carbon copies, Joe Lieberman was a singularity. One of one. He fought and won for what he believed was right and for the state he adored. My thoughts are with [his wife] Hadassah and the entire family." —Rep. Chris Murphy
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"I am deeply saddened to learn of Senator Joe Lieberman's passing and send my heartfelt condolences to [his wife] Hadassah and the entire Lieberman family. For the last few years, I've had the honor to serve as the Senator's congressman after his move to Riverdale. Senator Lieberman devoted his life to public service, which deserves immense respect — all across the political spectrum. May his memory be a blessing." —Rep. Ritchie Torres
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"R.I.P. Former Senator and former VP nominee Joe Lieberman. A good man who tried hard to reach across the aisle to make the country better. He died this afternoon after complications from a fall. [Prayers] up for his wife Hadassah and his family. Joe Lieberman was 82" —Bret Baier
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"Sending deep sympathies to the family of Senator Joe Lieberman. Just heard that he has passed away. He was a strong leader in the Senate for many years. A loyal friend, and a supporter of Israel. May his family find peace in this difficult time." —Kari Lake
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"Joe Lieberman loved our country and dedicated his life in service to it. He was a patriot who believed in a strong, confident America. I appreciated his friendship and advice over the years. [My wife] Anna and I join Arkansans in mourning his loss, celebrating his life, and sending our prayers to his family." —Sen. Tom Cotton
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"Joe Lieberman was a dedicated public servant, and I was honored to serve with him in the Senate. I was saddened to hear of his passing tonight, and [my wife] Terese and I are sending our condolences to [his wife] Hadassah and the Lieberman family." —Sen. Bob Casey
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"He was bipartisan. He was ferociously independent, but he really prided himself on bringing people together and bridging gaps." — Sen. Richard Blumenthal, via MSNBC
