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Bernie Sanders Facts

Bernie Sanders Facts
Bernie Sanders is an American politician most famous for becoming a candidate for the Democratic nomination to run for U.S. President in 2016, and for holding the record as the longest independent serving in U.S. Congress. He was born Bernard Sanders on September 8th, 1941 in New York City, to Elias Sanders, a paint salesman, and Dorothy Glassberg. Bernie's uncle Romek was the first in his Jewish community in Poland to be killed by Nazis, a fate Elias had escaped by immigrating to the U.S. in 1921. Bernie attended elementary school in Brooklyn, NY where he became a basketball champion, and then James Madison High School where he became a track champion. While attending the University of Chicago Bernie became active in civil rights and politics, which would later become his lifelong career.
Interesting Bernie Sanders Facts:
Bernie's knowledge of the fact that Hitler's election resulted in the deaths of 50 million people, including his uncle Romek in WWII gave him the important impression that politics were extremely important.
Both of Bernie's parents died very soon after he graduated from high school. His mother died in 1959 and his father died in 1962.
Bernie worked as a carpenter, psychiatric aide, and writer and filmmaker after college graduation. He moved to Vermont to live in the rural countryside.
Bernie Sanders married Deborah Shiling in 1964 but the marriage only lasted two years.
In 1969 Bernie Sanders had a son Levi, with his partner Susan Mott.
In 1971 Bernie Sanders began his political career, after joining the Liberty Union Party.
In 1980 Bernie Sanders was elected as Mayor of Burlington, Vermont. He served as mayor until 1989 when he chose not to seek re-election.
In 1988 Bernie married Jane O'Meara, whom he had met in 1981. Bernie became stepdad to Jane's three children from a previous marriage and Jane became stepmom to Levi.
In 1989 Bernie Sanders taught political science at Harvard University.
In 1990 Bernie Sanders won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, as an independent.
In 1991 Bernie Sanders taught political science at Hamilton College.
As an independent in the House of Representatives, it is more difficult to find allies to support his ideas.
Bernie Sanders was elected a U.S. Senator in 2006, serving from January 2007. He was re-elected in 2012.
Bernie Sanders was arrested in 1963 for participating in a protest against Chicago's segregated schools.
Bernie Sanders served on the Senate Committee on Veteran's Affairs as chairman from 2013 to 2015.
In 2016 Bernie Sanders entered the election race to become the next U.S. President, after announcing his campaign for the Democratic Party nomination.
If elected as the next U.S. President Bernie Sanders would be the oldest to win the position. He will be 75 in September 2016. Ronald Reagan is the oldest U.S. President to date having been 73 when elected in 1984 for his second term.
In the first 24 hours following Bernie Sander's announcement that he would run in the next presidential election campaign in May, 2015, he raised $1.5 million.


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