Michael S. Dukakis was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Swarthmore College in 1955 and a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1960. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea fom 1955 to 1957. In 1963, he entered the Massachusetts House of Representatives and served eight consecutive years. In addition, he was associated with the Boston firm of Hill and Barlow from 1960 to 1974.He was the moderator for the public television’s “The Advocates” from 1971 to 1973. In 1975, he was inaugurated as the 65th governor of Massachusetts. From 1979 to 1982, he was a lecturer and director of intergovernmental studies at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He was then relected in 1982 and 1986.
He ran unsuccessfully for U.S. President in 1988. He chaired the New England Governors’ Conference and the Democratic Governors’ Association. After leaving office, he was a visiting professor at many colleges and universities including Harvard University, University of Hawaii, and Northeastern University. Mr. Dukakis serves as an honorary member of UNABG’s Advisory Council.