Christopher Dodd

Infobox Senator | name=Christopher Dodd

---

nationality=American
jr/sr=Senior Senator
state=Connecticut
party=Democratic
term_start=January 5, 1981
alongside=Joe Lieberman
preceded=Abraham A. Ribicoff
succeeded=
state2=Connecticut
district2=2nd
term_start2=January 3, 1975
term_end2=January 3, 1981
preceded2=Robert H. Steele
succeeded2=Sam Gejdenson
order3=Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
term_start3=January 3
term_end3=January 20, 2001
preceded3=Mitch McConnell
succeeded3=Mitch McConnell
term_start4=June 6, 2001
term_end4=January 3, 2003
preceded4=Mitch McConnell
succeeded4=Trent Lott
order5=Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
term_start5=January 4, 2007
term_end5=
preceded5=Richard Shelby
succeeded5=
date of birth=birth date and age|1944|05|27
place of birth=Willimantic, Connecticut
occupation= attorney
residence= East Haddam, Connecticut
alma_mater= Providence College, University of Louisville
spouse=Jackie Marie Clegg
children=Grace Dodd
Christina Dodd
religion=Roman Catholic
website= [http://dodd.senate.gov/ Chris Dodd]

Christopher John Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician, who is currently serving as the senior U.S. Senator from Connecticut.

Dodd served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut from 1975 until 1981, when he became a Senator. He served as general chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1995 to 1997. He is now the state's senior Senator. He currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. [cite web
url=http://www.financialnews-us.com/?page=ushome&contentid=2449152880
title=Wall Street experts invade Washington
first=Heidi
last=Moore
publisher=Financial News Online US
date=2007-11-09]

Currently Dodd is the longest-serving Senator in Connecticut's history, the 14th most senior of current Senators and one of three from the 1980 freshman class who are still serving (the others are Republicans Arlen Specter and Chuck Grassley).cite web
url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/01/dodd_withdraws.html
title=Dodd withdraws from Democratic field
publisher=Boston Globe
first=Foon
last=Rhee
date=2008-01-03]

Early life and education

Dodd was born in Willimantic, Connecticut. His parents were Grace Mary Dodd (née Murphy) and U.S. Senator Thomas Joseph Dodd; all eight of his great-grandparents were born in Ireland. [cite web
url=http://www.wargs.com/political/dodd.html|title=The Ancestors of Chris Dodd|first=Robert|last=Battle] Dodd is a Roman Catholic. He is the fifth of six children; [ [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/online/research/speclib/ASC/exhibits/humanspirit/partone.html Biography of Thomas J. Dodd] ] his eldest brother, Thomas J. Dodd Jr., is a professor emeritus of the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University, and served as the U.S. ambassador to Uruguay and Costa Rica under President Bill Clinton.

Dodd attended Georgetown Preparatory School, a Jesuit boys' school in Bethesda, Maryland. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in English literature from Providence College in 1966. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in a small rural town in the Dominican Republic from 1966 to 1968. While there, he became fluent in Spanish. [cite web |url=http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/1010583.html |publisher=Peace Corps Online |date=2002-10-25 |accessdate=2008-08-18 |title=Florida Capital News: Dominican Republic RPCV Senator Chris Dodd campaigns in Florida to help Democrats with Hispanic vote] Dodd then joined the United States Army Reserve, serving until 1975.

In 1972, Dodd earned a Juris Doctor at the University of Louisville, where he served as vice magistrate of the law school's student body. The following year, he was admitted to the Connecticut bar, and began practicing law in New London.

In July 1970, Dodd married Susan Mooney; they divorced in October 1982. Afterwards, he dated at different times Bianca Jagger and Carrie Fisher, among others.cite web | title = Can ’08 Race Make Dodd Bedfellows? | url = http://www.observer.com/node/36357 | work = observer.com | accessdate=2007-10-18 |date=2006-12-03 | first = Jason | last = Horowitz] In 1999, he married his second wife, Jackie Marie Clegg, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The couple has two daughters, Grace (born September 2001) and Christina Dodd (born May 2005). Dodd is also the godfather of singer/actress Christy Carlson Romano, who once interned in his office.

Dodd lives in East Haddam, Connecticut when Congress is not in session. He also owns a vacation home in Connemara, Ireland.

Dodd was part of the "Watergate class of '74" which CNN pundit David Gergen credited with bringing "a fresh burst of liberal energy to the Capitol." [cite book
title=Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership from Nixon to Clinton
first=David
last=Gergen
authorlink=David Gergen
pages=119
isbn=074321949X
publisher=Simon and Schuster] Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 2nd congressional district and reelected twice, he served from January 4, 1975 to January 3, 1981. During his tenure in the House, he served on the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations.

U.S. Senator

[
Naval Submarine Base New London, July 1985.] Dodd was elected to the Senate in the 1980 election and was subsequently reelected in the 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2004 elections. He is the first Senator from Connecticut to serve five consecutive terms. From 1995 to 1997, he served as General Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. As General Chairman, Dodd was the DNC's spokesman. Donald Fowler served as National Chairman, running the party's day to day operations.

Dodd has also involved himself in children’s and family issues, founding the first Senate Children’s Caucus [cite web url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEFDA1539F930A15753C1A964958260 title=Two for the Senate; Christopher Dodd for Connecticut work=New York Times date=1992-10-23 accessdate=2008-02-15] and authoring the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA),cite web url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_sperling&sid=aQZtOcobvKK4work=Bloomberg Newstitle=Biden, Dodd Showed Depth of Democratsfirst=Genelast=Sperlingdate=2008-01-10accessdate=2008-02-15] which guarantees employees unpaid leave in the event of illness, a sick family member, or the birth or adoption of a child. To date, more than 50 million employees have taken advantage of FMLA protections. He is currently working to support a bill that would provide paid family and medical leave. [cite web url=http://fox61.trb.com/news/local/hc-ctfmla0214.artfeb14,0,4911645.storywork=Fox 61, Connecticutdate=2008-02-14accessdate=2008-02-14] For his work on behalf of children and families, the National Head Start association named him “Senator of the Decade” in 1990.

The Center for Public Integrity has criticized Dodd for "being the leading advocate in the Senate on behalf of the accounting industry." [cite book
title=Off with Their Heads: Traitors, Crooks, and Obstructionists in American Politics, Media, and Business
first=Dick
last=Morris
pages=205
year=2004
publisher=HarperCollins
isbn=0060595507] [cite web
url=http://www.newhavenadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=4230
title=Chris Dodd: PAC-Man
work=New Haven Advocate
first=Freda
last=Moon
publisher=The New Haven Advocate
date=2007-11-15
accessdate=2007-12-17] Political consultant and commentator Dick Morris wrote that Dodd had received more from accounting firm Arthur Andersen than any other Democrat and bore responsibility for trying to shield accounting firms from investor fraud liability in cases such as the Enron scandal. [cite web | title = The odd couple: Chris Dodd and Arthur Andersen | url = http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0102/morris1.asp| work = jewishworldreview.com | accessdate=February 25 | accessyear=2007]

During the 1994 elections, the Republicans won the majority in both houses of Congress. Dodd therefore entered the minority for the second time in his Senate career. He ran for the now vacant position of Senate Minority Leader, but was defeated by South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle by one vote. The vote was tied 23-23, and it was Colorado Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell who cast the deciding vote by absentee ballot in favor of Daschle. Shortly after that, Campbell switched parties and became a Republican.

Dodd briefly considered running for President in 2004, but ultimately decided against such a campaign and endorsed fellow U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman. He then was considered as a likely running mate for his friend, eventual Democratic nominee John Kerry. He was also considered a possible candidate for replacing Tom Daschle as Senate Minority Leader in the 109th Congress, but he declined, and that position was instead filled by Harry Reid.

Dodd announced in a letter to the Federal Election Commission that he was no longer a candidate for the Senate in 2010. [cite web | title = Sen. Dodd Not To Run for Re-Election In 2010, Uses PAC to Buy NH and IA Voter Files | url = http://www.cqpolitics.com/2007/01/sen_dodd_not_to_run_for_reelec.html | work = cqpolitics.com | accessdate=February 21 | accessyear=2007]

A 2008 poll of Connecticut voters suggested Dodd would have difficulty winning re-election in 2010, with 46% viewing his job performance as fair or poor. [http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-ctpoll0926.artsep26,0,4404922.story]

2008 Presidential campaign

On January 11, 2007, Dodd announced his candidacy for the office of President of the United States on the "Imus in the Morning" show. On January 19, 2007, Dodd made a formal announcement with supporters at the Old State House in Hartford.

The watchdog group opensecrets.org pointed out that the Dodd campaign was heavily funded by the financial services industry, which is regulated by committees Dodd chairs in the Senate. [cite web
url=http://www.opensecrets.org/pressreleases/2007/PresidentialMoney.4.18.asp
title=Financiers, Along with Lawyers, are Underwriting the Race for the White House, Watchdog Finds
date=2007-04-18
accessdate=2007-12-17
publisher=Opensecrets.org
author=Ritsch, Massie] [cite web
url=http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.asp?id=N00000581&cycle=2008
work=2008 Presidential Election Campeign Money
title=Christopher J. Dodd
accessdate=2007-12-17]

In May, he trailed in state and national polls and acknowledged he wasn't keeping pace with rival campaigns' fund raising. However, he said that as more voters became aware of his opposition to the Iraq War, they would support his campaign.cite web
url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/05/26/politics/p183134D66.DTL&type=politics
title=Sen. Dodd Calls For End To Iraq War
publisher=Associated Press
date=2007-05-26] However, his prospects did not improve; a November 7, 2007 Gallup poll placed him at 1%. [cite news
first = Frank
last = Newport
authorlink =
author =
coauthors =
title = Hillary Clinton’s Big Lead in Democratic Race Unchanged
url = http://www.gallup.com/poll/102601/Hillary-Clintons-Big-Lead-Democratic-Race-Unchanged.aspx
format =
work =
publisher = Gallup
id =
pages =
page =
date = 2007-11-07
accessdate = 2007-11-20
language =
quote =
archiveurl =
archivedate = ] Dodd dropped out of the primary race on the night of the January 3, 2008 Iowa caucuses after placing seventh with almost all precincts reporting.

Among eight major candidates for the nomination Dodd, even with later states where he was on the ballot after withdrawal, won last place by popular vote in primary (after Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich, Joe Biden and Mike Gravel, also including uncommitted delegates and scattering votes) [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6315] . He totally won 25,252 votes in delegates primaries and 9,940 in penalized contests.

Dodd had said he is not interested in running for Vice President or Senate Majority Leader. [cite web | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2008/01/06/failed_white_house_bid_could_boost_dodd_among_democrats/ | title=Failed White House bid could boost Dodd among Democrats | publisher=Boston.com | date=2008-01-06 | accessdate=2008-01-06] Dodd endorsed former rival Barack Obama on February 26, 2008. [cite web
url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/02/dodd_obama_has.html
title=Dodd: Obama has tapped 'hearts and souls'
first=Scott
last=Helman
publisher=The Boston Globe
date=2008-02-26]

Countrywide Financial loan controversy

As Dodd in his role as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee proposed a housing bailout to the Senate floor in June 2008 that would assist troubled subprime mortgage lenders such as Countrywide Financial in the wake of the United States housing bubble's collapse,cite news |date=2008-06-19 |title=Angelo's Angel |work=Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121383295591086669.html?mod=googlenews_wsj ] "Condé Nast Portfolio" reported that in 2003 Dodd had refinanced the mortgages on his homes in Washington, D.C. and Connecticut through Countrywide Financial and had received favorable terms due to being placed in a "Friends of Angelo" program. Dodd received mortgages from Countrywide at allegedly below-market rates on his Washington, D.C. and Connecticut homes. Dodd has not disclosed the below-market mortgages in any of six financial disclosure statements he filed with the Senate or Office of Government Ethics since obtaining the mortgages in 2003. [ [http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2008/06/19/connecticut/doc485936db8abf6602319864.txt Journal Inquirer > Archives > Connecticut > Dodd defends his Countrywide mortgages ] ]

Dodd's press secretary said the "Dodds received a competitive rate on their loans", and that they "did not seek or anticipate any special treatment, and they were not aware of any", then declined further comment. [Damian Paletta, [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121332396326070639.html "Dodd Tied to Countrywide Loans"] , "Wall Street Journal", June 13, 2008] Republican State Chairman Chris Healy stated that "Dodd has crossed the ethics line by obtaining two generous mortgage deals with a company that is the corporate poster-child for the national subprime lending meltdown." [ [http://www.everydayrepublican.com/2008/06/13/dodds-sweetheart-mortage-deal-demands-answers/ The Everyday Republican | Dodd’s “Sweetheart” Mortgage Needs Answer ] ] The Hartford Courant reported Dodd had taken "a major credibility hit" from the scandal. [ [http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hcu-doddmortgage-0613,0,4496903.story Elections - Courant.com] Dead link|date=September 2008|date=September 2008] The Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee Kent Conrad and the head of Fannie Mae Jim Johnson received mortgages on favorable terms due to their association with Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo.cite news |title=Countrywide Friends Got Good Loans |date=2008-06-07 |work=The Wall Street Journal | url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121279970984353933.html?loc=interstitialskip ] The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and two Connecticut papers have demanded further disclosure from Dodd regarding the Mozilo loans. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/16/AR2008061602207.html A Friend in Need - washingtonpost.com ] ] [ [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121357125417575867.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Beltwaywide Financial - WSJ.com ] ] [http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2008/06/17/opinion/348737.txt] [ [http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=8f1f73cf-294e-4e6d-91ab-47e4431aae55 Selected Item ] ]

On June 17, 2008, Dodd met twice with reporters and gave accounts of his mortgages with Countrywide. He admitted to reporters in Washington, D.C. that he knew as of 2003 that he was in a VIP program, but claimed it was due to being a good customer, not due to his political position. He omitted this detail in a press availability to Connecticut media. [ [http://blogs.courant.com/on_background/2008/06/dodd-tells-different-stories-a.html Dodd Tells Different Stories at News Conferences - Jesse A. Hamilton | On Background ] ]

Countrywide has also contributed a total of $21,000 to Dodd’s campaigns since 1997. Dodd has received approximately $70,000 in campaign contributions from Bank of America, which is buying Countrywide, in the last year-and-a-half before the Countrywide Financial loan scandal broke.cite news |date=2008-06-19 |title=Bank of America PAC money behind Dodd's Countrywide loan |work=examiner |url=http://dealbreaker.com/2008/06/chris_dodd_the_senator_from_ba.php] Only Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have received more money from Bank of America than Dodd with Senator John McCain slightly trailing him at $64,000. However, no American politician has received more contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac than Dodd's combined $133,900. [cite web url=http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/07/top-senate-recipients-of-fanni.htmltitle=Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Invest in Democrats work=opensecrets.com date=2008-07-18 accessdate=2008-07-18]

On June 20, 2008, the Heritage Foundation alleged staffers from Bank of America had drafted Dodd's housing bailout bill (FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act of 2008) in March 2008, before it was introduced in the Senate. [ [http://blog.heritage.org/2008/06/20/bank-of-america-drafted-dodd-bailout-bill/ Bank of America Drafted Dodd’s Housing Bailout Bill » The Foundry ] ] The Los Angeles Times also reported on this story on June 21. [ [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laland/2008/06/did-bank-of-ame.html Did Bank of America write the Dodd bailout bill? | L.A. Land | Los Angeles Times ] ]

On June 19, Dodd told the Danbury News-Times "I don't believe I did anything wrong." [ [http://www.newstimes.com/ci_9643434 Dodd: 'I don't believe I did anything wrong' - NewsTimes.com ] ] The state's leading newspaper, The Hartford Courant however concluded Dodd was negligent in accepting the Countrywide mortgage and suggested it was time "Dodd got off his high horse, came clean and admit he screwed up." [ [http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-dodd.artjun22,0,6244753.story Christopher Dodd - Courant.com ] ] A New York Times editorial the same day accused Dodd and fellow Senator Kent Conrad of being painfully out of touch regarding the "Friends of Angelo" loans. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/opinion/22sun3.html?ref=opinion Editorial - With Friends Like Angelo . . . - Editorial - NYTimes.com ] ] Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has called for House and Senate to investigate Senators Dodd and Conrad. [ [http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/31983] ]

Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac controversies

Senator Dodd was involved in issues related to the federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis.

As part of Dodd's overall mortgage bill the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 before Congress in the summer of 2008, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson sought provisions enabling the Treasury to add additional capital and regulatory oversight over these government sponsored enterprises. These provisions were part of the bill signed by President George W. Bush. At the time, it was estimated that the federal government would need to spend $25 billion on a bailout of the firms [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92809556]

During this period, Dodd denied rumors these firms were in financial crisis. He called the firms "fundamentally strong" [http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/sen-dodd-calls-fannie-freddie/story.aspx?guid={6D500286-5BDC-433B-A2EF-A9B3CE520ADE}&dist=hpts] said they were in "sound situation" and "in good shape" and to "suggest they are in major trouble is not accurate" [http://journalinquirer.com/articles/2008/07/16/connecticut/doc487b4ff58727c620830661.txt] . He suggested observers were panicking "There's sort of a panic going on today, and that's not what ought to be. The facts don't warrant that reaction, in my opinion," [http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dodd-seeks-to-quell-panic-over-mortgage-giants-losses-2008-07-11.html]

In early September, after the firms continued to report huge losses, [http://www.blogrunner.com/snapshot/D/3/5/a_23_billion_loss_for_fannie_mae/] Secretary Paulson announced a federal takeover of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Dodd expressed skepticism of the action, which the Treasury estimated could cost as much as $200 Billion. [http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hcu-ap-dodd-housing-0908,0,6069862.story] See federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Dodd is the number one recipient in Congress of campaign funds from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac [http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/07/top-senate-recipients-of-fanni.html] Critics also charge that Dodd ignored repeated warnings that the two firms were in need of major reform [http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-commentaryhubbard0914.artsep14,0,5673162.story]

Political positions

Dodd favors a one-year troop withdrawal timetable to end the Iraq War [cite web | url=http://www.issues2000.org/2008/Chris_Dodd_War_+_Peace.htm | title=Help Iraqi government, but exit Iraq by April 1 2008 | work=Chris Dodd on War & Peace | publisher=On the Issues | date=2007-05-20 | accessdate=2007-12-22] and is against warrantless surveillance. [cite web
url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/10/18/post_137.html
title=Dodd Makes Play on FISA Legislation
first=Shailagh
last=Murray
publisher=washingtonpost.com
date=2007-10-18] Dodd has supported amending the Family Medical Leave Act to include paid leave, [cite web
url=http://chrisdodd.com/issues/labor
title=Economic Opportunity
work=Christopher Dodd Presidential Campaign 2007
accessdate=2007-12-17] restoring the rule of law to the U.S. immigration system, [cite web
url=http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3672
title=Senator Dodd Delivers Democratic Hispanic Radio Address
work=Chris Dodd US Senator
date=2007-12-04
accessdate=2007-12-17] and a corporate carbon tax to combat global warming. [cite web
url=http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48722990_2008_presidential_election_chris_dodd_dodd_touts_energy_plan_biodiesel_plant_kitchen_tables
title=Chris Dodd: Dodd Touts Energy Plan At Biodiesel Plant, Kitchen Tables In Southeast Iowa
author=Chris Dodd Campaign
date=2007-05-11
accessdate=2007-05-29]

While Dodd has blamed President Bush for the subprime mortgage crisis, efforts to address this issue in 2007 were delayed. While House Banking Committee chairman Barney Frank worked towards legislation, Dodd spent the fall on the presidential campaign trail. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/06/AR2007110602146.html Dodd on Trail, Committee on Hold - washingtonpost.com ] ] Following the failure of his presidential bid, Dodd proposed that the federal government buy up to $400 Billion in defaulted mortgages. He denied that this was a taxpayer funded bailout of the mortgage business. [ [http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2008/05/07/dodd-defends-housing-plan-blasts-bush/ Real Time Economics : Dodd Defends Housing Plan, Blasts Bush ] ]

Committee Assignments

*United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
**Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs (Chairman)
**Subcommittee on Near East and South and Central Asian Affairs
**Subcommittee on European Affairs
*United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (Chairman)
**As Chairman of the committee, Dodd is an "ex officio" member of all subcommittees.
**Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance
*United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
**Subcommittee on Children and Families (Chairman)
**Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
*United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
* [http://www.csce.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutCommission.Commissioners&CFID=6959219&CFTOKEN=14094913 Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe]
*United States Congress Joint Committee on the Library

Electoral history

References

External links

* [http://dodd.senate.gov U.S. Senate - Chris Dodd]
* [http://www.chrisdodd.com Presidential campaign of Chris Dodd]
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Chris_Dodd.htm Issue positions and quotes] at On The IssuesUSRepSuccessionBox
state=Connecticut
district=2
before=Robert H. Steele
years=1975 – 1981
after=Sam GejdensonU.S. Senator box
before=Abraham A. Ribicoff
state=Connecticut
class=3
start=1981
alongside=Lowell P. Weicker, Jr., Joe Lieberman

Persondata
NAME= Dodd, Christopher
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Dodd, Christopher John
SHORT DESCRIPTION=American lawyer and U.S. Senator from Connecticut
DATE OF BIRTH=May 27, 1944
PLACE OF BIRTH=Willimantic, Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=