Edmund Muskie
A principled Maine senator who championed environmental protection and nearly became vice president, later serving as a steadying Secretary of State.
1914–1996 (age 82)·American statesman and politician·Birthday: March 28·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Ed Muskie carved a legacy as one of the most respected and effective legislators of his time, a son of Polish immigrants who brought a workmanlike integrity to national politics. From the governor's mansion in Maine to the U.S. Senate, he built a reputation for careful study and bipartisan deal-making. His most enduring contribution was as the chief architect of the Clean Air Act of 1970, a monumental piece of legislation that established the modern framework for fighting pollution. His poised performance as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 1968 elevated his stature, though a later incident where he appeared to shed tears while defending his wife became an unfairly defining media moment. After a long Senate career, he answered the call to serve as Secretary of State in the final year of the Carter administration, providing experienced hands during the Iran hostage crisis and a period of intense Cold War tensions.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Edmund was born in 1914, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Edmund Was Born
The biggest hits of 1914
Edmund's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1914Born
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Started school
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Became a teenager
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1930Could drive
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1932Could vote
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Turned 21
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1944Turned 30
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1954Turned 40
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 50
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 60
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 70
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 80
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Died at 82
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
Key Achievements
- Authored and spearheaded the passage of the landmark Clean Air Act of 1970, founding modern federal environmental policy.
- Served as the 58th U.S. Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter from 1980 to 1981.
- Was the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President in 1968, running alongside Hubert Humphrey.
Did You Know?
He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II, assigned to the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.
The so-called 'Muskie incident,' where he gave an emotional defense of his wife in the 1972 presidential campaign, was later suggested to have been caused by melting snowflakes on his face.
He was the first Polish-American to be nominated on a major party presidential ticket (as VP in 1968).
“The Clean Air Act is not a threat to the automobile industry. It is an opportunity for it.”
