Max Cleland

Max Cleland
Official Senate portrait
Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission
In office
June 3, 2009 – January 20, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJohn W. Nicholson
Succeeded byWilliam M. Matz Jr.
United States Senator
from Georgia
In office
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003
Preceded bySam Nunn
Succeeded bySaxby Chambliss
23rd Secretary of State of Georgia
In office
January 11, 1983 – January 5, 1996
GovernorJoe Frank Harris
Zell Miller
Preceded byDavid Poythress
Succeeded byLewis A. Massey
10th Administrator of Veterans Affairs
In office
January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981
PresidentJimmy Carter
Preceded byRichard L. Roudebush
Succeeded byBob Nimmo
Member of the Georgia Senate
from the 55th district
In office
January 11, 1971 – January 13, 1975
Preceded byEd Reeder
Succeeded byBud Stumbaugh
Personal details
Born
Joseph Maxwell Cleland

(1942-08-24)August 24, 1942
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
DiedNovember 9, 2021(2021-11-09) (aged 79)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Education
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1965–1968
RankCaptain
Unit2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars
Awards

Joseph Maxwell Cleland (August 24, 1942 – November 9, 2021) was an American politician from Georgia. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a disabled U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, a recipient of the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for valorous actions in combat, as well as a United States Senator (1997–2003).

After returning from the Vietnam War having lost three limbs, he entered politics soon after recovering from his injuries. From 1971 to 1975, he served as a Georgia State Senator. He also served as Administrator of Veterans Affairs under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981 and as Georgia Secretary of State from 1982 to 1996 before being elected to a single term in the United States Senate. After leaving the Senate in 2003, he served on the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States from 2003 to 2007, a presidentially appointed position.[1][2] From 2009 to 2017, he served as Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission.

  1. ^ "Max Cleland Joins Import-Export Bank Board of Directors" (Press release). Export-Import Bank of the United States. December 16, 2003. Archived from the original on July 15, 2007. Retrieved August 20, 2007.
  2. ^ "Senate Approves Farrell for Import-Export Bank Post". Westport Now.com. August 3, 2007. Retrieved August 20, 2007.