Carl Levin served as a United States senator from Michigan for 36 years, establishing himself as the longest-serving senator in the state’s history. From 1979 until his retirement in 2015, he navigated the complexities of national governance in Washington, D.C., eventually becoming a central figure in military policy and bipartisan legislative oversight during his decades of public service.
Early Career and Local Government
Born in Detroit in 1934, Levin graduated from Central High School before earning a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and a law degree from Harvard Law School. After private legal practice, he served as general counsel for the Michigan Civil Rights Commission from 1964 to 1967. His transition to local elected office occurred in 1969 when he joined the Detroit City Council. During his eight-year tenure, which included serving as council president, he focused on urban housing issues and maintained a close working relationship with Mayor Coleman Young.
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Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978, Levin defeated incumbent Robert P. Griffin and began a legislative career that saw him re-elected five times. He became heavily involved in the Senate Armed Services Committee, chairing the body from 2001 to 2003 and again from 2007 to 2015. His work in this role emphasized cost controls for military procurement, the closure of redundant military infrastructure under the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act, and support for the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program to secure post-Soviet weapons.
Retirement and Legacy
After announcing in 2013 that he would not seek a seventh term, Levin left the Senate in 2015. He subsequently joined the Detroit-based law firm Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP and founded the Levin Center at Wayne State University Law School, which promotes fact-based legislative oversight. His career was documented in his 2021 memoir, Getting to the Heart of the Matter. Levin died at Henry Ford Hospital in 2021.
Fast facts
- Born: 1934, Detroit
- Died: 2021, Henry Ford Hospital
- Education: Swarthmore College, Harvard Law School
- Senate Tenure: 1979-2015
- Party: Democratic
- Awards: Four Freedoms Award (2007), Order of the Three Stars (2016)
Questions readers ask
How many bills did Carl Levin sponsor that became law?
Carl Levin sponsored 51 bills that were enacted into law.
What was his role on the Senate Armed Services Committee?
He served as the committee chair from 2001 to 2003 and again from 2007 to 2015.
Achievements
- Educated at Swarthmore College, Harvard Law School and primary school
- Worked as politician and lawyer
