Howard Dean

Democratic National Committee
On February 12, 2005, Howard Dean was elected Democratic Party Chairman. 

Profile
Howard Brush Dean III (born November 17, 1948) is an American Democratic politician who served as Governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003. While initially favored to win the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2004 election, he suspended his campaign on February 18, 2004, after failing to win a single primary. On March 2 he did win the primary in his home state of Vermont, the only state not won by John Kerry on Super Tuesday.

Dean's presidential campaign was remarkable at the time for its extensive use of the Internet to reach out to its supporters. The candidate and his staff frequently "blogged" while on the campaign trail and even delegated important campaign-related decisions to the outcomes of polls conducted on his website. By soliciting contributions online, mostly in small donations from individuals, the campaign shattered previous fundraising records for the Democratic presidential primary. Dean has thus been credited with being the first national candidate to play to the strengths of the Internet, in particular by engaging the American public directly in the political process.

Personal background
Howard was born in New York City to Andree Dean, art appraiser; Howard Brush Dean Jr. (deceased), former Dean Witter Reynolds top executive. He graduated from Yale University in 1971 and spent the next few years working as a stock broker. Dean received his doctor of medicine degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1978 and practiced as a physician until he became Governor of Vermont upon the death of Richard A. Snelling. Raised in the Episcopal Church, he became a Congregationalist in 1982.

Dean married Judith Steinberg Dean, M.D. She uses her maiden name (Judith Steinberg) in their joint medical practice to avoid confusion with her husband. Elsewhere she goes by Judith Dean or Judy Dean. She has raised the couple's two children, Paul and Anne, in her Jewish faith.

Early Political Career

 * 1980: Volunteer in Jimmy Carter's re-election campaign
 * 1982-1986: Served in the Vermont House of Representatives
 * Elected assistant minority leader in 1985
 * 1986: Elected lieutenant governor
 * 1988 re-elected
 * 1990 re-elected
 * August 14, 1991: - Assumed governorship (Governor Richard A. Snelling died of heart attack)
 * 1992: - first election as governor (with 74% of the vote)
 * 1994: re-elected (with 69%)
 * 1996: re-elected (with 71%)
 * 1998: re-elected (with 56%)
 * 2000: re-elected (with 50.4%, Republican 2nd place finisher received 37.9%, leftist Progressive Party 3rd place finisher received 9.5%)

Democracy for America
Democracy for America (DFA), a political action committee, was founded in 2004 by Howard Dean. His brother, James H. Dean, serves as DFA's chairman. 

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Bush administration smear campaigns
 * Republican 'culture of corruption'
 * Joe Trippi
 * Netroots

Howard Dean: External Links

 * For articles & commentary, 2003 and 2004, as well as links to websites, profiles, and other links related to Howard Dean's run as a presidential candidate in U.S. presidential election, 2004.

Profiles

 * Profile: Howard Dean, Chairman, Democratic National Committee, DNC.org.

Websites

 * See links to websites and data on Dr. Howard Dean.
 * Act Blue, Hoffmania Viewers For Dean website.

By Howard Dean

 * Remarks by Governor Howard Dean Accepting the Chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, AllAmericanPatriots, February 12, 2005.
 * Statement on Independence Day, DNC.org, July 4, 2005.

Interviews

 * A Talk with DNC Head Howard Dean, NPR, June 13, 2005: "Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has been busy doing what he proved in the last presidential race he does best: grass-roots organizing. But Republicans have attempted to chip away at one of the Democratic Party's most loyal voting blocs, African Americans. Dean discusses what Democrats are doing to stay relevant to their African-American base."

Articles & Commentary

 * Howard Fineman, "Now Playing: 'Anybody But Dean, Part 2'," Newsweek, January 31, 2005.
 * "Howard Dean, rebel firebrand turned Democratic Party head," AFP, February 11, 2005.
 * Jill Lawrence, "Dems say they should be firm but flexible," USA Today, February 11, 2005.
 * Ted Dyk, "Howard Dean's Party," Opinion Journal, February 12, 2005.
 * "Rebel firebrand Howard Dean voted in as Democratic Party chief," AFP, February 12, 2005.
 * "Howard Dean Announces DNC Transition Team. Brings Together Leaders of Diverse Backgrounds from Across the Country," AllAmericanPatriots.com, February 14, 2005.
 * Paul Bedard, Angie C. Marek, Suzi Parker, Washington Whispers: "Yep, Howard Dean Takes the Subway," US News & World Report, May 2, 2005.
 * Eamon Javers and Richard S. Dunham, "Howard Dean's Raised Voice Isn't Raising Cash," Business Week, June 6, 2005.
 * "Dean focusing on Democrats' agenda despite flap over comments," AFP, June 9, 2005.
 * "Cheney slams Howard Dean as 'over the top'," Reuters, June 12, 2005.
 * "Americans want more from political leaders," USA Today, June 15, 2005.
 * "Dean dishes out dirt in US Democrat fight to get a message out," AFP, June 15, 2005.
 * "Dean Condemns 'Anti-Semitic Literature'," Associated Press, June 17, 2005.
 * Jim Abrams, "Rhetoric Takes Nasty Turn in Congress," June 21, 2005.
 * Jim Abrams, "Dems Say Rove Should Apologize or Resign," June 23, 2004. Re Karl Rove.
 * "White House: Rove targeted liberal group, filmmaker," Reuters, June 24, 2005.
 * Michael Norton, "Dean: Democrats Must Cultivate Hispanics," Associated Press, June 24, 2005.
 * Sally Jenkins, "Return of the Angry Man," Washington Post, July 3, 2005: "He might have simply disappeared after the Scream ended his presidential hopes. But as head of the Democratic Party, Howard Dean is still going to go to New Hampshire. And South Carolina. And Oklahoma ..."
 * John B. Judis, "In Defense of Dean. Chair Lift," The New Republic, December 8, 2005.

2007

 * Jon Wiener, The Argument: Billionaires, Bloggers, and the Battle to Remake Democratic Politics, a review of the book by Matt Bai, August 12, 2007, Los Angeles Times.

Note: A version of this article appears on the Wikipedia.