He lost a 1972 bid for Congress. He was Massachusetts lieutenant governor from 1982 to 1984. During that time he organized the nation’s governors to combat the acid rain that was polluting lakes, rivers,and the nation’s water supply. He was first elected to the Senate in 1984. His voting record is generally liberal and in the Senate he has taken the lead on several investigations, including probes of banking scandals and an examination on whether there were any Americans being held as P.O.W.s in Vietnam. He voted against committing troops in the Persian Gulf War of 1991; however, he supported the October congressional resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq. He helped provide health insurance for low-income children, fought to improve public education, protect the environment, and strengthen the economy. He has spent 19 years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and worked on the Iran-Contra scandal and global AIDS.