Paul Tsongas

Diagnoses

Vocation

Lifestyle

Family

American politician, the former Senator and State rep from Massachusetts and Dem. candidate for the Presidential race in 1992. He runs a Spartan campaign, saying the America is in economic peril and must wake up. The solution is patriotism, sacrifice and responsibility. His big issue is jobs; putting people to work. Greek-American, conservative, not rich, wearing wrinkled suits and a perpetual frown, he does not fit the image of presidential material. An attorney, Tsongas worked in the Peace Corp 1962-68 and entered politics on a city level in 1968. He served as the U.S. Rep 1974-78 and as Senator 1978-84. When diagnosed with incurable cancer on 10/11/1983, he retired from Congress and with treatment, returned to the political arena later. In 1969, Tsongas married Niki Sauvage and they had three kids; Ashley, 17, Jatina, 14 and Molly 10, at the time of his candidacy. He was one of twins, with a twin sister. For relaxation and to keep fit, he is a competitive swimmer. Cancer returned in his stomach and was contained late 1992. He had a second bone-marrow transplant in May 1996, Boston. Tsongas died on 1/18/1997 of pneumonia brought on by complications from his cancer treatments. Link to Wikipedia biography