Patrick Joseph Leahy, is an American politician and attorney who represented Vermont in the United States Senate from 1975 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he also was the president pro tempore of the United States Senate from 2012 to 2015 and from 2021 to 2023.
Official portrait, c. 2021
Leahy in 1979
Former Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia, far right) shakes hands with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, while Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont, center right) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) look on. The hearing was held to discuss further funding for the War in Iraq.
Leahy in 2009
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
The president pro tempore of the United States Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate, after the vice president. According to Article One, Section Three of the United States Constitution, the vice president of the United States is the president of the Senate, and the Senate must choose a president pro tempore to act in the vice president's absence.
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
John Tyler is the only Senate president pro tempore to later become President of the United States.
Hubert Humphrey (D-Minnesota) was the first deputy president pro tempore in 1977–1978.
Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), former president pro tempore, and current president pro tempore emeritus
