Max Cleland

Joseph Maxwell Cleland, known as Max Cleland (August 24, 1942 – November 9, 2021), was an American politician from his native Georgia. A Democrat, he served as Georgia's United States Senator for a single term from 1997 to 2003. He was defeated in his reelection bid, which required a second round of balloting, by Republican Saxby Chambliss. Cleland was also the secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Born in the capital city of Atlanta, Cleland was a decorated United States Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a triple amputee as a result of his wounds caused by the explosion of a grenade.

Cleland served as the administrator of the US Veterans Administration in the administration of his fellow Georgian, Jimmy Carter, from 1977 through 1981.

Cleland's unsuccessful 2002 Senate reelection effort was marked by controversial advertising from the Chambliss campaign, which questioned Senator Cleland's commitment to the war on terror. GOP advertising pairing pictures of Cleland with photographs of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden was criticized by Republican Senators John McCain of Arizona and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, veterans groups, and many Democrats.