|party=[[Democrat]]
|spouse=Gail Kirk
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Massachusetts
|terms=September 25, 2009-PresentFebruary 4, 2010
|preceded=[[Ted Kennedy]]
|former=n
|succeeded=[[Scott Brown]]
}}
}}
'''Paul Grattan Kirk, Jr.''' (born January 18, 1938) is a lawyer and [[Democratic Party]] politician who is served as the junior United States Senator from [[Massachusetts]] after being appointed by Governor [[Deval Patrick]] to replace the late [[Ted Kennedy]]. He will temporally hold held the seat until a special election scheduled for January 2010. His appointment caused controversy, after the Democratic super-majority in the state legislator had originally blocked the right of [[Republican]] Governor [[Mitt RomneyScott Brown]] to appoint an interim senator had [[John Kerry]] been elected President in the 2004 election. The legislator then changed Massachusetts law. His appoint is all the more significant, in that he could be the crucial 60th vote for government-run [[health care]] legislation that the [[Obama administration]] is demanding. Kirk serves was sworn into office on the Armed Services Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs CommitteeFebruary 4.
Paul Kirk served as chairman of His appointment caused controversy, after the Democratic National Committee from 1985 through 1989, during which Massachusetts super-majority in the state legislature had originally blocked the right of [[Republican]] Governor [[Michael DukakisMitt Romney]] to appoint an interim senator had [[John Kerry]] lost been elected President in the presidency2004 election. Senator Kirk served on the Armed Services Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Kirk is a graduate from [[Harvard]] Law School, and would go on to serve . Senator Kirk served on Ted Kennedy's staff from 1969 through 1977and as chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1985 through 1989, during Massachusetts Governor [[Michael Dukakis]]' unsuccessful presidential campaign. As a super-delegate in the [[2008 Presidential Election]], Kirk endorsed [[Barack Obama]] in the Democratic primaries.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirk, Paul}}
==External links==
*[http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/k000374/ Voting record]
[[Category:Former United States Senators]]
[[Category:Political Operatives]]
[[Category:111th United States Congress]]
[[Category:Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:Democratic Party]]