Robert Stafford

Robert Stafford
United States Senator from Vermont
In office September 16, 1971 – January 3, 1989
Preceded by	Winston L. Prouty
Succeeded by	Jim Jeffords
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's at-large district
In office January 3, 1961 – September 16, 1971
Preceded by	William H. Meyer
Succeeded by	Richard W. Mallary
71st Governor of Vermont
In office January 8, 1959 – January 5, 1961
Lieutenant	Robert S. Babcock
Preceded by	Joseph B. Johnson
Succeeded by	F. Ray Keyser Jr.
67th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
In office January 10, 1957 – January 8, 1959
Governor	Joseph B. Johnson
Preceded by	Consuelo N. Bailey
Succeeded by	Robert S. Babcock
13th Attorney General of Vermont
In office January 6, 1955 – January 10, 1957
Governor	Joseph B. Johnson
Preceded by	F. Elliott Barber Jr.
Succeeded by	Frederick M. Reed
Personal details
Born	Robert Theodore Stafford (1913-08-08)August 8, 1913 Rutland, Vermont, U.S.
Died	December 23, 2006(2006-12-23) (aged 93) Rutland, Vermont, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Helen Kelley ​ (m. 1938)​
Children	4
Alma mater	Middlebury College (BA) University of Michigan Boston University (LLB)
Occupation	Politician lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy United States Navy Reserve
Years of service	1942–1971
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War

Robert Theodore Stafford (August 8, 1913 – December 23, 2006) was an American politician from Vermont. In his lengthy political career, he served as the 71st governor of Vermont, a United States representative, and a U.S. Senator. A Republican, Stafford was generally considered a liberal, or "Rockefeller Republican".

Stafford is best remembered for his staunch environmentalism, his work on higher education, and his support, as an elder statesman, for the 2000 Vermont law legalizing civil unions for gay couples.