Claiborne Pell

Claiborne de Borda Pell (born November 22, 1918) served as a Senator from Rhode Island from 1961-1997, making him Rhode Island's longest serving senator. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Born in New York City, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Princeton University in 1940, and a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1946. While in Princeton he was a member of Colonial Club. He served in the United States Coast Guard and United States Coast Guard Reserve. From 1945 to 1952, Pell served in the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer in Czechoslovakia, Italy, and Washington, D.C..