Edward Brooke graduated from Howard University in 1941 and Boston University Law School in 1948. Before starting his law practice, he served as a captain in the United States Army, where he earned a Bronze Star for his service in World War II. After the war he moved to Massachusetts, where in 1962 he was elected Attorney General, becoming the first African American to be elected to a state office. He holds the honor of being the first African American to be elected to the United States Senate by popular vote. He represented Massachusetts as a Republican senator until 1979. During his time in the Senate he served on the President's Commission on Civil Disorders and headed the National Low Income Housing Coalition. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004.

Sources:
"Biographical Directory of U.S. Congress." http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B00087. 18 February, 2005.

The Columbia Encyclopedia. Sixth ed. Columbia University Press. 2004. http://www.bartleby.c../../BrookeE.html. 18 February, 2005.

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