Dukakis, Michael Stanley (1933– )

US Democrat politician, governor of Massachusetts 1974–78 and 1982–90, presiding over a high-tech economic boom, the ‘Massachusetts miracle’. He was a presidential candidate in 1988.

Dukakis was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Greek immigrants. After studying law at Harvard and serving in Korea 1955–57, he concentrated on a political career in his home state. Elected as a Democrat to the Massachusetts legislature 1962, he became state governor 1974. After an unsuccessful first term, marred by his unwillingness to compromise, he was defeated 1978. He returned as governor 1982, committed to working in a more consensual manner, was re-elected 1986, and captured the Democratic Party's presidential nomination 1988. After a poor campaign, Dukakis was defeated by the incumbent vice-president George Bush. His standing in Massachusetts dropped and he announced that he would not seek a new term.