Michael Dukakis is an American former politician who served as the 65th and 67th governor of Massachusetts, from 1975 to 1979 and 1983 to 1991, respectively. He is the second Greek–American and the longest-serving governor in the history of the state. Dukakis's first tenure as a governor was marred by his blunders in striking a balance between the ongoing fiscal crisis and tax rates. He was also criticized for his opinion on capital punishment. This led to his defeat in the subsequent re-election. However, Dukakis rebounded in the 1982 gubernatorial primary and presided over the period popularly termed as the "Massachusetts Miracle." He lost his bid for the 1988 presidential election. He also stayed away from campaigning for a re-election for the governor’s position. Dukakis has worked with several academic institutions and universities after the end of his political career. He has also authored a number of books.
