STAMFORD, Conn. — Marcia Lieberman’s relatively quiet life changed drastically early on Monday, Aug. 7.
The mother of U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman had spent the evening prior at her son’s New Haven residence, the air thick with questions about whether Joe would receive the call naming him Al Gore’s running mate. When Marcia went to bed that night, she felt certain of one thing, and it wasn’t positive.
“We knew that we weren’t going to make it. I went to sleep feeling that way.
“Hadassah woke me up and she was ashen. I said, ‘At least we know; thank God, it’s over.’ And she said, ‘No, we made it Mom, we made it.’
“It was a complete surprise to everybody, we were completely shocked,” said Marcia. “I am still in a daze. I don’t think it’s really hit me yet. It’s very exciting, that’s the least I can say.”
While packing for an extended stay in Washington, where she will help care for Joe and Hadassah’s 12-year-old daughter Hana, Marcia openly talked about family life in the Lieberman household, while perched in her favorite chair.
“I thought he would become governor of Connecticut,” she confided. “When he became a senator, that was quite an accomplishment. Of course, this is beyond my dreams…We always had strong political discussions at the table after dinner and the kids took part in it.”
As far as where those political discussions have taken her son, Marcia couldn’t be happier.
“They make the best team, the Gores and Liebermans. The Gores are wonderful, wonderful people…We have to give credit to Vice President Gore who had the courage of his convictions to break the barriers and named Joe his running mate.”
The good values that Marcia believes her son contributes to the Democratic ticket were learned early on in the Lieberman household.
“Education, that was an important thing. Religion was very important. It’s a form of discipline — you don’t do this and that. Other than that I was very loose with the children. Morally, it’s important to consider other people.
“We’ve always thought that everybody was equal; everybody was welcome. They brought all kinds of people home. Our home was open to everybody,” noted Marcia.
While leading an observant, Orthodox life was a priority for the family, occasionally it presented challenges.
“I don’t think it was easy for the children, [resting] on Shabbos,” Marcia mused. “Saturday was the longest day. I had to plan to keep them entertained. It wasn’t the easiest thing. But it wasn’t the most difficult.”
Growing up in such a full house wasn’t a problem for the Liebermans, where the children were well-behaved.
When asked to come up with trouble Joe might have caused as a child, Marcia is at a loss.
“He’d play basketball, and dribble through the dining room, the living room, every corner. He wasn’t mischievous. He’s fun, he has a great sense of humor. He was just a regular kid,” she explained.
Still, some memories stand out more than others, and one of those times was Joe’s senior prom. At the time, Marcia’s sister Betty was very ill (and died the following week).
Marcia and husband Henry were asked to be chaperones for the prom. Joe was elected king of the prom — “He looked handsome in his black tuxedo” — and as he walked down the white rug to receive the honor, Marcia was shocked to notice he was wearing brown shoes.
“I asked why he didn’t tell me [he needed shoes]. He said he didn’t have the heart to ask me with his Aunt Betty being so sick. That’s just Joe.
“Now he knows to wear black shoes,” she laughed.
Marcia, who instilled the values of tzedakah to her children, today heads the Hebrew Educational League of Stamford, “a non-publicized charitable fund,” established in the early part of the century by Marcia’s mother’s family.
The Hebrew Educational League used to make donations of 10 cents a month to send children to Hebrew school.
Marcia also works with Jewish Family Service of Stamford to locate resources for Jews with various needs.
“In most organizations, if someone needs money, it has to go to the board. Here, it comes to me. It’s kept a secret. It’s my responsibility to allocate the money and make sure it goes to the right place.”
Marcia is not surprised that people frequently describe Joe as down-to-earth, and that their mother-son bond remains close.
“He absolutely calls every day, unless something unforeseen happens. And Hadassah calls me. He’s been doing it so far out campaigning. I hope he can continue. And if not, I’ll take every other day,” she said, smiling.
While Joe’s hectic schedule of campaigning may tire some people, his mom is certain her son will thrive on it.
“He enjoys people,” she said. “I’m sure he will enjoy campaigning. This is sort of in his blood; he was born that way.”