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{{Short description|American politician (1934–2021)}}
{{redirect|Senator Levin|his brother, a former U.S. Representative|Sander Levin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name         = Carl Levin
| image        = Carl Levin official portrait.jpg
| caption      = Official portrait, {{circa|1990s}}
| jr/sr        = United States Senator
| state        = [[Michigan]]
| term_start   = January 3, 1979
| term_end     = January 3, 2015
| predecessor  = [[Robert P. Griffin|Robert Griffin]]
| successor    = [[Gary Peters]]
| office1       = Chair of the [[Senate Armed Services Committee]]
| term_start1   = January 3, 2007
| term_end1     = January 3, 2015
| predecessor1  = [[John Warner]]
| successor1    = [[John McCain]]
| office2      = Member of the [[Detroit City Council]]
| term_start2  = January 7, 1969
| term_end2    = January 7, 1977
| predecessor2 = Ed Carey
| successor2   = [[Kenneth Cockrel Sr.]]
| birth_name   = Carl Milton Levin
| birth_date   = {{birth date|1934|6|28}}
| birth_place  = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], U.S.
| death_date   = {{death date and age|2021|7|29|1934|6|28}}
| death_place  = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
| party        = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse       = {{marriage|Barbara Halpern|1961}}
| children     = 3
| relatives    = [[Sander Levin]] (brother)<br />[[Andy Levin]] (nephew)
| education    = [[Swarthmore College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[Harvard University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| signature    = Carl Levin Signature.svg
| module       = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. Carl Levin Speaks in Support of Changing U.S. Policy in Iraq.ogg|title=Carl Levin's voice|type=speech|description=Carl Levin speaks in support of changing U.S. policy in [[Iraq]]<br/>Recorded March 15, 2007}}
}}

'''Carl Milton Levin''' (June 28, 1934 – July 29, 2021) was an American attorney and politician who served as a [[List of United States senators from Michigan|United States senator]] from [[Michigan]] from 1979 to 2015. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he was the chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Senate Armed Services Committee]] from 2001 to 2003 and again from 2007 to 2015.

Born in [[Detroit]], Levin graduated from [[Swarthmore College]] and [[Harvard Law School]]. He worked as the general counsel of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission from 1964 to 1967, and as a special assistant attorney general for the [[Michigan Attorney General|Michigan Attorney General's Office]]. Levin was a member of the [[Detroit City Council]] from 1969 to 1977, serving as the council's president for the last four of those years.

In [[1978 United States Senate election in Michigan|1978]], Levin ran for the [[United States Senate]], defeating [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] incumbent [[Robert P. Griffin]]. Levin was re-elected in [[1984 United States Senate election in Michigan|1984]], [[1990 United States Senate election in Michigan|1990]], [[1996 United States Senate election in Michigan|1996]], [[2002 United States Senate election in Michigan|2002]], and [[2008 United States Senate election in Michigan|2008]]. On March 7, 2013, Levin announced that he would not seek a seventh term to the Senate.<ref name="thehill1">{{cite web | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/144140-levin-retirement-leaves-dems-defending-fourth-open-seat-in-2014-cycle/ | title =Levin retirement leaves Dems defending fourth open seat in 2014 cycle| author =Cameron Joseph | work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] | date =March 7, 2013}}</ref> On March 9, 2015, Levin announced he was joining the [[Detroit]]-based law firm [[Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/2015/03/09/levin-joins-firm/24645191/ |title=Former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin joins Detroit law firm|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=March 9, 2015 |access-date=May 19, 2017 }}</ref>  At the same time, he founded the Levin Center at [[Wayne State University Law School]], dedicated to "strengthening the integrity, transparency, and accountability of public and private institutions by promoting and supporting bipartisan, fact-based oversight; advancing good governance, particularly with respect to the legislative process; and promoting civil discourse on current issues of public policy".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Levin Center at Wayne Law|date=August 9, 2021|url=https://law.wayne.edu/levin-center|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521223233/http://law.wayne.edu:80/levin-center/ |archive-date=May 21, 2016 }}</ref>

Levin became Michigan's senior senator in 1995, and he was the longest-serving senator in the state's history. At the time of his retirement Levin was the fourth longest-serving incumbent in the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Carl+Levin |title=Carl Levin |work=[[New York Daily News]] |access-date=May 27, 2010 |location=New York |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529160835/http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Carl%2BLevin |archive-date=May 29, 2010 }}</ref> He released his memoir, ''Getting to the Heart of the Matter: My 36 Years in the Senate'', in March 2021. It was published by [[Wayne State University Press]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Getting to the Heart of the Matter: My 36 Years in the Senate|last=Levin|first=Carl|date=March 2021|publisher=Wayne State University Press|url=https://www.wsupress.wayne.edu/books/detail/getting-heart-matter|isbn=9780814348390}}</ref>

==Early life, education, and career==
Levin was born in [[Detroit]], the son of [[Judaism|Jewish]] parents, Bess Rachel (née Levinson) and Saul R. Levin. Saul served on the Michigan Corrections Commission.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.freep.com/article/20130308/NEWS15/303080151/U-S-Sen-Carl-Levin-won-t-run-for-seventh-term | title =U.S. Sen. Carl Levin won't run for seventh term | author =Todd Spangler | newspaper =[[Detroit Free Press]] | date =March 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sVQfAQAAMAAJ&q=Bess+Rachel+Levinson+levin|title=Who's who in Government|date=November 1, 1977|publisher=Marquis Who's Who.|isbn=9780837912035|via=Google Books}}</ref> Levin graduated from [[Central High School (Detroit)|Detroit Central High School]] in 1952 and attended [[Swarthmore College]]. He graduated with his [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[political science]] in 1956.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/sen-carl-levins-decision-opens-seat-in-2014/|title=Sen. Carl Levin's decision opens seat in 2014 |author=Ken Thomas |publisher=Associated Press|work=Seattle Times|date=March 8, 2013 |access-date=August 13, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Mike Householder, Corey Williams and David Eggert|agency=Associated Press|title=Carl Levin, Michigan's longest-serving senator, dies at 87|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/2414781/carl-levin-michigans-longest-serving-senator-dies-at-87.html|access-date=August 2, 2021|website=www.abqjournal.com|date=July 30, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> During his student summers he worked as a taxi driver and on an auto factory line.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 8, 2013|title=Race for Carl Levin's seat wide open after his decision not to run|url=http://www.annarbor.com/news/who-will-succeed-carl-levin-in-senate-race-for-his-seat-wide-open/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313092036/http://www.annarbor.com/news/who-will-succeed-carl-levin-in-senate-race-for-his-seat-wide-open/|archive-date=March 13, 2013|publisher=[[AnnArbor.com]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He then attended [[Harvard Law School]], where he earned his [[Juris Doctor]] in 1959.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://digitalcommons.bowdoin.edu/mitchelloralhistory/93/ | title =Interview with Carl Levin by Brien Williams | journal =George J. Mitchell Oral History Project | author =Bowdoin College | publisher=digitalcommons.bowdoin.edu | date =March 13, 2013| author-link =Bowdoin College }}</ref> He also received an honorary degree from Swarthmore College in 1980,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.swarthmore.edu/past-commencements/past-speakers-and-honorary-degree-recipients | title=Past Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients| date=July 8, 2014}}</ref> as well as honorary degrees from [[Michigan State University]] in 2004, [[Wayne State University]] in 2005, and [[Michigan Technological University]] in 2008.<ref name=sengovbio>{{cite web|url=http://levin.senate.gov/about/ |title=Carl Levin — U.S. Senator from Michigan |publisher=Levin.senate.gov |access-date=May 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527095753/http://levin.senate.gov/about/ |archive-date=May 27, 2010 }}</ref>

After earning his Juris Doctor, Levin was admitted to the [[State Bar of Michigan]]. He entered private practice as a lawyer for Grossman, Hyman and Grossman and taught law at Wayne State University and the [[University of Detroit Mercy]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qOgCthdaJqIC&q=carl+levin+taught+law+wayne+state&pg=PA207 | title =Historical Encyclopedia of United States Independent Counsel Investigations | publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]] | author =Gerald S. Greenberg | access-date =March 14, 2013| isbn =9780313307355 | year =2000 }}</ref> Levin served as General Counsel for the Michigan [[civil rights|Civil Rights]] Commission from 1964 to 1967, where he helped form the Detroit Public Defender's Office and led the Appellate Division of that office, which has become the State Appellate Defender's Office.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nationalsummit.org/speaker-levin | title =THE HONORABLE CARL M. LEVIN U.S. Senator State of Michigan | publisher=nationalsummit.org | date =March 14, 2013}}</ref> He served as a special assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan and chief appellate defender for the city of Detroit from 1968 to 1969.<ref name="his life and career"/>

===Detroit City Council===

Levin was elected to the [[Detroit City Council]] (known then as the Detroit Common Council) in 1969, serving two four-year terms from 1970 to 1977.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/07/3272793/levin-will-not-seek-re-election.html | title =Sen. Carl Levin's decision opens seat in 2014 | author =Ken Thomas | publisher=[[Miami Herald]] | date =March 7, 2013}}</ref> Levin served as president of the City Council throughout his entire second term, until the end of his tenure.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/Sen-Carl-Levin-s-decision-opens-seat-in-2014-4338438.php | title =Sen. Carl Levin's decision opens seat in 2014 | author =San Francisco Chronicle | newspaper =sfgate.com | date =March 8, 2013| author-link =San Francisco Chronicle }}</ref> During his time as council president, Levin became so frustrated with the [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's]] handling of repossessed houses in Detroit (leading neighborhoods to suffer from significant [[urban decay]]), that he and other members of the council, went out with a bulldozer "to help raze some of the houses."<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ACTF56SnaykC&pg=PA342 |title=The Jews of Capitol Hill: A Compendium of Jewish Congressional Members |publisher=Scarecrow Press |author=Kurt F. Stone |location=Plymouth UK |date=2011 |page=342|isbn=9780810877382 }}</ref> He was close to [[Mayor of Detroit, Michigan|Detroit Mayor]] [[Coleman Young]], the city's first [[African-American]] Mayor, and was described by ''[[Forbes]]'' as Mayor Young's "right hand man."<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/01/13/detroit-betrayed-the-radical-wrecking-of-an-iconic-city/ | title =Detroit Betrayed: The Radical Wrecking Of An Iconic City | author =Spyridon Mitsotakis | magazine =forbes.com | date =January 13, 2013}}</ref> During his time on the City Council, Levin practiced law part-time, working as a counsel for the Schlussel, Lifton, Simon, Rands and Kaufman law firm from 1971 to 1973. He later served as the general counsel at Jaffe, Snider, Raitt, Garratt and Heuer, from 1978 to 1979.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDIR-2011-12-01/html/CDIR-2011-12-01-MI.htm | title =Congressional Directory for the 112th Congress (2011–2012), December 2011. | author =United States Government Printing Office | website=gpo.gov | date =March 15, 2013| author-link =United States Government Printing Office }}</ref>

==United States Senate==
[[File:CarlLevin--100thCongress--.png|thumb|upright|Levin in the late 1980s]]
Levin was elected to the United States Senate in 1978, defeating incumbent Republican Senator [[Robert P. Griffin]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mininggazette.com/opinion/editorial/2014/12/levin-had-special-place-in-his-heart-for-the-keweenaw/|title=Levin had special place in his heart for the Keweenaw}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
* [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]] (chairman)<ref name=alookback/>
** As chairman of the full committee, Sen. Levin served as an ''ex officio'' member of all subcommittees
* [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]]
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security|Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security]]<ref name=committees2007>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/204898753/?terms=carl+levin+%22federal+financial+management%22&match=1|title=18 Mar 2007, Page 20 - Lansing State Journal at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia|Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia]] (chair)<ref name=alookback>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2021/07/a-look-back-at-carl-levins-36-year-us-senate-career.html|title=A look back at Carl Levin's 36-year U.S. Senate career|date=July 30, 2021|website=mlive}}</ref>
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations|Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]] (chair)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollcall.com/2010/05/21/chairman-offers-tough-scrutiny-of-military/|title=Chairman Offers Tough Scrutiny of Military|date=May 21, 2010|website=Roll Call}}</ref><!--
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight|Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight]] can't find a source -->
* [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship]]<ref name=committees2007/>
* [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Select Committee on Intelligence]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/about/committee-members-109th-congress-2005-2006|title=Committee Members 109th Congress (2005-2006) &#124; Intelligence Committee|website=Intelligence.Senate.gov}}</ref>

===Legislation sponsored===
Levin was the sponsor of 51 bills that became law.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Government Track|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/carl_levin/300066|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404051223/http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/carl_levin/300066 |archive-date=April 4, 2012 }}</ref>

==Political positions==
===Armed services===
[[File:United States Senate Committee on Armed Services, Levin D-MI & Warner R-VA, 7-31-2007.jpg|thumb|Senator Levin and Senator [[John Warner]] (R-VA) listen to Admiral [[Mike Mullen]]'s 2007 Senate confirmation hearing for becoming [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]. Warner and Levin died two months apart.]]

Levin chaired the [[U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services|Armed Services Committee]] from 2001 to 2003 and from 2007 until his retirement in 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_membership/committee_memberships_SSAS.htm | title =Committee Membership List This report lists the current members of all Senate Committees as of the previous day. | publisher =senate.gov | date =March 16, 2013}}</ref> He became the Democratic ranking member on the committee on January 7, 1997,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pjvoice.com/v40/40308magid.aspx | title =In Their Own words Congressman Sander Levin and Senator Carl Levin | work =[[Philadelphia Jewish Voice]] |first=Joe |last=Magid | date =March 16, 2013}}</ref> and served in that position when the Democratic Party was in the minority. Levin previously chaired the committee when the Democratic Party was the majority party in the Senate, January 3–20, 2001 and June 6, 2001 – January 6, 2003.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.archives.gov/legislative/finding-aids/reference/senate/armed-services/1947-present.html | title =Committee Resource Guide: Committees of the U.S. Senate | author =National Archives and Records Administration | publisher =archives.gov | date =March 16, 2013| author-link =National Archives and Records Administration }}</ref>

Levin joined the Armed Services Committee upon joining the Senate. Recalling when he was assigned the committee seat, he said that he wanted to learn more about the armed services. "I had never served, and I thought there was a big gap in terms of my background and, frankly, felt it was a way of providing service."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_137/ci_senate_armed_services/46570-1.html |title=Chairman Offers Tough Scrutiny of Military |publisher=Roll Call |date=May 24, 2010 |access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref>

He was a strong advocate for cost controls regarding military procurements.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/12/pentagon.f35/index.html | work=[[CNN]] | title=Pentagon's future fighter aircraft doubles in cost | date=March 12, 2010}}</ref> He has also pushed for less secrecy in government, working to declassify many documents, particularly where [[Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda|false and misleading claims of ties between Iraq and al-Qaeda]] are concerned.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/05/AR2007040502263.html| title = Hussein's Prewar Ties To Al-Qaeda Discounted| newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

Having believed that in order to improve the military the United States needed to shut down unneeded installations and get rid of excess infrastructure, Levin helped lead passage of the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act, which closed some military bases.<ref>{{cite web |title=Military Base Closures: Agreement on a 2005 Round |url=https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL30051.html |website=everycrsreport.com |access-date=November 16, 2019}}</ref>

Levin supported the [[Nunn-Lugar|Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program]], ensuring that all nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons from [[post-Soviet states]], are secured and dismantled. Levin argued that Nunn-Lugar presented "a chance to bury the new [[Adolf Hitler|Hitlers]] and [[Joseph Stalin|Stalins]] of that region before they have a chance to take root."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndu.edu/press/lib/pdf/CSWMD-CaseStudy/CSWMD_CaseStudy-3.pdf |title=The Origins of Nunn-Lugar and Cooperative Threat Reduction |publisher=[[National Defense University (Washington, D.C.)|National Defense University]] |author=Paul I. Bernstein, Jason D. Wood |date=April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303230725/http://www.ndu.edu/press/lib/pdf/CSWMD-CaseStudy/CSWMD_CaseStudy-3.pdf |archive-date=March 3, 2013 }}</ref> After members of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] and then-Senator [[Bob Smith (New Hampshire politician)|Bob Smith]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[New Hampshire|NH]]) threatened to redirect funds from the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, Levin joined a bipartisan group of senators in opposition to the 20% reduction in funding.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://belfercenter.hks.harvard.edu/publication/172/nunn_lugars_unfinished_agenda.html | title =Nunn Lugar's Unfinished Agenda Journal Article, Arms Control Today, volume 27, issue 7, pages 14–22 | author =Jason Ellis, Todd Perry | publisher =harvard.edu | date =October 1997}}</ref> In 2003, he voted in favor of the Nunn-Lugar Expansion Act, expanding the provisions to non-Soviet countries, and in 2005 cosponsored Senate Amendment 1030, removing congressionally imposed restrictions that delay the implementations of 2003 expansion act.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SP01380: | title =Bill Summary & Status 109th Congress (2005–2006) S.AMDT.1380 | author =[[THOMAS]] [[Library of Congress]] | publisher =thomas.loc.gov | date =July 21, 2005 | access-date =March 17, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121215123852/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SP01380: | archive-date =December 15, 2012 | url-status =dead }}</ref>

In 1992, he voted to ratify the [[START I]] treaty,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=102&session=2&vote=00253 | title =U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 102nd Congress – 2nd Session Definitions; Protocols on Conversion or Elimination, Inspection, Notification, Throw-weight, Telemetry, and Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission; and Memorandum of Understanding; all integral parts of the START Treaty | publisher =senate.gov | date =October 1, 1992}}</ref> and for the ratification of [[START II]] in 1996, banning [[Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle|MIRV]]'s and [[Intercontinental ballistic missiles]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=2&vote=00006 | title =U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 104th Congress – 2nd Session The Treaty Between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (the START II Treaty) signed at Moscow on January 3, 1993, including the following documents, which are integral parts thereof: the Elimination and Conversion Protocol; the Exhibitions and Inspections Protocol; and the Memorandum of Attribution | publisher =senate.gov | date =January 26, 1996}}</ref> In 2010, Levin voted in favor of the [[New START Treaty]], extending the original treaty until 2021 and reducing both the U.S. and [[Russia]]'s deployed strategic nuclear arsenal, by almost two-thirds.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/senate/2/298 | title =Senate Vote 298 – Final Passage for Arms Treaty | work=[[The New York Times]] | date =December 22, 2010 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130306024322/http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/senate/2/298 | archive-date =March 6, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2010/11/18-new-start-ohanlon | title =New START Shouldn't Be Stopped | author =Michael E. O'Hanlon | publisher =[[Brookings Institution]] | date =November 30, 2001}}</ref> In an op-ed in ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'', Levin said that, "This treaty is a strong statement that the United States is committed to reducing the dangers to the world that nuclear weapons present. That commitment makes it easier for us to work with the international community."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/165934-new-start-treaty-makes-us-safer-today-and-tomorrow-sen-carl-levin/ | title =New START treaty makes us safer today and tomorrow (Sen. Carl Levin) | author =Carl Levin | work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] | date =July 12, 2010}}</ref>

During the 2009 MDA/AIAA Annual Missile Defense Conference, Levin spoke in favor of the U.S.-Russian cooperation on missile defense:<ref name=mda09>[http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=310304 Remarks of Senator Carl Levin at the MDA/AIAA Annual Missile Defense Conference] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430010641/http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=310304 |date=April 30, 2009 }}, March 23, 2009</ref> "Leaders in both the U.S. and Russia have recently expressed interest in exploring missile defense cooperation. Did you ever believe that some of our missile defense engineers and experts might be working together with their Russian counterparts? It could happen and if it does, it could help address a major threat. The bottom line is simple: We have a new opportunity to seek a cooperative approach with Russia on missile defense, and we should seize it. The upside potential of such an effort is huge – a geopolitical game changer. The downside is minimal."<ref name=mda09/>

As Chair of the Armed Services Committee, Levin was instrumental in the enactment of the [[Matthew Shephard]] and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 and the legislation ending "[[Don't Ask, Don't Tell]]" policy for gays in the military in 2010. He played a vital role in the enactment of legislation addressing the problem of sexual assault in the military in 2013 and 2014.<ref name="his life and career"/>

Levin led Senate investigations into the treatment of detainees at [[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base]] and [[Abu Ghraib prison|Abu Ghraib]]. He also played a key role in the enactment of the [[Detainee Treatment Act]], which prohibited the torture of detainees in U.S. custody. Levin insisted on the inclusion of language that, as affirmed by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], ensured that the legislation would not deprive detainees of their right to access to the federal courts under a [[writ of habeas corpus]].<ref name="his life and career"/> Under Levin's leadership, the Senate Armed Services Committee conducted oversight hearings ranging from counterfeit parts in the DOD procurement system to the use of private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/23/blackwater.afghanistan/index.html|title=Key senator plans to lambast Blackwater actions in Afghanistan - CNN.com|website=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

In 2014, Levin was recognized by the Jewish Community Center Association of North America with the Frank L. Weil Jewish Military Award for legislation that has benefitted Jews and other minorities serving in the military.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. Carl Levin (D) |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/member/289 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130618041121/http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/member/289 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 18, 2013 |website=National Journal Almanac |access-date=August 15, 2014 }}</ref>

====Afghanistan war====

After the [[9/11 terrorist attacks]], Levin voted in favor of [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists|Senate Joint Resolution 23]], authorizing [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] the use of "necessary and appropriate force" against those who "planned, authorized, committed or aided" [[al-Qaeda]] and its affiliates.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00281 | title =U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 107th Congress – 1st Session On the Joint Resolution (S.J. Res. 23 ) | access-date =September 14, 2001 | publisher =senate.gov | date =March 16, 2012}}</ref>

Levin grew critical of the [[George W. Bush administration|Bush administration's]] handling of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan War]], saying in 2005 that they "took their eye off the ball when we decided to go after Iraq instead of [[al-Qaeda]], the people who had attacked us on 9/11, and their leader.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/23/binladen.reax/index.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410172031/http://articles.cnn.com/2006-04-23/politics/binladen.reax_1_tora-bora-bin-audiotape?_s=PM:POLITICS |url-status=live |archive-date=April 10, 2013 |title=Democrats rip failure to find bin Laden |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=April 23, 2006 }}</ref> In 2008, Levin became concerned that the United States and the international community lacked a strategy for success in Afghanistan, and that [[NATO]] failed to supply troops and equipment needed in emergency situations.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/mar/07/usa.afghanistan | title =Congress demands testimony from Nato commander in Afghanistan | author =Elana Schor | work =[[The Guardian]] | date =March 7, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.levin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=3998f5c2-9aa8-43da-9cac-9cb3b1c53479 |title=Report of Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)Travel to Pakistan and Afghanistan |publisher=levin.senate.gov |date=June 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214151927/http://www.levin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=3998f5c2-9aa8-43da-9cac-9cb3b1c53479 |archive-date=February 14, 2013 }}</ref>

Levin was opposed to the 2009 Afghanistan troop surge (adding 30,000 U.S. combat troops), stressing the advancement of training and expanding the [[Afghan National Army]];<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/09/16/exclusive_the_obama_administrations_draft_metrics_on_evaluating_progress_in_afghani | title =The Obama administration's draft metrics on "evaluating progress in Afghanistan and Pakistan" | author =Josh Rogin | magazine =[[Foreign Policy Magazine]] | date =September 16, 2009}}</ref> saying that the ANA should increase to 240,000 by 2012, from the original goal of 134,000, and the number of active members of the [[Afghan National Police]] should expand to 160,000, from the initial goal of 96,000.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/world/asia/11military.html | title =Obama Faces Doubts From Democrats on Afghanistan | author =Eric Schmitt, David E. Sanger | work=[[The New York Times]] | date =September 10, 2009}}</ref> Though Levin advocated a "surge of Afghan security forces," he said that he wouldn't rule out temporarily expanding the number of combat forces,<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1922144,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919161701/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1922144,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 19, 2009 | title =Congressional Dems Get Balky on Afghanistan | author =Jay Newton-Small | magazine =[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date =September 14, 2009}}</ref> but stuck with his original position. He questioned top [[Obama administration]] officials including [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[Robert Gates]] during a senate hearing on the Afghanistan surge, saying that, "Where I have questions is whether the rapid deployment of a large number of U.S. combat forces, without an adequate number of Afghan security forces for our troops to partner with, serves that mission."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/world/asia/03policy.html | title =Obama Team Defends Policy on Afghanistan | author =Elizabeth Bumiller | work=[[The New York Times]] | date =December 2, 2009}}</ref> Levin opposed setting a timetable for Afghanistan, voting against Senate Amendment 4204, requiring the President to submit a safe and orderly redeployment plan for combat troops and a plan to set a date for withdrawal, saying that, "I don't think we know enough about how these events are gonna unfold, for there to be a deadline."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00168 | title =U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress – 2nd Session On the Amendment (Feingold Amdt. No. 4204 ) | publisher =senate.gov | date =May 27, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/74603-1.html?pg=7 | title =CQ Transcript: Sens. Levin, Graham on NBC's 'Meet the Press' | publisher =rollcall.com | date =October 11, 2009| newspaper =Roll Call }}</ref> Levin supported the U.S. keeping a "limited footprint" in troops and in bases in Afghanistan, and said at that time he would focus the remainder of his senate tenure on the "rapid transfer of responsibility for Afghan security to the Afghans."<ref name="thehill1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/271351-station-us-troops-at-afghan-bases-say-lawmakers |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411224730/http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/271351-station-us-troops-at-afghan-bases-say-lawmakers |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |title=Lawmakers push to station remaining US troops at Afghan bases after 2014 |author=Carlo Muñoz |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=December 6, 2012 }}</ref>

====Iraq war====

[[File:US Navy 070116-N-3642E-104 Sen. Carl Levin speaks to an audience of 300 during the official naming ceremony of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the first aircraft carrier in the Ford class of carriers.jpg|thumb|Senator Levin speaking at a 2007 event during the naming of the [[USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)|USS ''Gerald R. Ford'']]]]

Levin was an early opponent of using U.S. military force in [[Iraq]], saying in August 2002 that "if [[Saddam Hussein]] had [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]], he wouldn't use them," and that "he's a survivalist, not a suicide bomber".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2187772.stm | title =US opposition to Iraq attack grows | author =British Broadcasting Corporation | work =[[BBC News]] | date =August 12, 2002| author-link =British Broadcasting Corporation }}</ref> Levin proposed the failed Multilateral Use of Force Authorization Act, as an alternative to the [[Iraq Resolution]], pushing President [[George W. Bush]] to build an international coalition in conjunction with the [[United Nations]],<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/01/opinion/01chafee.html | title =The Senate's Forgotten Iraq Choice | author =Lincoln Chafee | work=[[The New York Times]] | date =March 1, 2007| author-link =Lincoln Chafee }}</ref> so that "Saddam will be looking down the barrel of a gun, with the world at the other end rather than just the United States."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/11/us/threats-responses-vote-congress-authorizes-bush-use-force-against-iraq-creating.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm | title =THREATS AND RESPONSES: THE VOTE; CONGRESS AUTHORIZES BUSH TO USE FORCE AGAINST IRAQ, CREATING A BROAD MANDATE | author =Alison Mitchell, [[Carl Hulse]] | work=[[The New York Times]] | date =October 11, 2002}}</ref>

Levin was one of 23 Senators who voted against the Iraq Resolution,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/transcripts/senaterollcall_iraq101002.htm | title =Senate Roll Call: Iraq Resolution | newspaper =washingtonpost.com | date =October 11, 2002}}</ref> saying that "If we are going to take on Saddam at some point, it is critical that we have the world with us, that there be a U.N. resolve that authorizes war, because the consequences are very, very severe. If we go without a declaration from the U.N. it is far better to have one, and that means that we've got to bring the world along here."<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/july-dec02/iraq_12-10.html | title =Senators Richard Lugar and Carl Levin Discuss Next Moves in Iraq | author =PBS NewsHour | publisher =[[PBS NewsHour]] | date =December 10, 2012 | author-link =PBS NewsHour | access-date =August 25, 2017 | archive-date =January 19, 2014 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140119025626/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/july-dec02/iraq_12-10.html | url-status =dead }}</ref> Levin has strongly argued that the [[War in Iraq]] was a diversion from the [[War on Terror]]. On ''[[CNN]]'' on November 14, 2005, Levin said that "before the war, the President was saying that you cannot distinguish between Saddam Hussein and Iraq. As a matter of fact, he said that so often that he tried to connect Saddam Hussein with the attackers on us, on [[9/11]], so often, so frequently and so successfully, even though it was wrong, that the American people overwhelmingly thought, because of the President's misstatements that as a matter of fact, Saddam Hussein had participated in the attack on us on 9/11. That was a deception. That was clearly misinformation. It had a huge effect on the American people."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051114-1.html | title =Setting the Record Straight: Sen. Levin On Iraq | publisher =whitehouse.archives.gov | date =November 14, 2005}}</ref>

[[Prime Minister of Iraq|Iraqi Prime Minister]] [[Nouri al-Maliki]] hit back at senior U.S. politicians who have called for al-Maliki to be removed from office.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/08/26/iraq.main/index.html | title =Iraq PM to U.S. lawmakers: Stay out of our politics | publisher =[[CNN]] | date =August 27, 2007}}</ref> He singled out Levin and [[Hillary Clinton]], saying the Democratic senators were acting as if Iraq was "their property" and that they should "come to their senses" and "respect democracy".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6964677.stm |title=Maliki returns fire at US critics |work=[[BBC News]] |date=August 26, 2007 |access-date=May 27, 2010}}</ref>

After the [[2006 United States elections|2006 midterm elections]], with the Democratic Party taking control of the Senate and Levin being reappointed Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he was seen to have gained an influential position to oppose the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]]'s Iraq policy,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/19/AR2006101901907_2.html | title =Major Change Expected In Strategy for Iraq War | author =Michael Abramowitz, Thomas E. Ricks | newspaper =[[The Washington Post]] | date =October 20, 2006}}</ref> initially proposing efforts for "phased withdrawals".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6482564 | title =Levin: U.S. Pullout Would Force Iraq Political Solution | author =Steve Inskeep | publisher =[[NPR]] | date =November 14, 2006}}</ref> Though on January 10, 2007, after Bush announced intentions to send an additional 20,000 troops to Iraq, Levin said that he would support the plan if it were tied to a broader strategy of reducing the overall amount of U.S. troops; receiving opposition from his own party.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/world/middleeast/04policy.html | title =Awaiting Bush's Iraq Plan, Democrats Weigh Replies | author =Jeff Zeleny | work=[[The New York Times]] | date =January 4, 2007}}</ref> In late January 2007, amid what was seen as the fiercest political battle over the Iraq strategy during the Iraq War, Levin joined a bipartisan group of senators, including then [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Foreign Relations Committee]] Chairman [[Joe Biden]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-[[Delaware|DE]]), [[Susan Collins]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Maine|ME]]), and [[Chuck Hagel]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Nebraska|NE]]), to oppose any further escalation in Iraq;<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/18/iraq.congress/ | title =GOP senator drafting alternative war resolution | publisher =[[CNN]] | date =January 18, 2007}}</ref> and in voting in March 2007, in favor of setting a withdrawal date for U.S. forces in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/washington/28cong.html? | title =Senate Supports a Pullout Date in Iraq War Bill | author =Jeff Zeleny, [[Carl Hulse]]| work=[[The New York Times]] | date =March 28, 2007}}</ref> After continued criticism over the [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007|Iraq War troop surge]], in August 2007, Levin and senator [[John Warner]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Virginia|VA]]), visited military bases in [[Mosul]] and [[Baghdad]], saying that the surge brought "credible and positive results,"<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070820/NEWS07/70820030 | title =Levin: Troop surge has 'positive results' in Iraq But he doubts military success can end the bloodshed | newspaper =[[Detroit Free Press]] | author =Todd Spangler | access-date =March 16, 2013 | archive-date =October 18, 2015 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20151018095133/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070820/NEWS07/70820030 | url-status =dead }}</ref> though it failed to bring the political reconciliation needed and urged the [[Council of Representatives of Iraq|Iraqi Parliament]] to hold a "[[Motion of no confidence|no-confidence vote]]" on the government of Prime Minister al-Maliki.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2007/08/success-of-the-/ | title =Success of the Surge? | author =Lindsey Ellerson | publisher =[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] | date =August 20, 2007}}</ref> In October 2011, Levin said that President [[Barack Obama]] made the "right decision" in withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq at the end of 2011, and not continuing a U.S. military presence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.levin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/levin-statement-on-presidents-decision-to-withdraw-troops-from-iraq/?section=alltypes |title=Levin Statement on President's Decision to Withdraw Troops from Iraq |publisher=levin.senate.gov |date=October 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217060303/http://www.levin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/levin-statement-on-presidents-decision-to-withdraw-troops-from-iraq/?section=alltypes |archive-date=February 17, 2013 }}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote  = "This is not just a foreign war. They brought that war to our shores on 9/11. They are at war with us. The Supreme Court said, and I am going to read these words again, 'There is no bar to this nation's holding one of its own citizens as an enemy combatant.'<ref name=FL01>{{cite web|title=''Hamdi vs. Rumsfeld''|url=http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=03-6696&friend|publisher=caselaw.lp.findlaw.com|date=June 28, 2004}}</ref> "
| source = – ''[[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] Carl Levin, 2011''<ref name=knickerbocker>Knickerbocker, Brad, "Guantánamo for US citizens? Senate bill raises questions," ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'', December 3, 2011: [http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2011/1203/Guantanamo-for-US-citizens-Senate-bill-raises-questions].</ref>
 | width = 40%
 | align = right

Senator Carl Levin, as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, served with US women Senators assigned to the committee by Nancy Pelosi, including New York's Senator Gillibrand (Gillibrand, 2014).<ref>Gillibrand, Kirsten. (2014). Kirsten Gillibrand: US Senator: Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World.New York, NY: Ballantine Books.</ref> 
}}

====National Defense Authorization Act 2012====
As part of the [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012]] (the main [[National Defense Authorization Act|annual]] bill used to fund the US military) Levin and Senator [[John McCain]] ([[Ranking minority member|ranking]] [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] on Armed Services Committee-[[Arizona|AZ]]) included provisions that affirmed the authority of the United States military to detain captured individuals, including terrorists, in accordance with the [[law of war]] and required such detention for members of al Qaeda and others who planned or carried out the attacks against the United States. As initially proposed the provisions applied to American citizens.<ref>{{cite news|last=Barett|first=Ted|title=Senate passes defense bill with detainee policy compromise|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/01/politics/senate-detainee-policy/index.html|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=December 2, 2011}}</ref> After objections were raised that such detention violates Americans' constitutional rights,<ref>{{cite web|last=Lithwick|first=Dahlia|title=Military Police State|date=December 2011|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2011/11/citizen_detainment_why_is_the_senate_so_determined_to_allow_the_u_s_military_to_arrest_and_detain_americans_.html|publisher=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]}}</ref> Levin agreed to include language (to [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012#Indefinite detention without trial: Section 1021|section 1032, later 1021]], of the bill) which exempted American citizens from the requirement for military detention. The provision affirming the authority for military detention was modified to specify that it did not affect existing law or authorities relating to the detention of U.S. citizens or lawful resident aliens, but did not specifically exclude them from indefinite detention. Levin quoted the Supreme Court's 2004 decision in ''[[Hamdi v. Rumsfeld]]'' in support of his language authorizing indefinite detention.<ref name=knickerbocker/>

====National Defense Authorization Act 2015====
The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act was named the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title=H.R.3979 – Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 |date=December 19, 2014 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/3979/text|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213232051/https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/3979/text |archive-date=February 13, 2015 }}</ref>

====Levin-Warner Legislative Affairs Suite====
In 2016, the Department of Defense named the office suite of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs in honor of Levin and Sen. John Warner to honor their bipartisan legislative accomplishments.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 16, 2016|title=Remarks Honoring Senator Carl Levin and Senator John Warner|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/951801/remarks-honoring-senator-carl-levin-and-senator-john-warner/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730070246/https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Speeches/Speech/Article/951801/ |archive-date=July 30, 2021 }}</ref>

====Acquisition====
Levin authored the Competition in Contracting Act, which has led to reductions in federal procurement costs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/smart-power-is-soft-power-023398|title=Smart power is soft power|first=William S.|last=Cohen|website=[[Politico]]|date=June 7, 2009 }}</ref> He played an instrumental role in the enactment of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, which cut red tape out of the federal procurement system and prioritized the purchase of commercial products over government-unique designs.<ref name=legistorm>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legistorm.com/stormfeed/view_rss/596854/member/63/title/carl-levin-36-years-of-commitment-former-sen-carl-levin-official-press-release-legistorm.html|title=Carl Levin: 36 years of commitment – Former Sen. Carl Levin Official Press Release &#124; LegiStorm|website=www.legistorm.com}}</ref> He teamed with Senator John McCain to write the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act, which virtually eliminated cost overruns on major defense purchases for a period of several years after its enactment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/special-reports/defense-and-aerospace-june-2009/186613-law-will-improve-weapon-acquisitions/|title=Law will improve weapon acquisitions|first=Megan|last=Ruyle|date=June 1, 2009|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

===Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations/Financial Oversight===
For 15 years, from 1999 to 2014, Senator Levin served in leadership positions on the U.S. [[Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bean|first=Elise|title=Financial Exposure: Carl Levin's Senate Investigations into Finance and Tax Abuse|publisher=Palgrave McMillan|year=2018|isbn=978-3319943879}}</ref> During his tenure the senator led investigations into such matters as money laundering, offshore tax abuse, and corporate misconduct.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prospect.org/api/content/d994e955-f7e5-5481-b782-e9cbd6455583/|title=Tax Evasion Exposed|first=David Cay|last=Johnston|date=November 21, 2018|website=The American Prospect}}</ref>

Highlights from his money laundering investigations included exposing money laundering via [[Citibank]] private bank accounts serving the wealthy and corrupt including Mexico's [[Raúl Salinas de Gortari]] and Gabon's late President [[Omar Bongo]]; correspondent accounts opened for high-risk offshore banks moving suspect funds; embassy and personal accounts opened for foreign leaders like Chile's [[Augusto Pinochet]] and Equatorial Guinea's dictator [[Teodoro Obiang]]; and accounts at a major global bank, [[HSBC]], misused by Mexican drug traffickers, Russian fraudsters, and rogue regimes like Iran.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/10/world/citigroup-head-concedes-laundering-controls-were-poor.html|title=Citigroup Head Concedes Laundering Controls Were Poor|first=Jeff|last=Gerth|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 10, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hsbc-compliance-senate-idUSBRE86F18220120716|title=U.S. report slams HSBC's anti-money laundering efforts|first=Carrick|last=Mollenkamp|newspaper=[[Reuters]]|date=July 16, 2012|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref>

Levin also led tax investigations that attracted international attention for exposing tax misconduct by wealthy individuals and profitable corporations. Highlights included investigations that exposed abusive tax shelters designed and marketed by accounting firms like [[KPMG]];<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/20/business/grand-jury-is-investigating-kpmg-s-sale-of-tax-shelters.html|title=Grand Jury Is Investigating KPMG's Sale of Tax Shelters|first=David Cay|last=Johnston|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 20, 2004}}</ref> a 13-year network of 58 offshore trusts and corporations established and used by wealthy Texas brothers, [[Sam Wyly|Sam]] and [[Charles Wyly]], to evade paying their fair share;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB115439941262123082|title=Offshore Tax-Avoidance Schemes For Individuals Draw Senate Probe|first=Robert Guy|last=Matthews|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=August 1, 2006|via=www.wsj.com}}</ref> Swiss banks like [[UBS]] and [[Credit Suisse]] that helped U.S. tax cheats hide assets;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5394214&page=1|title=Sen. Levin: Shut Down Giant Swiss Bank UBS|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref> and complex corporate tax schemes that enabled [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], [[Microsoft]], [[Hewlett-Packard]], and [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]] to avoid paying millions, even billions in taxes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tax-apple-idUSBRE94J0U320130521|title=Apple CEO makes no apology for company's tax strategy |author1=Patrick Temple-West |author2=Kevin Drawbaugh|newspaper=[[Reuters]]|date=May 21, 2013|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref>

His inquiries into corporate misconduct were equally famous. Levin's highlights here included exposing [[Enron]]'s use of accounting deceptions, financial gimmicks, and executive pay schemes leading to its collapse into bankruptcy; unfair credit card practices that loaded up average U.S. families with debt; [[JPMorgan Chase]]'s $6 billion loss from hidden, reckless derivative trades by the so-called [[London Whale]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2013/03/14/investing/jpmorgan-senate/index.html|title=Senate on JP Morgan London Whale: Worse than we thought|first=Maureen|last=Farrell|date=March 14, 2013|website=[[CNN Business]]}}</ref> and risky investments by the United States' largest banks to profit from physical commodities like oil, natural gas, aluminum, and electricity at the expense of American businesses and families.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribliveoffers.com/|title=Welcome|website=www.tribliveoffers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/former-us-senator-carl-levin-democrat-michigan-dead-87-2021-07-30/|title=Former U.S. Senator Carl Levin, leading voice on national security, dead at 87|date=July 30, 2021|website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

===Education===
Levin was a strong supporter of the creation of the [[United States Department of Education|Department of Education]]. Over the years, Levin introduced legislation and amendments to improve education, including an amendment that greatly reduced class sizes to help teachers better focus on the needs of each specific child.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carl Levin on Education |url=https://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Carl_Levin_Education.htm |website=ontheissues.org |access-date=November 16, 2019}}</ref> Levin was a hesitant sponsor of the [[No Child Left Behind Act]].<ref>{{cite web |title=HR 1 – No Child Left Behind Act – Voting Record |url=https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/8426?s=state#.Xc9ZY1VKiUk |website=votesmart.org |access-date=November 16, 2019}}</ref>

===Energy===
In 2009, Senator Levin directed the [[United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations|Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]] to investigate whether [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]] policies caused a rise in the price in [[crude oil]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement by Senator Carl Levin on CFTC Review of Speculation Trading Limits |url=https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/subcommittees/investigations/media/statement-by-senator-carl-levin-on-cftc-review-of-speculation-trading-limits |website=hsgac.senate.gov |publisher=U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs |access-date=November 16, 2019 |archive-date=November 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116021127/https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/subcommittees/investigations/media/statement-by-senator-carl-levin-on-cftc-review-of-speculation-trading-limits |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also led an investigation in 2001 to try to discover the cause of the spike in gasoline prices that summer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Key senator vows inquiry into oil mergers, links to gas prices |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-05-28-0105280177-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |date=May 28, 2001 |publisher=The Chicago Tribune |access-date=November 16, 2019}}</ref>

Levin opposed raising [[Corporate Average Fuel Economy|mandatory automobile fuel efficiency standards]].<ref>{{cite web |last=York |first=Anthony |url=http://dir.salon.com/story/politics/feature/2002/03/14/cafe_standards/index.html |title=Salon.com |publisher=Dir.salon.com |date=March 14, 2002 |access-date=May 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521231624/http://dir.salon.com/story/politics/feature/2002/03/14/cafe_standards/index.html |archive-date=May 21, 2008 }}</ref>

Levin led opposition in the Senate to the Rahall Energy Policy Bill (H.R. 6), but lost 65–27.<ref>{{cite web |title=H.R. 6 (110th): Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/110-2007/s226 |website=govtrack.us |publisher=Civic Impulse, LLC. |access-date=November 16, 2019}}</ref>

===Environment===
On January 22, 2013, Levin introduced the [[Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act (S. 23; 113th Congress)]] into the Senate.<ref name="23sum">{{cite web|title=S. 23 – Summary|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/23|access-date=March 3, 2014|publisher=United States Congress}}</ref> The act designated as wilderness about {{Convert | 32500 | acre | km2 | sigfig = 2}} of the [[Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore]] in the state of Michigan. The newly designated lands and inland waterways comprise the Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness, a new component of the [[National Wilderness Preservation System]].<ref name="cbos23">{{cite web|title=CBO – S. 23|date=March 25, 2013 |url=http://cbo.gov/publication/44025|access-date=March 3, 2014|publisher=United States Congress}}</ref>

Levin worked to prevent garbage from Canada from being disposed of in Michigan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abc7chicago.com/archive/7903139/|title=Canadian municipal trash no longer coming to Michigan &#124; ABC7 Chicago &#124; abc7chicago.com|website=ABC7 Chicago}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsherald.com/news/carl-levin-debbie-stabenow-take-credit-for-reducing-trash-coming-in-from-canada/article_931fd218-fcb1-5c36-b48c-3b63b8dbee3a.html|title=Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow take credit for reducing trash coming in from Canada|date=February 25, 2012}}</ref><!-- cannot find references for the below

Levin wrote legislation in the 2003 [[National Defense Authorization Act]], creating a program for the research and construction of [[Fuel cell|fuel-cell]] vehicles.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

In 1999, Levin obtained $56 million for the Detroit Riverfront Project. The funds will be used in part to acquire land for a major five-mile walkway and greenway along the [[Detroit River]]. The [[Detroit Riverfront]] has been contaminated for decades by pollutants from factories that once operated there.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}-->

In 2011, the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority (DWCPA), in conjunction with the City of Detroit and MDOT, and through the leadership of Senator Carl M. Levin, opened a 21,000-square-foot public dock and terminal on the riverfront. In 2013, the facility was named the Carl M. Levin Building in honor of the senator's efforts to transform the Detroit riverfront.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Detroit Riverfront|url=https://detroitriverfront.org/riverfront/east-riverfront/detroitwayne-county-port-authority|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215094549/http://www.detroitriverfront.org/riverfront/east-riverfront/detroitwayne-county-port-authority |archive-date=December 15, 2013 }}</ref>

As co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, he fought to protect Michigan's signature natural resource. His work included support for Great Lakes harbors, which are vital to Michigan's economy and the nation's;<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 16, 2013|title="Senators Welcome Passage of Harbor Maintenance Provisions"|work=Offshore Energy|url=https://www.offshore-energy.biz/senators-welcome-passage-of-harbor-maintenance-provisions-usa/}}</ref> work to increase funding for Great Lakes environmental restoration;<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 13, 2013|title="Great Lakes Restoration Bill Aims to Protect Precious Resource"|work=The Manistee News|url=https://www.manisteenews.com/columns/article/CARL-LEVIN-Great-Lakes-Restoration-Bill-aims-to-14226186.php}}</ref> and to preserve the natural, historical, and cultural legacy of the lakes, including historic lighthouses.<ref>{{Cite news|title="Levin Seeks Support On Lighthouse Bill"|work=WNMU|url=https://www.wnmufm.org/post/levin-seeks-support-lighthouse-bill#stream/0}}</ref> He played a leading role in helping found the [[Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=Thunder Bay Sanctuary Boundaries Expand|work=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association news|url=https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/sep14/thunderbay-expansion.html}}</ref> and Keweenaw National Historic Park (National Park Service),<ref>{{Cite web|title="Keweenaw National Historic Park 2014 Business Plan"|url=http://npshistory.com/publications/kewe/bp-2014.pdf)}}</ref> and in legislation to preserve Michigan wilderness areas.<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 20, 2013|title="Half of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore would be wilderness area,"|work=Michigan Radio|url=https://www.michiganradio.org/post/half-sleeping-bear-dunes-national-lakeshore-would-be-wilderness-area}}</ref>

===Ethics===
Levin authored the [[Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995]], which established the first effective disclosure requirements for federal [[lobbyists]] and association provisions that significantly tightened the rules governing gifts to Members of Congress from lobbyists and others. Levin was the author of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 which prohibited gifts of honoraria to Members of Congress and significantly limited the use of expensive junkets.<ref name=legistorm/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanprogress.org/press/advisory/2006/11/28/13800/whos-in-charge/|title=Who's in Charge?|website=Center for American Progress|date=November 28, 2006 }}</ref> He also authored the [[Whistleblower Protection Act]], which protected federal employees who expose wasteful and unnecessary practices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/361724649/?terms=%22carl+levin%22+%22whistleblower+protection+act%22&match=1|title=2 Oct 2002, 10 - Detroit Free Press at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

[[File:Carl Levin, press conference.jpg|thumb|Senator Carl Levin announces at a 2003 [[press conference]] his opposition to the [[Iraq War|War in Iraq]] and his willingness to vote "No" on the authorization for President [[George W. Bush]] to invade Iraq.]]

===Health care===
Senator Levin supported a [[Patients' Bill of Rights]] to reduce the ability of [[managed care]] organizations to affect medical decisions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/685490925/?terms=%22carl+levin%22+%22patients+bill+of+rights%22&match=1|title=4 Jul 2001, 4 - The Homer Index at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Levin was an advocate for embryonic [[stem-cell research]] because of its potential to cure diseases like [[Alzheimer's]], [[diabetes]], and [[Parkinson's]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/new-group-argues-embryonic-stem-cell-research/|title=New group argues for embryonic stem cell research|first=Arikia|last=Millikan|date=September 21, 2006|website=The Michigan Daily}}</ref>

===Procedure===
Senator Levin was one of only three Democratic senators to dissent from [[Harry Reid]]'s leadership to vote against the [[Nuclear option#2013: Nominations except Supreme Court|nuclear option]] which switched the Senate away from operating on a supermajority basis, to requiring only a simple majority for certain decisions, on November 21, 2013. Levin supported changing the rules to a simple majority for confirmation votes, but did not support using the nuclear option to do so, saying in his speech on the floor on that day that this "removes an important check on majority overreach" and that he wished to "preserve the rights of the Senate minority".<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.congress.gov/113/crec/2013/11/21/CREC-2013-11-21.pdf#page=56 |volume=159 |number=167 |page=S8422 |title=Senate |date=November 21, 2013|journal=Congressional Record |access-date=June 29, 2019}}</ref>

===Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act===
Levin initiated the ''[[tax havens#Proposed U.S. legislation|Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.levin.senate.gov/newsroom/supporting/2007/PSI.OffshoreTaxBill.021707.pdf |title=Offshore Tax Bill |access-date=May 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527225533/http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/supporting/2007/PSI.OffshoreTaxBill.021707.pdf |archive-date=May 27, 2010 }}</ref> against alleged [[tax havens]], for the state of the initiative against [[tax avoidance and tax evasion]] registered as '''S.506''', and the complementary initiative '''H.R.1265'''.<ref>[http://www.thomas.gov Thomas (Library of Congress)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929022433/http://www.thomas.gov/ |date=September 29, 2006 }}</ref>

===Miscellaneous===
Levin was a critic of the [[New Hampshire presidential primary]]'s first-in-the-nation status, saying a more diverse state, such as his own Michigan, should hold its contest first.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/10/levin-fires-new-salvo-in-primary-war-006521|title=Levin fires new salvo in primary war|first=Roger|last=Simon|website=[[Politico]]|date=October 24, 2007 }}</ref>

In June 1986, along with [[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]] and [[John Melcher]], Levin was one of three senators to oppose a tax reform bill.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/06/25/The-97-3-vote-by-which-the-Senate-approved-the/9769520056000/|title=The 97–3 vote by which the Senate approved the...|date=June 25, 1986|publisher=UPI}}</ref>

In November 1998, Levin attended a [[White House]] reception for National Adoption Month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PPP-1998-book2/html/PPP-1998-book2-doc-pg2088.htm|title=Remarks at a National Adoption Month Reception|date=November 24, 1998|publisher=Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States|first=Bill|last=Clinton|author-link=Bill Clinton}}</ref>

In April 2006, Levin was selected by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' as one of "America's 10 Best Senators".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1183959,00.html |title=Carl Levin: The Bird-Dogger |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date= April 14, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202045411/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1183959,00.html |access-date=February 2, 2012|url-status=dead |archive-date=February 2, 2012 }}</ref>

The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] gave Levin an 84% lifetime rating on civil liberties issues.<ref>http://action.aclu.org/site/VoteCenter?page=combLegScore{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ACLU Congressional Scorecard</ref>

A strong [[gun control]] advocate, Levin was graded F by [[Gun Owners of America]]. He was one of the 16 senators who voted against the [[Vitter Amendment]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/Carl_Levin_Gun_Control.htm|title=Carl Levin on Gun Control|website=www.ontheissues.org}}</ref>

He was almost always seen wearing his glasses at the end of his nose, which drew a bounty of humorous attention. In response, he lightheartedly joked that the late Senator [[Strom Thurmond]] (while he was in office) would have never worn his glasses because they "make him look old."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://asp.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/CandidateProfile.aspx?ci=768&oi=S |title=USAtoday.com |publisher=Asp.usatoday.com |date=April 16, 2004 |access-date=May 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521184631/http://asp.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/CandidateProfile.aspx?ci=768&oi=S |archive-date=May 21, 2008 }}</ref> ''[[The Daily Show|Daily Show]]'' host [[Jon Stewart]] referred to him both as the "kindly old shoemaker", and "[[Grandpa (The Munsters)|Grandpa Munster]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.toledoblade.com/opinion/columnists/2021/03/30/carl-levin-and-public-service/stories/20210330013|title=Carl Levin and public service|website=The Blade}}</ref>

An avid supporter of the non-profit civil rights organization [[Focus: HOPE]], Levin was instrumental in the procurement of equipment and funding for their Machinist Training Institute (MTI).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/2014/09/07/shining-light-dingell-levin-share-neal-shine-award/15204399/|title=Shining Light: John Dingell, Carl Levin heralded as beacons of change|first=Todd|last=Spangler|website=[[Detroit Free Press]]}}</ref>

==Political campaigns==
Levin was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978. In the Democratic primary, he defeated former U.S. Representative [[Richard Vander Veen]]. In the general election, he faced former [[Senate Minority Whip]] [[Robert P. Griffin]], whom he defeated 52% to 48%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Carl_M._Levin |title=Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.) – WhoRunsGov.com/The Washington Post |publisher=Whorunsgov.com |date=April 28, 2010 |access-date=May 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205120453/http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Carl_M._Levin |archive-date=February 5, 2010 }}</ref> He won re-election five times before retiring from the Senate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.defensedaily.com/sasc-chairlevin-wont-run-for-reelection/congress/ |title=SASC Chair Levin Won't Run For Reelection |first=Emelie |last=Rutherford |date=March 8, 2013}}</ref>

Levin faced a tough reelection bid in 1984 against former [[astronaut]] [[Jack R. Lousma]], winning by only four percent. However, he routed Congressman [[Bill Schuette]] in 1990, and was reelected in 1996 and 2002 against only nominal Republican opposition. In 2002, Levin garnered 61% of the vote against Republican [[Rocky Raczkowski|Andrew "Rocky" Raczkowski]] despite the then-high popularity of President [[George W. Bush]] and the GOP and a close gubernatorial race that year. In the [[2008 U.S. Senate election|2008 election]], Levin won by a comfortable margin against state representative [[Jack Hoogendyk]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061205/UPDATE/612050301 |title=Detnews.com |publisher=Detnews.com |access-date=May 27, 2010}}</ref>

===Electoral history===
{{hidden begin|toggle=left|title=Carl Levin's electoral history}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[United States Senate election in Michigan, 2008]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/08GEN/05000000.html |title=MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF STATE Election Results GENERAL ELECTION November 04, 2008 |author=[[Michigan Secretary of State|Michigan's Secretary of State Office]] |publisher=miboecfr.nictusa.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619180448/http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/08GEN/05000000.html |archive-date=June 19, 2013 }}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (US)
  |candidate  = '''Carl Levin''' (inc.)
  |votes      = '''3,038,386'''
  |percentage = '''62.7'''
  |change     = +2.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = [[Jack Hoogendyk]]
  |votes      = 1,641,070
  |percentage = 33.8
  |change     = -4.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (US)
  |candidate  = [[Scott Boman|Scotty Boman]]
  |votes      = 76,347
  |percentage = 1.6
  |change     = ''n/a''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party of the United States
  |candidate  = Harley Mikkelson
  |votes      = 43,440
  |percentage = 0.9
  |change     = +0.1
}}
{{Election box candidate|
  |party      = [[U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan|U.S. Taxpayers]]
  |candidate  = Michael Nikitin
  |votes      = 30,827
  |percentage = 0.6
  |change     = ''n/a''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Natural Law Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Doug Dern
  |votes      = 18,550
  |percentage = 0.4
  |change     = +0.1
}}
{{Election box majority|
  |votes      = 1,397,316
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box turnout|
  |votes      = 4,848,620
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[United States Senate election in Michigan, 2002]]<ref>{{cite web | first=Ruth | last=Johnson | title=Election Results: GENERAL ELECTION – November 05, 2002 (United States Senator 6 Year Term (1) Position) | date=December 17, 2002 | publisher=Michigan Department of State | url=http://miboecfr.nicusa.com/election/results/02GEN/05000000.html | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318032917/http://miboecfr.nicusa.com/election/results/02GEN/05000000.html | archive-date=March 18, 2013 }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate = '''Carl Levin''' (inc.)
   |votes = 1,896,614
   |percentage = 60.61
   |change = +2.25
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate = [[Rocky Raczkowski]]
   |votes = 1,185,545
   |percentage = 37.89
   |change = -1.98
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party = Green Party of the United States
   |candidate = Eric Borregard
   |votes = 23,931
   |percentage = 0.76
   |change = +0.76
 }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[United States Senate election in Michigan, 1996]]<ref>{{cite web| title=Our Campaigns: MI U.S. Senate | date=July 16, 2007 | publisher = Our Campaigns | url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=172 }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = '''Carl Levin''' (inc.)
   |votes      = 2,195,738
   |percentage = 58.4
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = [[Ronna Romney]]
   |votes      = 1,500,106 
   |percentage = 39.9
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Kenneth L. Proctor
   |votes      = 36,911 
   |percentage = 1.0
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Workers World Party
   |candidate  = William Roundtree
   |votes      = 12,235 
   |percentage = 0.3
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Natural Law Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joseph S. Mattingly
   |votes      = 11,306 
   |percentage = 0.3
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Socialist Party
   |candidate  = Martin P. McLaughlin
   |votes      = 5,975 
   |percentage = 0.2
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[United States Senate election in Michigan, 1990]]<ref>{{cite web | first=Randy | last=Parker |author2=Reporting for Duty | title=Our Campaigns: MI U.S. Senate | date=April 9, 2005 | publisher = Our Campaigns | url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=3523 }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = '''Carl Levin''' (inc.)
   |votes      = 1,471,753
   |percentage = 57.4
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = [[Bill Schuette]]
   |votes      = 1,055,695 
   |percentage = 41.2
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Workers World Party
   |candidate  = Susan Farquhar
   |votes      = 32,796 
   |percentage = 1.3
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[United States Senate election in Michigan, 1984]]<ref>{{cite web | first=Randy | last=Parker |author2=Reporting for Duty | title=Our Campaigns: MI U.S. Senate | date=April 9, 2005 | publisher = Our Campaigns | url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=3710 }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = '''Carl Levin''' (inc.)
   |votes      = 1,915,831
   |percentage = 51.8
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = [[Jack Lousma]]
   |votes      = 1,745,302 
   |percentage = 47.2
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box candidate|
   |party      = Tisch Citizens
   |candidate  = Arthur Richard Tisch
   |votes      = 22,882
   |percentage = 0.6
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Lynn Johnston
   |votes      = 7,786
   |percentage = 0.2
   |change     = 
 }}

{{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Socialist Party
   |candidate  = Helen Meyers
   |votes      = 2,686 
   |percentage = 0.1
   |change     = 
 }}

{{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Workers World Party
   |candidate  = William Roundtree
   |votes      = 2,279 
   |percentage = 0.1
   |change     = 
 }}

{{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Independent (politician)
   |candidate  = Max Dean
   |votes      = 2,135 
   |percentage = 0.1
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Communist Party USA
   |candidate  = Samuel L. Webb
   |votes      = 1,196 
   |percentage = 0.0
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Workers League Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Fred Mazelis
   |votes      = 818
   |percentage = 0.0
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[United States Senate election in Michigan, 1978]]<ref>{{cite web | first=Randy | last=Parker |author2=crickets chirp | title=Our Campaigns: MI U.S. Senate | date=July 7, 2003 | publisher = Our Campaigns | url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=5325 }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = '''Carl Levin'''
   |votes      = 1,484,193 
   |percentage = 52.1
   |change     = 
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link|
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = [[Robert P. Griffin|Rob Griffin]] (inc.)
   |votes      = 1,362,165 
   |percentage = 47.8
   |change     = 
 }}
{{Election box end}}
{{hidden end}}

==Personal life and death==
Carl Levin married Barbara Halpern in 1961, and they had three daughters and six grandchildren.<ref name="his life and career">{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2014 |title=Carl Levin: His life and career |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/2014/09/07/carl-levin-his-life-and-career-/15221117/}}</ref>

Levin's family has long been active in Michigan politics. His elder brother, [[Sander Levin]], represented [[Michigan's 12th congressional district]] in the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] from 1983 to 2019. Sander's son [[Andy Levin]] was a policy analyst for the [[AFL–CIO]], and was elected in 2018 to the United States House of Representatives, succeeding his retiring father. Carl's uncle [[Theodore Levin]] was a chief judge on the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan|U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan]]. Carl's first cousin [[Charles Levin (judge)|Charles Levin]] was a [[Michigan Supreme Court]] judge; another first cousin, Joseph Levin, was a candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives|House]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forward.com/news/416755/meet-the-united-states-only-jewish-political-dynasty-the-levins-of/|title=Meet America's Only Jewish Political Dynasty: The Levins Of Michigan|first1=Courtesy|last1=of|first2=y|last2=Levin|website=The Forward|date=January 9, 2019 }}</ref>

In March 2021, Levin disclosed that he had lung cancer. Levin died at [[Henry Ford Hospital]] in Detroit, on July 29, 2021, at age 87.<ref>{{Cite news|last=McFadden|first=Robert D.|date=July 30, 2021|title=Carl Levin, the Senate Scourge of Corporate America, Dies at 87|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/29/us/politics/carl-levin-dead.html|access-date=July 30, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Honors and awards==
* In 2004 he received the [[Honorary degree]] of [[Doctor of Laws]] from [[Oakland University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oakland.edu/provost/honorary-degree/|title=Honorary Degree|website=oakland.edu|language=en|access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref>
* In 2004, he was presented the [[U.S. National Guard|National Guard]] Association of the U.S. [[Harry S. Truman]] Award.<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Guard Association of the United States|url=https://www.ngaus.org/harry-s-truman-past-recipients|url-status=live|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016163849/https://www.ngaus.org/harry-s-truman-past-recipients |archive-date=October 16, 2020 }}</ref>
* In 2006, ''Time'' named him one of the "10 best senators".<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=April 26, 2006|title="America's Ten Best Senators"|magazine=Time|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1184052-5,00.html}}</ref>
* In 2007, he was awarded the [[Franklin Roosevelt|Franklin]] and [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] Foundation's [[Four Freedoms Award#Freedom Medal|Freedom medal]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Foundation, Four Freedoms Awards|url=https://rooseveltinstitute.org/event/franklin-d-roosevelt-four-freedoms-awards/|url-status=live|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918040053/https://rooseveltinstitute.org/event/franklin-d-roosevelt-four-freedoms-awards/ |archive-date=September 18, 2020 }}</ref>
* In 2011, he received Global Financial Integrity's [https://gfintegrity.org/press-release/global-financial-integrity-honors-sen-carl-levin-2011-annual-award-exemplary-leadership/ Award for Exemplary Leadership] for his "untiring efforts on behalf of financial integrity in the U.S. and abroad."
*In 2013, he was given the Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 29, 2013|title=Mabus awards |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/824605/mabus-awards |website=DVIDS |publisher=US Department of Defense |language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802023222/https://www.dvidshub.net/image/824605/mabus-awards |archive-date=August 2, 2021 }}</ref>
* In 2014, he was awarded the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Leadership Award.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ocean Awards Gala Honorees |url=https://marinesanctuary.org/capitol-hill-ocean-week-home/ocean-awards-gala-honorees/ |website=U.S. National Marine Sanctuary Foundation |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023213758/https://marinesanctuary.org/capitol-hill-ocean-week-home/ocean-awards-gala-honorees/ |archive-date=October 23, 2020 }}</ref>
* In 2014, he was awarded the First Global Citizen Award from Lawrence Tech.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 11, 2014|title="Lawrence Tech to Honor Levin With First Global Citizen Award,"|work=Southfield City Centre|url=https://www.southfieldcitycentre.com/lawrence-tech-to-honor-levin-with-first-global-citizen-award/}}</ref>
* In 2016, {{USS|Carl M. Levin|DDG-120|6}}, an {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer}} was named in his honor,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.gd.com/news/press-releases/2016/03/navy-awards-general-dynamics-bath-iron-works-644-million-construction|title=Navy Awards General Dynamics Bath Iron Works $644 Million for Construction of DDG 51 Class Destroyer|last=gdadmtm|date=March 31, 2016|work=General Dynamics|access-date=August 13, 2018|language=en}}</ref> and was christened in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|author=David Sharp|agency=Associated Press|date=2021-10-03|title=Destroyer named for Sen. Carl Levin christened in Maine|url=https://www.navytimes.com/news/2021/10/03/destroyer-named-for-sen-carl-levin-christened-in-maine/|access-date=2021-10-17|website=Navy Times|language=en}}</ref> It was commissioned in Baltimore on June 24, 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.usni.org/2023/06/25/video-destroyer-uss-carl-levin-commissions-in-baltimore?mc_cid=ce98ebd365&mc_eid=a279fa263a | title=VIDEO: Destroyer USS Carl Levin Commissions in Baltimore | date=June 26, 2023 }}</ref>

==See also==

*[[List of Harvard University politicians]]
* [[List of Jewish members of the United States Congress]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{CongLinks | congbio=l000261 | votesmart=53307 | fec=S8MI00158 | congress=carl-levin/1384 }}<!-- Links formerly displayed via the {{CongLinks}} template:
* [http://ballotpedia.org/Carl_Levin Biography] at [[Ballotpedia]]
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/300066 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/300066 Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
* [http://www.rollcall.com/members/256.html Congressional profile] at ''[[Roll Call]]''
* [http://www.politifact.com/personalities/carl-levin Fact-checking] at [[PolitiFact.com]]
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00001691 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [https://apps.washingtonpost.com/politics/capitol-assets/member/carl-levin Financial investments (personal)] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* [http://www.legistorm.com/member/63/Sen_Carl_Milton_Levin.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Carl_Levin.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n2006-82074 Works by or about Carl Levin] in libraries ([[WorldCat]] catalog)
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/2592 Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* [http://www.charlierose.com/guest/view/6730 Appearances] on [[Charlie Rose (TV show)|''Charlie Rose'']]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0505566 Appearances] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
* [http://topics.bloomberg.com/carl-levin Collected news and commentary] at ''[[Bloomberg News]]''
* [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/l/carl_levin/index.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The New York Times]]''
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gIQA5NHW9O_topic.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* -->
* "Getting to the Heart of the Matter: My 36 Years in the Senate."

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikisource|works=or}}
{{wikiquote}}
*{{C-SPAN|2592}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgTXpRuywow Carl Levin Interview] Silver Screen Studios - Coming of Age (February 2020)

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