Valdas Adamkus Biography

Valdas Adamkus was the President of Lithuania for two terms, from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2004 to 2009. His election to presidency in his first term came as a surprise to many as he had spent much of his life living outside Lithuania, having fled the country during the World War II. However, he had always been interested in Lithuania’s political activities. As a young man Adamkus actively participated in the underground activities against the first Soviet occupation. As part of the resistance movement for Lithuania's independence, he published and circulated the underground newspaper ‘Jaunime, budek!’ (Youth, Be on Guard!). After moving to the United States, he completed his education as a civil engineer and started Working for the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA). A man with a strong conscience and moral values, he was active in public and political life of the Lithuanian expatriate community while living in the U.S. and organized protests against Lithuania’s occupation. Over the years he frequently visited Lithuania and started taking up an active interest in the country’s politics. Finally he moved back to his homeland and ran for presidency. He won the elections and became the President of the Republic of Lithuania in 1998. He proved to be a popular President and won a second term in a special election held in 2004.