Retiring Senator Joe Lieberman includes repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” in listing his proudest legislative achievements.

The 70-year-old Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent from Connecticut, played a key role in passage of legislation that ended the military policy which for 18 years made it illegal for gay and bisexual troops to serve openly. The policy ended the military careers of more than 14,000 service members.

In his farewell address, Lieberman said America had moved closer “to the more perfect union our founders sought, becoming a more free and open society in ways I would guess those same founders never could have imaged.”

“Barriers of discrimination and bigotry that just a few decades ago seemed immovable have been broken. And doors of opportunity have been opened wider for all Americans, regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age or disability,” Lieberman said.

“When I look back at my own career, the legislative achievements I'm proudest of being part of – like passing the clean air act in 1990, stopping the genocide in the Balkans, creating the 9-11 commission, and the Department of Homeland Security, reforming the intelligence community, reorganizing FEMA and repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' – all were achieved only because a critical mass of Democrats and Republicans found common ground.” (The video is embedded on this page. Visit our video library for more videos.)