Paul Tsongas (February 14, 1941 – January 18, 1997) was a United States senator from Massachusetts, and the 1992 Democratic nominee for President. He first entered politics as a city councilor, and then served two terms in the United States House of Representatives. In 1978, he was elected to the Senate. In 1984, however, he was diagnosed with cancer, and left the Senate. After fighting the illness, he returned to politics and in 1992 ran for his party's nomination for President. He ran a strong campaign, and succeeded in winning the New Hampshire primary, and eventually South Carolina.