Joseph Daniel Duffey (July 1, 1932 – February 25, 2021) was an American academic, educator, anti-war activist and political appointee.

He was the Democratic Party's candidate in the 1970 U.S. Senate election in Connecticut, losing to Republican Lowell Weicker.

The campaign became notable because several of Duffey's young supporters went on to prominent careers in Democratic politics, including future president Bill Clinton, a Yale Law School student at the time.

(Al) Donahue, State Senate President Edward Marcus, and former congressman Donald J. Irwin[6] in a race to win the party endorsement.

He finished second in a three-way general election race to Lowell Weicker, with Senator Dodd running as an independent.

[3] In his capacity as chairman Duffey was central to obtaining NEH funding that established the Library of America.

[12] During his tenure the university welcomed Robert Mugabe, granting him an honorary law degree ceremony in 1986 during which Duffey described Mugable as "an outspoken and effective leader in his country's sturggle for independence...laying the foundation for vibrant economy and interracial harmony".

[13] On June 12, 2008, the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees revoked the honorary degree it had granted 22 years before based on Mugabe's history of human rights violations.

[14] Subsequently, the position of president of the entire University of Massachusetts system was added to Duffey's responsibilities in 1990.

There, he was responsible for education and academic quality and coordinated the development of Laureate International Universities network programs and partnerships worldwide.

[8] Duffey died on February 25, 2021, at a retirement community in Washington, D.C.[2] He was 88, and was ill in the time leading up to his death.