Ma Ying-jeou graduated from Taiwan's National Taiwan University, in 1972 receiving a bachelor's degree from the College of Law. After earning a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from New York University in 1976, Ma received a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) degree from Harvard Law School in 1981, specializing in law of the sea and international economic law. Upon returning to Taiwan in 1981 Ma became the deputy director of the First Bureau of the Presidential Office. In this post, he served as President Chiang Ching-kuo's English interpreter and secretary. He was concurrently deputy secretary-general of the KMT's Central Committee. In 1986, he was assigned by President Chiang the heavy task of researching the possibility of lifting martial law, relaxing restrictions on cross-strait contacts, and reforming the parliament. In 1988, he was appointed Chairman of the Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission of the Executive Yuan. Concurrently, he was also assigned to form a Mainland Affairs Task Force and subsequently became the body's executive secretary. Three years later, Ma was appointed to the newly established Mainland Affairs Council, becoming its first-ever vice chairperson while concurrently serving as a KMT representative at-large in the Second National Assembly. Ma subsequently served as Minister of Justice and Minister without Portfolio, before returning to teach law at the College of Law, National Chengchi University. In 1998, Ma was elected as Taipei mayor, serving two full terms in the post. In 2005, he was elected as chair of the KMT. Ma resigned the KMT chairmanship on February 13, 2007, and at the same time announcing that he would join the presidential race in 2008. On March 22, 2008, he was duly elected president of the Republic of China.