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Arlen Specter

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Arlen Specter
United States Senator
from Pennsylvania
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 5, 1981
Serving with Robert P. Casey Jr.
Preceded byRichard Schweiker
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJoan Specter
Alma materYale University

Arlen J. Specter (born February 12 1930) is a United States Senator from Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Republican Party, and was first elected in 1980.

Biography

Early life and career

Specter was born in Wichita, Kansas to Jewish parents Lillie Shanin and Harry Specter.[1] He was raised in Russell, Kansas (also the hometown of 1996 Republican Presidential nominee Bob Dole). His father's occupations were peddler, tailor and junkyard owner; both his parents had immigrated to the United States from Russia. Specter studied at various universities before and after serving in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1953, during the Korean War. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in International Relations, in 1951 and from Yale Law School in 1956. He passed the Pennsylvania Bar examination in 1956.

In 1953, he married Joan L. Levy, a former at-large member of the Philadelphia City Council. The couple have two sons, Shanin and Steve.

Soon after graduation from Yale, Specter became a prominent lawyer in Philadelphia and active in politics, beginning his political life as a Democrat. At the recommendation of Rep. Gerald R. Ford, he worked for the Warren Commission, investigating the assassination of John F. Kennedy. As an assistant counsel for the commission, he authored or co-authored[2] the controversial "single bullet theory," which suggested the non-fatal wounds to President Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally were caused by the same bullet. This was a crucial assertion for the Warren Commission, since if the two had been wounded by separate bullets, that would have demonstrated the presence of a second assassin and therefore a conspiracy.[3]

He eventually became a Republican and scored an upset by winning a 1965 race for District Attorney in heavily Democratic Philadelphia running on an anti-corruption platform against the Democratic machine. His slogan, deemed "brilliant" by The Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne, was "We need these guys to watch those guys."[4] Before his run for District Attorney, Specter briefly represented the "unicorn killer," Ira Einhorn, who remained at large for years after Specter successfully argued that Einhorn should only pay 10% of his $40,000 bond.

He mounted an unsuccessful campaign for mayor of Philadelphia in 1967 and was defeated for re-election to a third term as district attorney in 1973. He was defeated in the 1976 Republican Primary for U.S. Senate by John Heinz and in the 1978 primary for Governor of Pennsylvania by Dick Thornburgh.[5]

He also made an abortive bid for the Republican nomination in the 1996 presidential race, before withdrawing and endorsing future nominee Bob Dole.

Senate career

Elections

Senator Specter's official portrait

In 1980, Specter became the Republican candidate for Senate when Republican incumbent Richard Schweiker announced his retirement. Specter won the election and was reelected in 1986, 1992, 1998 and 2004. He is the longest-serving Senator in Pennsylvania's history; no one else from the state has been elected to five terms in that body.

In 2004, Specter, who is often dubbed a "Republican In Name Only" (RINO) by more conservative critics, faced a challenge in the Republican primary election from conservative Congressman Pat Toomey. Toomey charged that Specter was too much of a liberal and big spender to represent the Republican Party. The match-up was closely watched nationally, being seen as a symbolic clash between the conservative and moderate wings of the Republican Party. However, most of the state's Republican establishment, including the state's other senator at the time, Rick Santorum (who is almost as conservative as Toomey), closed ranks behind Specter. Polls showed that had Toomey won the primary, he would have almost certainly lost to the Democratic candidate, Congressman Joe Hoeffel. Specter was strongly supported by President George W. Bush. Specter narrowly avoided a major upset with 51 percent of the vote. Some considered this primary battle to have damaged his re-election hopes, moving him to the right of his past moderate stances. In the general election, he faced Hoeffel, Betsy Summers of the Libertarian Party, and Constitution Party candidate James Clymer in November 2004's general election. He was easily reelected.

Recent reports suggest that he is planning to run for re-election to his Senate Seat in 2010, when he will be 80 years old.[6] He was briefly a candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination in the 1996 election, but dropped out early in the race. He was chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence from 1995, when the Republicans gained control of the Senate, until 1997, when he became chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs. He chaired that committee until 2001 and again from 2003 to 2005, during the times the Republicans controlled the Senate. He also chaired the Judiciary Committee from 2005 to 2007.

Political leanings

Overview

Specter is a leading moderate Republican, reflecting his roots in Kansas and in Philadelphia. He is generally considered pro-choice on abortion (although he received a 50% rating from pro-choice group NARAL) and supports LGBT rights with mixed positions.[7] On the immigration issue, Senator Specter supports a "pathway to citizenship" and a "guest worker program" which opponents call amnesty. He introduced Senate Bill S. 2611 (the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 on April 6 2006 and it was passed on May 25 2006, before reaching a stalemate in the House. He supports affirmative action and voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1990. He was one of only four Republicans to vote against the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act and in recent years has been less enthusiastic about lawsuit reform than many members of his party. In 1995 he was the only Republican to vote to limit tax cuts to individuals with incomes of less than one million dollars. He voted against CAFTA. Specter also supports an increase in the federal minimum wage. In part because of these stances, he won his first three reelection bids (1986, 1992, and 1998) during bad years for Republicans.

On the conservative side, he strongly supports the death penalty and opposes most gun control, voting against the Brady Bill, background checks at gun shows, the ban on assault weapons, and trigger locks for handguns. His work has included numerous articles on the deterring effect the death penalty has on future crimes.

His opposition to Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork is seen as an important factor in the nomination's failure; indeed, many conservative Republicans have never forgiven him for opposing Bork. However, he raised the ire of many Democrats who had supported him for years with his aggressive questioning of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas hearings.

In 1998 and 1999, Specter criticized his own party for its impeachment of President Bill Clinton. Believing that Clinton had not received a fair trial, Specter famously cited Scots law to render a verdict of "not proven" on President Clinton's impeachment. However, his verdict was recorded as "not guilty" in the Senate records.

Specter is a member of The Republican Main Street Partnership and supports stem cell research. He is also a member of The Republican Majority For Choice, Christine Todd Whitman's Its My Party Too, Republicans For Choice and Republicans for Environmental Protection.

On March 16 2006, Specter upset some conservative Republican activists when he proclaimed, "The Republican Party is now principally moderate, if not liberal!" after securing $7 billion for domestic spending programs. This has only further cemented the attitude of many Republicans that Specter is a Republican In Name Only.[8]

In April 2006, he was selected by Time as one of "America's 10 Best Senators." According to polls by SurveyUSA, Specter has a higher approval rating among registered Democrats in Pennsylvania than Republicans (though the difference is within the margin of error).

Opinions on the Supreme Court

Soon after the 2004 election, Specter stepped into the public spotlight as a result of controversial statements about his views of the future of the Supreme Court. At a press conference, he stated that "when you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe vs. Wade, I think [confirmation] is unlikely. The president is well aware of what happened, when a number of his nominees were sent up, with the filibuster. ... And I would expect the president to be mindful of the considerations which I am mentioning." Activist groups interpreted his comments as warnings to President Bush about the implications of nominating Supreme Court justices who are opposed to the Roe v. Wade decision.

Specter maintained his comments were a prediction, not a warning. He met with many conservative Republican senators, and based on assurances he gave them, he was recommended for the Judiciary Committee's chairmanship in late 2004. He officially assumed that position when the 109th Congress convened on January 4 2005. The Judiciary Committee is responsible for holding hearings on federal judicial nominations made by the President, including Supreme Court nominees, for oversight of the United States Department of Justice, and for other matters.


Criticism of Bush for wire tapping and classified intelligence leak

Specter while he was being interviewed by Margot Adler for an episode of Justice Talking on Presidential Signing statements

Specter has been very critical of President Bush's wiretapping of US persons without warrants. When the story first broke, he called the effort "inappropriate" and "clearly and categorically wrong." He said he intended to hold hearings into the matter early in 2006, and had Alberto Gonzales appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer for the program (though Specter declined to force Gonzales to testify under oath). On January 15 2006, Specter mentioned impeachment and criminal prosecution as potential remedies if President Bush broke the law, though he downplayed the likelihood of such an outcome.

On April 9 2006 Specter, speaking on Fox News about the Bush administration's leaking of classified intelligence, said that "The president of the United States owes a specific explanation to the American people"[9]

NFL Destruction of Spygate Tapes

Senator Specter has had a long history of battles with the NFL. In November of 2005, he sought to have the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL investigated for violation of antitrust laws over their handling of Terrell Owens [10] In December of 2007, he sought to have the law that allows the National Football League to sign lucrative television contracts on behalf of all 32 teams repealed. [11] In February of 2008, he sought to have religious organizations declared exempt from NFL copyright laws. [12] Arlen Specter has publicly declared that he would support legislation ending the NFL's anti-trust exemption, allowing local teams to negotiate their own cable contracts. [13]

Specter's number two donor is Comcast Cable. Arlen Specter has taken $153,600 in campaign contributions from Comcast or those affiliated with Comcast as employees or through its PAC, including $2,300 from Comcast's chairman, Brian Roberts [14]. Specter's number one donor is Blank Rome, LLP, the law firm which represents Comcast. Arlen Specter has taken $358,453 in campaign contributions from Blank Rome or those affiliated with Blank Rome as employees or through its PAC. [15]. Comcast Cable is currently involved in a dispute with the NFL with regard to a cable deal concerning the NFL Network. [16] It appears that Specter's feud with the NFL may be motivated by the desire to pressure the NFL on behalf of his two largest donors. [17].

During the 2007-2008 NFL Season, Senator Specter wrote to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell concerning the destruction of New England Patriots Spygate tapes. February 1, 2008, the commissioner stated that the Tapes were destroyed because "they confirmed what I already knew about the issue." Bill Belichick, the team's coach, refused to respond from Glendale, Arizona, the site of Super Bowl XLII, stating "It is a league issue. I know nothing about it." Specter, a Philadephia Eagles season ticket holder, has stated that the Patriots should forfeit their Super Bowl XXXIX title, but has not stated whether the Patriots should forfeit Super Bowl XXXVI or Super Bowl XXXVIII, neither of which had the Philadelphia Eagles involved. New England defeated Philadelphia in the game by a score of 24-21. [18][2].

Controversies

On June 9 2006 The Washington Post reported Specter had proposed legislation that would allow Bush to seek a warrant from a special court for an electronic surveillance program "such as the one being conducted by the National Security Agency." Adding to that, Specter's bill would also grant "blanket amnesty to anyone who authorized warrantless surveillance under presidential authority."[4] Specter denied his bill would grant blanket amnesty, calling it an "erroneous report".[19]

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported December 25 2006, that Specter met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over the protest of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.[20].

Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy

On March 9, 2006, The USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 was signed into law. It amended the process for interim appointments of U.S. Attorneys, written into the bill by Arlen Specter during his chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee.[21] The change allowed the Bush Administration to appoint interim U.S. attorneys without term limits, and without confirmation by the Senate. The Bush administration used the law to place at least eight interim attorneys into office in 2006. Specter claims that the changes were added by staffer Brett Tolman.[22] For more information, see dismissal of U.S. Attorneys controversy.

Health problems

On February 16 2005, Specter announced that he had been diagnosed with an advanced form of Hodgkin's disease, a type of cancer. Despite the advanced form, Specter continued working during chemotherapy. He ended treatment on July 22. Senator John Sununu (R-New Hampshire) shaved his head to show solidarity with Specter when he was undergoing chemotherapy and was temporarily bald.

Electoral history

2004 Race for U.S. Senate

2004 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary

1998 Race for U.S. Senate

  • Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 61%
  • Bill Lloyd (D), 35%

1998 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary

1992 Race for U.S. Senate

  • Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 49%
  • Lynn Yeakel (D), 47%

1992 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary

  • Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 65%
  • Stephen Friend (R), 35%

1986 Race for U.S. Senate

  • Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 56%
  • Bob Edgar (D), 43%

1986 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary

  • Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 76%
  • Richard Stokes (R), 24%

1980 Race for U.S. Senate

1980 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary

  • Arlen Specter (R), 36%
  • Harold Haabestad (R), 33%
  • Ed Howard (R), 13%

References

  1. ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/senators/specter.htm
  2. ^ Warren Commission staff lawyer Norman Redlich was asked by author Vincent Bugliosi in 2005 whether Specter was the sole author of the single bullet theory and he said, "No, we all came to this conclusion simultaneously." When asked who he meant by "we," he said, "Arlen, myself, Howard Willens, David Belin, and Mel Eisenberg." Specter did not respond to Bugliosi's request for a clarification on the issue. Reclaiming history: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vincent Bugliosi (W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 2007) Endnotes, pp.301-6
  3. ^ Reclaiming history: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vincent Bugliosi (W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 2007) p.456
  4. ^ a b E.J. Dionne (May 24 2005). ""Watch Those Guys"". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-7-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "WashingtonPost" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ Terence Samuel (September 4 2005). "Irritating Them All". US News and World Report. Retrieved 2007-7-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  6. ^ Jonathan Singer, (Monday March 19 2007). "Senate 2010: Snarlin' Arlen Wants Another Six Years". Direct Democracy blog. Retrieved July 16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  7. ^ "Congressional Record on Choice by State". NARAL. Retrieved July 16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "A rising conservative star". Free Republic blog. March 23 2006. Retrieved 2007-7-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  9. ^ David Jackson (April 10 2006). "Specter urges Bush, Cheney to explain CIA leak". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-7-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  10. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2240403&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
  11. ^ http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6398153.html
  12. ^ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004171210_nfl08.html
  13. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2690171&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines
  14. ^ http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20080205_Specter__Goodell_will_meet.html
  15. ^ http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allcontrib.asp?CID=N00001604
  16. ^ http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2007/05/10/comcast_wins_in_nfl_network_dispute
  17. ^ http://www.attytood.com/2008/02/arlens_tangled_comcastic_mess_1.html
  18. ^ http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/15273082.html
  19. ^ Specter denies giving Amnesty over NSA wiretapping, Crooks and liars, June 11 2006
  20. ^ [1],
  21. ^ Lithwick, Dahlia (2007-03-05). "Specter Detector". Slate. Retrieved 2008-01-07]]. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  22. ^ http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002487.php

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Arlen Specter.
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Articles
Political offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee
1995 – 1997 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
1997 – 2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
2003 – 2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee
2005 – 2007 		Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by Senator from Pennsylvania (Class 3)
1981 – present
Served alongside: H. John Heinz III, Harris Wofford,
Rick Santorum, Bob Casey, Jr. 		Incumbent

Template:Persondata

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