About The Author: Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter served 30 years in the United States Senate gaining recognition for his leadership in increasing NIH funding, questioning 14 Supreme Court nominees and being picked by TIME Magazine in 2007 as one of the Ten Best Senators.
Born to immigrant parents, he grew up in Russell, Kansas where he was a high school debating champion, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania, received his law degree from Yale where he was an editor on The Law Journal and served as a Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He practiced law with Dechert, Price & Rhoads for 10 years
As Assistant Counsel to the Warren Commission investigating the assassination of President Kennedy, he developed the single bullet theory. As Philadelphia's District Attorney, he was noted for advocating life sentences for career criminals, prosecuting corrupt public officials, urging prison reform with realistic rehabilitation and innovating a national model for pre-trial diversion. As an Assistant District Attorney, he obtained the first conviction for corrupt Teamster officials investigated by the Senate McClellan Committee which included Senator John F. Kennedy and General Counsel Robert F. Kennedy. As a Pennsylvania Special Assistant Attorney General, he led the investigation of the Magisterial System leading to the convictions of corrupt Magistrates and Constables and Constitutional reform.
As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he presided over the confirmation hearings of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito. He played leading roles in the confirmations of Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justice Thomas and his questioning of Judge Robert Bork was cited as the key reason for the Senate's rejection of that nomination.
He authored the Career Criminal Act, the Terrorists Prosecution Act, the Hate Crimes Act, the CIA Inspector General Act (Chairman, Intelligence Committee 1995-1996), legislation expanding Veteran's Rights (Chairman, Veteran's Affairs Committee 1997-2003) and increased appropriations for healthcare, education and worker safety (Chairman, Appropriations Sub-Committee 1995–2001; 2003-2007).
As a member of the Intelligence Committee and Appropriations Sub-Committee on Foreign Operations, he traveled to more than 100 countries meeting with our most formidable adversaries including Saddam Hussein, Muammar Qaddafi, Fidel Castro, Yasser Arafat, Hugo Chavez, Hafez al-Assad and Bashar al-Assad. Subscribing to the proposition that we make peace with our enemies and not our friends, he has written and spoken in support of dialogue and more active diplomacy.
Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation for his independence willing to break with his party in the interest of Pennsylvania and the nation. His key vote and leadership in the passage of the Stimulus Bill in 2009, one of 10,000 votes, created irreconcilable differences with the Republican Party leading to his re-registration and defeat in the 2010 Pennsylvania Democratic Primary.
The New York Times wrote "…Mr. Specter is widely regarded as the Senate's brightest legal mind." The Philadelphia Inquirer commented: "Senator Arlen Specter has more clout than some sovereign nations." The Economist noted: "he is a moderate in a country where the loudest voices applaud immoderation."
He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Joan, he has two sons, Shanin, married to Tracey P. Specter, and Stephen, with four grandchildren, Silvi, Perri, Lilli and Hatti. He is currently practicing law taking cases of special interest, finishing his 3rd book (Cannibals Devouring Senators) and preparing to teach a course in the fall 2011 at the University of Pennsylvania Law School on the Supreme Court.
