Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specterwas an American lawyer and politician who served as United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter was a Democrat from 1951 to 1965, then a Republican from 1965 until 2009, when he switched back to the Democratic Party. First elected in 1980, he represented his state in the Senate for 30 years...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth12 February 1930
CountryUnited States of America
protection gallery amendments
When the 14th Amendment, equal protection clause was enacted, the galleries in the Senate were segregated. Now we have integration.
contested daunting facing heavy judicial
We're facing a daunting workload with a very heavy backlog of controversial and contested judicial nominees.
priorities doubt terrorism
There is no doubt that our nation's security and defeating terrorism trump all other priorities.
conspiracy senate
There are conspiracies all over the Senate floor on any day!
vote frequency unwelcome
It is with unwelcome frequency that I find myself the deciding vote.
people privilege pennsylvania
It's been a great privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania.
lawyer states position
Lawyers advocate more so than state their own positions.
party independent labels
My tenure in the Senate was really as an independent and whichever, regardless of party label.
giving mindset never-give-in
'Never give in' was my mindset.
long people pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a very tough state; people don't last long in Pennsylvania politics.
numbers democracy noble
The passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, recognizing the potential danger that the aircraft they were aboard posed to large numbers of innocent Americans, American institutions, and the symbols of American democracy, took heroic and noble action to ensure that the aircraft they were aboard could not be used as a weapon.
views president judicial-review
We will submit legislation to the United States Senate which will...authorize the Congress to undertake judicial review of those signing statements with the view to having the president's acts declared unconstitutional.
war father men
My father was an immigrant who literally walked across Europe to get out of Russia. He fought in World War I. He was wounded in action. My father was a great success even though he never had money. He was a very determined man, a great role model.
philosophy political lines
I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans,