NEWSMAX: …Elected to the U.S. House in 1960 and the U.S. Senate in 1968, Schweiker was staunchly pro-labor and outspoken in his opposition to the Vietnam War. He angered President Richard Nixon by voting against key White House programs.
But he had a conservative streak in him as well, and began leaning more to the right after 1976. Schweiker generally opposed abortion and gun control, and favored only limited busing to achieve racial integration in neighborhood schools.
After two Senate terms, Schweiker did not seek re-election in 1980. Instead, Reagan brought Schweiker aboard in his first administration, entrusting him with one of the largest federal agencies, the Health and Human Services Department… (more)
EDITOR: Schweiker’s announcement that he would not run for re-election came as a shock to the Republican Party.
Arlen Specter had in fairly rapid succession lost bids to be mayor of Philadelphia, for re-election of District Attorney, and the 1978 Republic senate primary to Dick Thornburgh. Arlen had resigned himself to a law career and was in the process of opening a branch office for Stradley Ronan in Atlantic City.
The day after Schweiker’s announcement Arlen and I for separate business reasons happen to be in Atlantic City and we met for lunch to launch a primary campaign and thus was the beginning of what was to become his five terms in the U. S. Senate.
