I think a public official ought to follow his conscience as to what is in the public interest, not what will protect his job.


Arlen Specter was a politically ambitious attorney from Philadelphia. His party loyalties were somewhat fluid as he moved from one position to another. A graduate of Yale Law School, he practiced several years until he secured an Assistant District Attorney under Democrat James Crumlish Jr. In this position he acquired a reputation as a tenacious crime fighter.

When the Warren Commission was formed, Gerald Ford recommended Specter as counsel. Here he showed his value as a team player, recognizing the exposure would benefit his political career. The assignment, contrary to the official story, was to convince the American public that Lee Harvey Oswald was the crazed lone shooter when the President was killed in Dallas.

He knew he had to do something with the evidence that was accepted, when was three shots from the Texas School Book Depository. Specter pursued witness who gave non-conforming testimony with the same dogged determination he went after organized crime in the City of Brotherly Love. Ignoring common sense and the laws of physics, Specter formulated the “magic bullet” theory. Even though later investigators have show this to be physically impossible, it met the immediate needs and fit the desired conclusion.

In 1965, using this new found notoriety, Specter wanted to run for District Attorney against his boss, James Crumlish. The Democrats would not have it so the ambitions chameleon switched parties and became a Republican and won. His former boss called him “Benedict Arlen”.

After attempts at the Senate and Governorship as a Republican, he finally was elected to the Senate in 1980 and served for thirty years. At times his Democrat roots broke through and he proved to be a less than reliable member of his Republican Party.

Because of this he was looking at a tough Republican primary in 2009. At this time Specter sought to return to the Democrat Party to continue his career. He was not welcomed back with open arms as the party leadership refused to allow him to keep his seniority. These negotiations proved to be moot as was defeated for the Democrat nomination by Joe Sestak, lost in the general election by a genuine Republican, Pat Toomey.

A short time later, on August 28, 2012, his health which had been failing for the past five or six years resulted in passing.

 
An honest look at some of the most controversial and earth-shaking American events of the last half-century, includes the Kennedy assassination and President Clinton's impeachment, as seen through the eyes of a veteran senator.