Biography

Arlen Specter was born on February 12, 1930 in Wichita, Kansas, USA. He was married to Joan Levy. He died on October 14, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania in 1951 and from Yale Law School in 1956. He passed the Pennsylvania Bar in 1956.

He mounted an unsuccessful campaign for mayor of Philadelphia 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, losing to Dick Thornburgh.

On February 16, 2005, Specter announced that he had been diagnosed with an advanced form of Hodgkin's disease. the advanced form, Specter continued working during chemotherapy. He ended treatment on July 22, 2005.

Served in the United States Air Force from 1951-1953.

U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, 3 January 1981-3 January 2011. Lost the 2010 primary election for renomination.