R. Budd Dwyer
Robert Budd Dwyer (November 21, 1939 – January 22, 1987) was an American politician. He served from 1965 to 1971 as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and from 1971 to 1981 as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate representing the state's 50th district. Dwyer then served as the 67th state treasurer of Pennsylvania from January 20, 1981, until January 22, 1987, when he committed suicide during a live press conference.
R. Budd Dwyer | |
|---|---|
Dwyer, c. 1977 | |
| 67th Treasurer of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 20, 1981 – January 22, 1987 | |
| Governor | |
| Preceded by | Robert E. Casey |
| Succeeded by | G. Davis Greene Jr. |
| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 50th district | |
| In office January 5, 1971 – January 20, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | James Willard |
| Succeeded by | Roy Wilt |
| Constituency | Parts of Mercer, Crawford, and Erie Counties |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 6th district | |
| In office January 7, 1969 – November 30, 1970 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Harrison Haskell |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the Crawford County district | |
| In office January 5, 1965 – November 30, 1968 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Budd Dwyer November 21, 1939 St. Charles, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | January 22, 1987 (aged 47) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Suicide by gunshot |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Joanne Grappy (m. 1963) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Allegheny College |
| Profession | Politician, teacher |
| Known for | Committing suicide on live television |
| Criminal information | |
| Criminal status | Deceased |
| Conviction(s) |
|
Date apprehended | October 22, 1984 |
During the early 1980s, Pennsylvania discovered that its state workers had overpaid federal taxes due to errors in state withholding before Dwyer's administration. A multimillion-dollar recovery contract was required to determine the compensation to be given to each employee. In 1986, Dwyer was convicted of accepting a bribe from Computer Technology Associates, a California-based company, to award them the contract. He was found guilty on 11 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, perjury, and interstate transportation in aid of racketeering, and was scheduled to be sentenced on January 23, 1987. On January 22, Dwyer arranged a news conference in the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, during which he fatally shot himself with a .357 Magnum revolver in the presence of reporters. Dwyer's suicide was live broadcast to many television viewers in Pennsylvania.
All posthumous appeals made by Dwyer's lawyers on Dwyer's behalf were denied, and his convictions were sustained. Along with Barbara Hafer and Rob McCord, Dwyer is one of three former Pennsylvania State treasurers to be convicted of corruption since the 1980s.