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Former Senator Arlen Specter has died

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    Former US Senator Arlen Specter dies at 82

  • Duration 4:33
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It's breaking news just a short time ago we learned that former Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter has passed away and his son tells the Associated Press that his father died at his home in Philadelphia from complications of non hodgkin's lymphoma.

-- there -- a look back at the life of the influential lawmaker.

There's been a great privilege to a -- horse for the last thirty years.

They're great decisions of our.

As the longest serving senator from Pennsylvania Arlen Specter described himself as a rugged and fears.

Closest to and said it was a hard worker and intensely loyal.

Last characterization.

Loyalty that would -- spending.

When his thirty year career in the senate and if that's -- Democrat turned Republican.

Turned Democrat again.

Specter grew up in Kansas the son of Jewish immigrant parents from Russia he graduated from Yale Law School in 1956.

It was while serving as assistant district attorney in Philadelphia.

That Specter worked on the Warren commission is -- group investigating the assassination of John F from Canada.

He was one of the men who came up with a single bullet theory.

In 196535.

Year old Spector ran for district attorney of -- as a registered Democrat on the Republican ticket.

It was said that the GOP offered him a chance when Democrats balked at his wish to run.

Soon after his victory he officially became a Republican.

Specter lost a bid for mayor in 67 but was reelected as DA he lost his subsequent bid in 1973.

And in the years that followed also lost runs for the US senate and the governor's office and ultimately the presidency in 1996.

Dropping out before the primaries.

But in 1980 Specter successfully ran for the senate.

And headed to Washington to begin writing his unmatched legacy in the state of Pennsylvania.

-- Specter would become most well known for his work on the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee today.

Suspect there.

He crossed party lines restoring its Robert -- -- Voting against war and for me it was a very hard decision.

To disagree -- my colleagues on the Republican side on this committing to disagree with the my president my party and indicated vote against a man who might have come to know when -- -- respect Specter was seen as an important factors and I failed nomination alive you know as a member who is chairman of the dispatcher would go on to be part of thirteen Supreme Court confirmation hearing us.

-- was also chairman of the committee when the Patriot Act was signed into law by President Bush -- Specter did express some misgivings about.

As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee Specter -- to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health.

And propose legislation to cover uninsured Americans long before President Obama perhaps because Specter knew what it was like to face a deadly disease.

-- hi Carol and I -- For the medical profession truly excellent care of that arm giving them.

In 2005 he was diagnosed with cancer hodgkin's lymphoma.

He underwent chemotherapy losing his hair the continuing to work.

In 2008 the cancer returned and Specter again sought treatment without quitting his job.

My -- flaws.

I'm willing to.

Subject -- 49 year record in the United States senate.

To the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate -- -- In April 2009 -- -- trailed in the -- against the primary challenge from.

Pat Toomey Specter announced that he was changing parties understand who caucus with the Democrats I'm thrilled to have.

Harlem Democratic Caucus the White House through its full support behind him.

-- inspector would give senate Democrats the sixty.

It but in the end congressman Josef step -- -- would defeat him in the democratic primary.

-- very great privilege.

To serve the people of -- right.

-- -- Bringing to an end the impassioned and sometimes controversial.

Political career of the mighty Snowe Arlen Arlen Specter.

In Washington -- there Fox News.

Arlen Specter with 82 years old.

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