Former Sen. Arlen Specter Dies After Long Battle

[Forever Sunshine]

He served on the Warren Commission, which investigated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, at the recommendation of Rep. Gerald Ford.

He is credited with co-authoring the "single bullet theory," which suggested that some of the wounds to Kennedy and then-Texas Gov. John Connally were caused by the same bullet.

Even though he was a registered Democrat, Specter ran successfully for Philadelphia district attorney on the Republican ticket in 1965 and eventually registered as a Republican. He lost an election for Philadelphia mayor in 1967.

He served as district attorney until 1974 and prosecuted corruption cases against Philadelphia magistrates and Teamsters.

Specter ran for the U.S. Senate in 1976, but was defeated in the Republican primary by John Heinz. He ran for governor but was defeated by Dick Thornburgh in the primary.

But he won his bid for Senate in 1980, and distinguished himself, serving until 2011.

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