Raymond P. Shafer

Raymond Philip Shafer (b. March 5, 1917 in New Castle, Pennsylvania)

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March 5 - 1917 - New Castle, Pennsylvania

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served as the 38th Governor of Pennsylvania from

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Governor - Pennsylvania

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1967 to 1971. He had previously served as lieutenant governor, from 1963 to

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1967 - 1971 - 1963

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1967.

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Shafer was born in New Castle, the youngest of the five children of the Reverend David P. and Mina Shafer. In 1933, Shafer?s father took a position at the First Christian Church in Meadville, Pennsylvania and moved the family.

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After finishing high school in Meadville, Shafer attended Allegheny College and later

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Yale Law School. There, several classmates like William Scranton and Gerald Ford would help shape his future political career.

Related Topics:
Yale Law School - William Scranton - Gerald Ford

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In 1942, Shafer entered the United States Navy as a Naval intelligence officer and

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United States Navy - Naval intelligence

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later served on PT Boats. He would participate in over 80 combat missions during

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World War II on PT Boats as commanding officer of P.T. 359 and later as executive officer of Squadron 27. As squadron XO, Shafer sailed aboard P.T. 375, one of the

Related Topics:
World War II - Executive officer

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first PT Boats to penetrate the defenses of Manila Bay. Shafer earned the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart during his tour in the Pacific theater.

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Bronze Star - Purple Heart - Pacific theater

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Shafer returned to Meadville after the war and entered private law practice. His political career began in 1948 when he was elected District Attorney of Crawford County, a post he held until 1958. In 1959, he was elected to the State Senate in 1959.

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1948 - District Attorney - Crawford County - 1959

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In 1962 William Scranton tapped him as his running mate for the gubernatorial

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1962 - William Scranton - Running mate

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elections. Scranton had been Shafer?s classmate at Yale and both were considered moderate to liberal Republicans. The Scranton/Shafer team won the election over Philadelphia mayor Richardson Dilworth and Shafer became the states lieutenant

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governor.

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Scranton was limited to one term under existing state law and Shafer was the obvious choice to succeed him as party nominee. He faced wealthy Philadelphia businessman Milton Shapp in the election. The 1966 election was marked by tragedies. State Attorney General Walter Alessandroni, Shafer?s running mate, was killed in an aviation accident during the campaign and Raymond Broderick was named to replace him on the ticket. Former governor David L. Lawrence collapsed and fell into a coma during a campaign appearance for Shapp. On election day, Shafer came out victorious by a margin of nearly a quarter of a million votes.

Related Topics:
Milton Shapp - Attorney General - David L. Lawrence - Coma

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As governor, Shafer was best known for championing reforms to the state constitution.

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In 1963, then lieutenant governor Shafer had chaired a bipartisan committee

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to explore constitutional reforms. By the beginning of Shafer?s term as governor, a

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constitutional convention was meeting to overhaul state government.

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Shafer oversaw a massive expansion of Pennsylvania?s highway system and dedicated

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several portion of the Interstate Highway system in the state. He was also the first

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governor to reside in the modern governor?s mansion in Harrisburg. Large expenditures for these and other programs caused huge budget deficits. To balance the budget, Shafer sought Pennsylvania?s first state income tax, a position that made him unpopular with many voters.

Related Topics:
Harrisburg - Income tax

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Although the 1968 constitution allowed incumbent governors to run for reelection, Shafer was bound by the previous rules and was limited to one term. He campaigned for Raymond Broderick, his lieutenant governor, as his successor. Although Broderick publicly opposed a state income tax, he was unable to escape the shadow of Shafer, who had

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proposed it. The 1970 election saw a Democratic sweep with Milton Shapp elected governor and Democrats gaining control of both houses of the General Assembly for the first time over 30 years.

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After leaving the state government, he became a major player in national Republican politics as the unofficial leader of the third largest Republican state party in the country.

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He gave the nominating speech for New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller at the 1968 Republican National Convention, although the delegates instead chose former Vice PresidentRichard Nixon as the party's Presidential candidate.

Related Topics:
Nelson Rockefeller - Richard Nixon

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Many believe that Shafer's opposition to Nixon cost him the federal judgeship he was known to have desired. President Nixon appointed Shafer as chairman of the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse, also known as the Shafer Commission. He was criticized in this role by many

Related Topics:
National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse - Shafer Commission

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conservatives after the panel recommended the decriminalization of marijuana use.

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Later, he served a brief sting as CEO of financially troubled TelePrompter company.

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Following Watergate, he returned to public service after being named special counsel

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to new Vice-President Nelson Rockefeller a position he held from 1974 to 1977.

Related Topics:
Vice-President - Nelson Rockefeller - 1974 - 1977

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From 1977 to 1988 he was a partner with the Accounting firm of Coopers and Lybrand. He also served briefly as president of his alma mater, Allegheny College, from 1985 to 1986. He has also served on the Council on Foreign Relations.

Related Topics:
1977 - 1988 - Coopers and Lybrand - Allegheny College - 1985 - 1986 - Council on Foreign Relations

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A section of Interstate 79 in Pennsylvania is named "The Raymond P. Shafer Highway"

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after him as is a residence hall at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

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title=Governor of Pennsylvania | years=1967–1971 | after=Milton Jerrold Shapp (Shapiro)}}

Related Topics:
Governor of Pennsylvania - Milton Jerrold Shapp (Shapiro)

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