Arlen Specter

Arlen J. Specter (February 12, 1930 – October 14, 2012) was an American lawyer, author and politician who served as a United States Senator from Pennsylvania from 1981 to 2011. Specter was a Democrat from 1951 to 1965, then a Republican from 1965 until 2009, when he switched back to the Democratic Party. First elected in 1980, he is the longest-serving senator from Pennsylvania, having represented the state for 30 years.

Quotes

 * You testified this morning, in response to Senator Biden, that the most embarrassing question involved — and this is not too bad — women’s large breasts. That is a word we use all the time.
 * Addressing Anita Hill in 1991 during the Clarence Thomas hearings according to 30 Years After Her Testimony, Anita Hill Still Wants Something From Joe Biden (By KATELYN FOSSETT 10/01/2021 12:23 PM EDT)


 * There is just no sensible, logical reason why we would not make use of stem cell research.
 * Promoting a proposed new bill; reported in "Senate poised to pass stem cell bill", NBC News (July 17, 2006).


 * We will submit legislation to the United States Senate which will...authorize the Congress to undertake judicial review of those signing statements with the view to having the president’s acts declared unconstitutional.
 * Preparing a bill to allow Congress to sue the president in federal court; reported in "[Sen. Specter preparing bill to sue Bush", NBC News (July 24, 2006).


 * There ought to be a million-person march on the Mall... that can be heard in the living quarters of the White House.
 * On President Bush's potential veto of a new bill on stem-cell research; reported in Stem cell bill backers hopeful of success", NBC News (January 9, 2007).


 * We're all looking for a plan that will work. The current plan is not working, and 21,500 additional troops -- it's a snowball in July. It's not going to work.
 * In a hearing on Congress's War Powers; reported in "Senate Republicans divided in dissent on Iraq", NBC News (January 30, 2007)/


 * I would suggest respectfully to the president that he is not the sole decider. The decider is a shared and joint responsibility.
 * In a hearing on Congress's War Powers (January 30, 2007).


 * Resolutions are flying like snowflakes around here.
 * In a hearing on Congress's War Powers (January 30, 2007).


 * I didn't want to get into a political debate with him, but my patience was running thin...My shorts were getting a little tight.
 * About disagreeing with President Bush on Iraq (January 30, 2007).

About Arlen Specter

 * I had a special project to do a campaign for a Philadelphia politician named Arlen Spector [sic]. “When do I get to see Arlen Spector?” I asked. “You don’t.” Spector was a district attorney in Philadelphia, running for mayor. He wanted New York advertising but he had placed through a Philadelphia agency. I complained about not being able to see Arlen Spector. “Are you crazy?” his people said. “Nobody gets to meet Arlen Spector. We can’t even see him.” “All right,” I said, “what’s Arlen Spector for?” “Arlen Spector is for getting elected.” “All right,” I said, “what’s Arlen Spector against?” “Arlen Spector is against losing.” I did the campaign, but Arlen Spector lost.
 * Jerry Della Femina, From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor: Front-Line Dispatches from the Advertising War (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1970), chap. 13.