R Budd Dwyer was born on November 21, 1939 in Saint Charles, Missouri. He studied at Allegheny College, where he earned a Master's degree in Education. Before entering politics, he worked as a football coach and social studies teacher at Cambridge Springs High School.
Dwyer's political career began when he was elected as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the state's 50th district, a position he held from 1971 to 1981. He then went on to serve as the state's Treasurer from 1981 until his tragic death in 1987.
One day before his sentencing on bribery charges, Dwyer called a press conference in which he shocked the nation by publicly committing suicide. This act came after serious allegations of corruption, which tarnished his once-promising political career.
In the 2010 documentary Honest Man: The Life of R. Budd Dwyer, new information came to light when William T. Smith, the man whose testimony convicted Dwyer, admitted to lying under oath about Dwyer taking a bribe. This revelation added a new layer of complexity to Dwyer's legacy.
Dwyer's widow, Joanne Dwyer, passed away in 2009. He was survived by his children, Robert and Dyan. Despite the scandal and tragedy that marked his political career, Dwyer's family stood by him, enduring the aftermath of his controversial actions.
Shortly after being convicted of accepting a bribe, Dwyer wrote a letter to President Ronald Reagan, pleading for a presidential pardon. His plea fell on deaf ears, and he ultimately faced the consequences of his actions.
Despite the shadow of scandal and controversy that followed him, R Budd Dwyer remains a polarizing figure in Pennsylvania's political history. His life and tragic end serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of corruption and the pressures of public office.