A Goodbye to Arlen Specter

It was sudden news to hear that former Sen. Arlen Specter had just passed away yesterday while talking with Pam DeLissio (my opponent) at Gorgas Park. 

I had the pleasure of knowing Arlen first as a friend and former boss of my husband Anthony G. Bateman, Esq. We would be invited to his home when he was embarking on the next campaign. The first time was when he was running for his second term at his home in East Falls. The other guests were from the District Attorney's Office when Specter was in charge.

The next time this group got together was when the senator decided to enter the race for president in 1995. Still in East Falls but at a new home, we were  on the patio when he announced his intentions to run. He wanted to know from this group of former prosecutors whether it would be the Anita Hill exchange that will mess him up—a voice from the back said it would be the Single Bullet Theory. Everyone laughed and a late visitor showed up—Mayor Ed Rendell, also one of the "group" from the DA's office. He came and endorsed the run but not publicly. Arlen had to convince his fellow Republican first. He was the last Moderate Republican to run for President.  The Right had more money (and still does).

Arlen would continue to make waves. I saw him walking with Joan on School House Lane in a bright pair of pink golf slacks.  How could I not stop to say hello?

After his defeat we did not hear much about Arlen but I belong to the Germantown Republican Club and one of our members was a staff member of the Senator.  She told us that he was working the comic circuit and would practice his somewhat off-color jokes when he and Joan would meet up for dinner. Dear Joan allegedly just shurgged.

Whether you knew him as "Snarlen" or "Darlin" Arlen, he was wonderful man and the world will miss him.