Richard Schweiker
| Richard Schweiker | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 14th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | |
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In office January 22, 1981 – February 3, 1983 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Patricia R. Harris |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Heckler |
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United States Senator from Pennsylvania |
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In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph S. Clark |
| Succeeded by | Arlen Specter |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 13th district |
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In office January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1969 |
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| Preceded by | John A. Lafore |
| Succeeded by | Lawrence Coughlin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Richard Schultz Schweiker June 1, 1926 Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | July 31, 2015 (aged 89) Pomona, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Complications from an infection |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Claire Coleman |
| Children | Malcolm Lani Lynne Kyle Claire Richard Schultz Lara Kristi |
| Alma mater |
Slippery Rock University Pennsylvania State University, University Park |
| Religion | Schwenkfelder Church |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1944–1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Richard Schultz Schweiker (June 1, 1926 – July 31, 2015) was an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 14th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1983. He previously served as a U.S. Representative (1961–1969) and a U.S. Senator (1969–1981) from Pennsylvania. In 1976, Schweiker was Reagan's Vice Presidential pick during his unsuccessful Presidential campaign.
Schweiker was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, on June 1, 1926. He was the son of Malcolm Alderfer Schweiker, Sr. (February 27, 1895 – June 12, 1982) and his wife, the former Blanche R. Schultz (December 17, 1894 – September 1974). His father and his uncle worked in the tiling business for several decades.
He received his early education at public schools in Worcester, and graduated from Norristown Area High School as valedictorian in 1944. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa (CV-40), being discharged with the rank of electronics technician (second class) in 1946.
Following his military service, Schweiker attended Slippery Rock State College for two years before transferring to the Pennsylvania State University. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Penn State in 1950, graduating as a member of the Pi Kappa Sigma. He then joined his family's business, American Olean Tile Company, rising from an assistant in the personnel department to the company's president within a few years. He also became active in local Republican politics; he served as a precinct committeeman, and founded the Montgomery County chapter of the Young Republicans, of which he was also president (1952–1954). He was selected as an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1952 and in 1956.
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