Raymond Philip Shafer

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Raymond Philip Shafer, 1967

Raymond Philip Shafer (born March 5, 1917 in New Castle , Lawrence County , Pennsylvania , †  December 12, 2006 in Meadville , Pennsylvania) was an American politician and from 1967 to 1971 the 41st  governor of the state of Pennsylvania.

Early years

Raymond Shafer attended Allegheny College and Yale University , where he studied law. The future US President Gerald Ford and William Scranton , who would later also become Governor of Pennsylvania, were his fellow students there . In 1933 he moved to Meadville with his parents. Shafer served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II .

After the war ended, Shafer worked as a lawyer in Meadville. In 1948 he became a District Attorney in Crawford County ; In 1958 he was elected to the Pennsylvania Senate . For the gubernatorial elections of 1962 he was nominated by the Republican Party for the office of lieutenant governor . After his election victory, he was Deputy Governor Scranton, his old fellow student at Yale, between 1963 and 1967. At the end of the four-year term, Scranton was not allowed to run again due to a constitutional clause. Because of this, Shafer received his party's nomination for the highest office in Pennsylvania, to which he was then also elected. With 52.1 percent of the vote, he prevailed against the Democrat Milton Shapp .

Governor of Pennsylvania

Raymond Shafer took up his new office on January 17, 1967. During the four years of his term in office, the state constitution was revised. According to the new constitution, the governor was allowed to serve two consecutive four-year terms. However, this clause did not come into force until after Shafer's tenure. During this time, the country's road and motorway network was also generously expanded. Shafer was also active in other areas. The education system and environmental protection measures were improved. He made long-term plans for economic development, healthcare, and other areas. The resulting costs were offset by tax increases. His popularity suffered as a result.

Since Shafer was still in office under the old constitution, he was not allowed to run for re-election in 1968 and had to hand over his office to the elected successor Milton Shapp on January 19, 1971.

Another résumé

Shafer remained politically active even after his governorship. He was the leading head of the Republicans in Pennsylvania and was considered the unofficial party leader. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Miami Beach in 1968 , where he supported Nelson Rockefeller . However, Richard Nixon received the nomination as a presidential candidate .

After Nixon's election victory, Shafer became chairman of a commission against drug abuse. Shafer had hoped for a judge's post at the Supreme Court, but he did not get it. Between 1974 and 1977, Shafer was special advisor to the new Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. From 1977 to 1988 Shafer was employed at Coopers & Lybrand . He was also still a lawyer in Meadville. He died there in December 2006. Raymond Shafer was married to Jane Harris Davies, with whom he had three children.

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personal data
SURNAME Shafer, Raymond Philip
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH March 5, 1917
PLACE OF BIRTH New Castle , Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH December 12, 2006
Place of death Meadville , Pennsylvania