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Longtime U.S. senator Arlen Specter dies at 82

Arlen Specter in a November 1965 portrait. Specter, a Republican-turned-Democrat, played a key role in many Supreme Court nominations. He died Oct. 14 at age 82.
Arlen Specter in a November 1965 portrait. Specter, a Republican-turned-Democrat, played a key role in many Supreme Court nominations. He died Oct. 14 at age 82.
AP
Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., campaigns in New Cumberland, Pa. Specter was a longtime Senate moderate and architect of the one-bullet theory in JFK's death.
Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., campaigns in New Cumberland, Pa. Specter was a longtime Senate moderate and architect of the one-bullet theory in JFK's death.
Carolyn Kaster, AP
Specter smiles as he is acknowledged by President Obama during remarks about stimulus funding for research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., on Sept. 30, 2009.
Specter smiles as he is acknowledged by President Obama during remarks about stimulus funding for research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., on Sept. 30, 2009.
Gerald Herbert, AP
Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., left, listens to an unidentified man voice his complaints during a town hall meeting Aug. 11, 2009, In Lebanon, Pa.
Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., left, listens to an unidentified man voice his complaints during a town hall meeting Aug. 11, 2009, In Lebanon, Pa.
Bradley C Bower, AP
Sen. Specter asks Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan a question during confirmation hearings.
Sen. Specter asks Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan a question during confirmation hearings.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Specter asks Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan questions on June 28, 2010.
Specter asks Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan questions on June 28, 2010.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Sen. Specter, with his wife, Joan, addresses supporters on election night in Philadelphia on May 18, 2010. Joe Sestak won the Senate Democratic nomination, defeating five-term incumbent Specter.
Sen. Specter, with his wife, Joan,  addresses supporters on  election night in Philadelphia on May 18, 2010. Joe Sestak won the Senate Democratic nomination, defeating five-term incumbent Specter.
Jacqueline Larma, AP
Specter questions Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on July 15, 2009.
Specter questions Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on July 15, 2009.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
President Obama embraces Sen. Specter at a fundraising event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
President Obama embraces Sen. Specter at a fundraising event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
Charles Dharapak, AP
Specter reacts to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement announcement on Capitol Hill on July 1, 2005. Specter waged a very public battle with cancer.
Specter reacts to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement announcement on Capitol Hill on July 1, 2005. Specter waged a very public battle with cancer.
Dennis Cook, AP
Arlen Specter listens to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at a hearing on ?Department of Justice Oversight? before the Senate Judiciary Committee on April, 19, 2007.
Arlen Specter listens to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at a hearing on ?Department of Justice Oversight? before the Senate Judiciary Committee on April, 19, 2007.
Eileen Blass, USA TODAY
Specter announces March 30, 1995, that he will seek the 1996 Republican presidential nomination.
Specter announces  March 30, 1995, that he will seek the 1996 Republican presidential nomination.
Ron Edmonds, AP
Senate Judiciary chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., smiles during an interview in his Capitol Hill office on Dec. 21, 2005.
Senate Judiciary chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., smiles during an interview in his Capitol Hill office on Dec. 21, 2005.
Susan Walsh, AP
Specter talks about the upcoming confirmation hearing for Judge Samuel Alito to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court.
Specter talks about the upcoming confirmation hearing for Judge Samuel Alito to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court.
Tim Dillon, USA TODAY
President Bush is applauded by Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., at a $2,000-per-person Bush-Cheney campaign fundraising luncheon in Pittsburgh on Dec. 2, 2003.
President Bush is applauded by Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., at a $2,000-per-person Bush-Cheney campaign fundraising luncheon in Pittsburgh on Dec. 2, 2003.
Gene J. Puskar, AP
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., in his Philadelphia office in 2005.
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., in his Philadelphia office in 2005.
Tim Dillon, USA TODAY
Specter uses a large chart to illustrate a point on taxes during his 15-minute address at a GOP Presidential Forum in Denver on May 13, 1995.
Specter uses a large chart to illustrate a point on taxes during his 15-minute address at a GOP Presidential Forum in Denver on May 13, 1995.
Joe Mahoney, AP
Presidential hopeful Arlen Specter holds a chart criticizing the Clinton administration's health care plan during a roundtable forum on the economy and jobs held at Husson College in Bangor, Maine, on Nov. 2, 1995.
Presidential hopeful Arlen Specter holds a chart criticizing the Clinton administration's health care plan during a roundtable forum on the economy and jobs held at Husson College in Bangor, Maine, on Nov. 2, 1995.
Bob DeLong, The Bangor Daily News, Via AP
As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Specter had to deal with members of the committee who come from opposite ends of the political spectrum.
As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Specter had to deal with members of the committee who come from opposite ends of the political spectrum.
Tim Dillon, USA TODAY
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