Eugene Atkinson | |
|---|---|
 Atkinson pictured during his first term in Congress, c. 1979 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's25th district | |
| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Gary A. Myers |
| Succeeded by | District eliminated |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eugene Vincent Atkinson (1927-04-05)April 5, 1927 |
| Died | August 4, 2016(2016-08-04) (aged 89) |
| Political party | Republican (from 1981) Democratic (until 1981) |
Eugene Vincent Atkinson (April 5, 1927 – August 4, 2016)[1] was an American politician who, from 1979 to 1983, served two-terms as a member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania.
Atkinson was born in thePittsburgh Metro Area city ofAliquippa, Pennsylvania. He graduated from theUniversity of Pittsburgh. Atkinson was the director of customs for the port ofPittsburgh from 1962 to 1969. Atkinson then served as theBeaver County commissioner from 1972 to 1978.
In 1978, he was elected to the U.S. House as a member of theDemocratic Party.
Atkinson was an early supporter ofJimmy Carter in1976, but in1980 Atkinson endorsed SenatorTed Kennedy for President. At rallies for Kennedy, Atkinson praised Kennedy's leadership.[2]
While Atkinson was on a radio call-in show in 1981, PresidentRonald Reagan called into the show and persuaded Atkinson to support Reagan’s proposed budget cuts.[3] Reagan was calling from hisWashington, D.C., hospital bed while recovering from a gunshot wound as a result of an assassination attempt.[4][5]
On October 14, 1981, Atkinsonswitched parties, joining theRepublican Party.[6] Atkinson claimed at the time that the switch was a result of Democratic reaction to his support of Reagan’s agenda.New York Republican RepresentativeJohn LeBoutillier led the congressional effort to coax Atkinson to switch parties.[7][8]
After the switch,House SpeakerTip O’Neill predicted Atkinson would be defeated in his next election.[9][10] The prediction proved accurate, as Atkinson subsequently lost his1982 re-election by a 21 percentage point margin toJoseph P. Kolter.[11]
Atkinson died on August 4, 2016, at the age of 89.[12]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 25th congressional district 1979–1983 | Succeeded by District Eliminated |
