01/22/2026
Today is January 22nd, 2026. 39 years ago today, Robert ‘Budd’ Dwyer ended his life, live on television, with a 357 Magnum.
This is a brief overview of his story that lead to this event:
He was born on November 21, 1939. He served from 1965 to 1971 as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Then, from 1971 to 1981 as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate. He then served as the 30th State Treasurer of Pennsylvania from January 20, 1981, to January 22, 1987.
In 1986, Pennsylvania officials discovered that state employees had overpaid millions in F**A taxes due to errors in state withholding. Several accounting firms bid for the contract to determine how much compensation was due each employee. The contract was awarded to California based Computer Technology Associates (CTA), owned by Harrisburg native, John Torquato Jr.
PA Governor Dick Thornburg, received an anonymous memo a few weeks later that alleged bribery was involved in the awarding of the CTA contract. Budd was named specifically as one of the people receiving kickbacks in the deal. Along with two other men. Republican committee member Bob Asher and CTA attorney William Smith.
But, plot twist, no money ever changed hands. The CTA contract was canceled two months after it was signed. Regardless, prosecutors pushed the case for everything it was worth. Imagine that.
As most of you are aware, criminal cases often end in plea deals, and not in trials. Smith pleaded guilty to offering Dwyer and Asher $300,000 in bribes and received a reduced sentence. Torquato also plead guilty and received a sentence, of 4 years. Adamantly proclaiming his innocence, Budd refused a plea deal. He was adamant and was going to trial.
On December 18, 1986, a jury found Budd guilty on 11 of the 12 counts that included: conspiracy, mail fraud, perjury and interstate transportation in aid of racketeering.
Judge Malcolm Muir hinted at a sentence, of 55 years. Many believed the judge wanted to make an example, of Budd. Sentencing was scheduled for January 23, 1987.
Budd continued to maintain his innocence and came up with a plan that would exercise his most nuclear option.
On January 22nd 1987, Budd gave what would be his farewell speech during a news conference at the Pennsylvania State Capital Building. Budd had pre-written the speech and turned through a series of pages as he spoke. After a few minutes he hands out some letters and is given a large envelope from which he retrieves the revolver. After telling the crowd to ‘stay back this is dangerous,’ and pleading from the crowd, Budd puts the revolver in his mouth in fires one fatal shot.
According to his deputy press secretary, Greg Penny, the envelope that Budd handed him contained Budd’s organ donor card.
Budd’s tale is a tragic reminder of how the culmination of political pressure, a series of unfortunate events, and a man left with a choice between surrender or committing the ultimate act of defiance, are doomed to end in tragedy. These types of outcomes are a possibility for anyone that becomes ensnared in the American Injustice System. I think Budd would agree with that label.
If you’d like to learn more about Budd’s story check out the Amazon Prime documentary: “Honest Man: The Life of R. Budd Dwyer”
