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Budd Dwyer’s Suicide: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Budd Dwyer.png|thumb|Budd Dwyer in the final moment of his life.]] | |||
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On January 22, 1987, an American politician R. Budd Dwyer committed suicide with a revolver during a television broadcast after being accused of corruption. The suicide was then broadcasted through many television stations without warning. | |||
== Background == | |||
In 1986, Pennsylvania State Treasurer Budd Dwyer was convicted of bribery and was to be sentenced to 55 years in prison. A year later, Dwyer held a meeting with a secretary and a deputy treasurer in his home to discuss holding a press conference about his legal issues. The press conference was then held on January 22, 1988. Budd Dwyer became enraged and wanted to ban reporters who he believed wrote biased accounts about him, but he was told not to "use state government facilities to manipulate the free flow of information." A few days later, Budd Dwyer shows up at the press conference, carrying an envelope containing a 357 Magnum revolver. Everyone in the room begins to panic. Dwyer, in the room, calmly said: | |||
{{Quote|"Please, please leave the room if this will ... if this will affect you."}} | |||
Some others tried to approach Dwyer and seize the weapon, but he warned either action and exclaimed his final words: | |||
{{Quote|"Don't, don't, don't, this will hurt someone.}} | |||
Dwyer quickly shot himself with the revolver and collapsed on the floor, dead. During the incident, there were five cameras that recorded the before and during the aftermath of the shooting. One of them captured a close-up of his body as he collapsed on the floor with blood coming from the wound in his head. Similarly, before he killed himself, Dwyer could be seen handing out envelopes to staffers. One of the envelopes had a suicide note for his wife. Another had a signed organ donor card. | |||
==Content== | |||
The footage begins with the then Pennsylvania State Treasurer, Robert "Budd" Dwyer, pulling a loaded revolver out of an envelope and announcing his intention to commit suicide with a firearm on live television. His colleagues attempt to talk him down, but Dwyer ignores them, puts the revolver in his mouth, and pulls the trigger. As Dwyer's corpse collapses to the floor, his nose, mouth, and an exit wound at the back of his head begin bleeding profusely, while viewers in the audience can be heard screaming and frantically dialing emergency responders. | The footage begins with the then Pennsylvania State Treasurer, Robert "Budd" Dwyer, pulling a loaded revolver out of an envelope and announcing his intention to commit suicide with a firearm on live television. His colleagues attempt to talk him down, but Dwyer ignores them, puts the revolver in his mouth, and pulls the trigger. As Dwyer's corpse collapses to the floor, his nose, mouth, and an exit wound at the back of his head begin bleeding profusely, while viewers in the audience can be heard screaming and frantically dialing emergency responders. | ||
==Memorial== | |||
== Memorial == | {{Quote| | ||
"Robert Budd Dwyer | "Robert Budd Dwyer | ||
November 21, 1939 - January 22, 1987 | November 21, 1939 - January 22, 1987 | ||
Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, USA | Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, USA | ||
Pennsylvania State Official. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from 1965 to 1970, and a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1970. From 1985 to 1987 he served as the Pennsylvania State Treasurer. He was scheduled to appear on January 23, 1987, in front of a federal judge for charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit fraud, and five counts of mail fraud. If convicted, he faced up to 55 years in prison, a fine of up to $300,000, and the loss of his job. The day before these legal proceedings, Dwyer held a news conference to apprise the public of his status. After a short speech, he handed out envelopes to be read later on, including one for his wife. He then walked to the front of the room and pulled out a .357 magnum pistol. After telling anyone who would be offended to leave the room, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead."<ref>https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6129/robert-budd-dwyer</ref> | Pennsylvania State Official. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from 1965 to 1970, and a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1970. From 1985 to 1987 he served as the Pennsylvania State Treasurer. He was scheduled to appear on January 23, 1987, in front of a federal judge for charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit fraud, and five counts of mail fraud. If convicted, he faced up to 55 years in prison, a fine of up to $300,000, and the loss of his job. The day before these legal proceedings, Dwyer held a news conference to apprise the public of his status. After a short speech, he handed out envelopes to be read later on, including one for his wife. He then walked to the front of the room and pulled out a .357 magnum pistol. After telling anyone who would be offended to leave the room, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead." | ||
|<ref>https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6129/robert-budd-dwyer</ref>}} | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references></references> | <references></references> | ||
