Robert P. Casey Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Robert Patrick Casey, Sr. (January 9, 1932–May 30, 2000), also known as Bob Casey, was an American politician who served as the 41st Governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995. He was a Democrat.Born in Jackson Heights, New York, Casey grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He turned down an offer to play for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1949, opting to go to college instead. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a B.A. in 1953, and received his Juris Doctor from George Washington University in 1956.
Casey made three unsuccessful bids for governor, in 1966, 1970, and 1978. Each time, he lost the primary election. Casey remained active within state politics, though, serving as Pennsylvania's auditor general from 1968 to 1977. As the auditor general, he was credited with ending years of fiscal waste and corruption within the state.
After a few years in private practice, Casey made his fourth bid for governor in 1986. He defeated Philadelphia District Attorney and future Mayor Ed Rendell in the primary election, and squared off with fellow Scranton native William W. Scranton III. Dubbed a "coal town contest" by TIME, Casey defeated Scranton by a 79,000-vote margin. He won re-election in 1990.
Casey brought what he called "an activist government" to Pennsylvania during his terms as governor. He expanded health-care services for women, introduced reforms to the state's welfare system, and introduced an insurance program for uninsured children. Casey also introduced his "Capital for a Day" program, where he conducted his official business from eighteen communities across the state.
But Casey was not without his critics. He was a staunch pro-life advocate, and refused to endorse any candidate who supported abortion. This included his lieutenant governor, Mark Singel, who lost to Tom Ridge in the 1994 gubernatorial election. Some Democrats blamed Casey for Singel's loss, which sent the state Democratic Party into disarray. He also refused to endorse the 1992 Democratic nominee for President, Bill Clinton, and was in turn denied the opportunity to speak at that year's Democratic National Convention.
In 1990, Casey was diagnosed with Appalachian familiar amyloidosis, a genetic condition where proteins invade and destroy bodily organs. To combat the disease, he underwent an extremely-rare heart-liver transplant in 1993.
Casey announced he would not seek another term as governor in 1994. He considered a run for President of the United States, but his failing health prevented him from doing so.
Robert Casey died from the long-term effects of his disease on May 30, 2000. He was survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Ellen, as well as numerous children and grandchildren. Casey's son, Robert Patrick Casey, Jr, is now Pennsylvania's auditor general.