R. Budd Dwyer

R. Budd Dwyer

Born: November 21, 1939
Died: January 22, 1987
in St. Charles, Missouri, USA
Robert Budd Dwyer (November 21, 1939 – January 22, 1987) was an American politician. He served from 1965 to 1971 as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and from 1971 to 1981 as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate representing the state's 50th district. Dwyer then served as the 30th state treasurer of Pennsylvania from January 20, 1981, to January 22, 1987, when he killed himself during a live press conference.

In the early 1980s, Pennsylvania discovered that its state workers had overpaid federal taxes due to errors in state withholding prior to Dwyer's administration. A multimillion-dollar recovery contract was required to determine the compensation to be given to each employee. In 1986, Dwyer was convicted of accepting a bribe from Computer Technology Associates, a California-based firm, to award them the contract. He was found guilty on 11 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, perjury, and interstate transportation in aid of racketeering, and was scheduled to be sentenced on January 23, 1987. On January 22, Dwyer called a news conference in the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, during which he fatally shot himself with a .357 Magnum revolver in front of reporters. Dwyer's suicide was broadcast later that day to a wide television audience across Pennsylvania.

All posthumous appeals made by Dwyer's lawyers on Dwyer's behalf were denied, and his convictions were upheld. Along with Barbara Hafer and Rob McCord, Dwyer is one of three former Pennsylvania State treasurers to be convicted of corruption since the 1980s.

Movies for R. Budd Dwyer...

Sinema
Title: Sinema
Character: Himself
Released: July 26, 2014
Type: Movie
A 96 minute internet video collage made during a particularly disorientating time.
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Honest Man: The Life of R. Budd Dwyer
Title: Honest Man: The Life of R. Budd Dwyer
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: October 9, 2010
Type: Movie
Honest Man: the Life of R. Budd Dwyer is a movie about politics and corruption, suicide and survival. The film chronicles Dwyer's meteoric rise to political power and examines the bribery scandal and subsequent trial that pushed him to his breaking point. Honest Man also delves into the controversy and consequences of the uncensored airing of Dwyer's death on television stations worldwide. Honest Man reveals a story that has remained untold for over 24 years. The film features exclusive new interviews, including William Smith, the man whose testimony convicted Dwyer, and Dwyer's widow Joanne--her last interview before her death in 2009. Was Dwyer venal, or a victim? Did he kill himself because he couldn't live with being guilty, or because he couldn't live with being innocent? Honest Man allows audiences to judge for themselves.
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Loren Cass
Title: Loren Cass
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: August 25, 2006
Type: Movie
Adolescents come to terms with their lives after the rebellions of 1996 St. Petersburg.
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Bowling for Columbine
Title: Bowling for Columbine
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: October 9, 2002
Type: Movie
This is not a film about gun control. It is a film about the fearful heart and soul of the United States, and the 280 million Americans lucky enough to have the right to a constitutionally protected Uzi. From a look at the Columbine High School security camera tapes to the home of Oscar-winning NRA President Charlton Heston, from a young man who makes homemade napalm with The Anarchist's Cookbook to the murder of a six-year-old girl by another six-year-old. Bowling for Columbine is a journey through the US, through our past, hoping to discover why our pursuit of happiness is so riddled with violence.
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Traces of Death
Title: Traces of Death
Character: Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: April 20, 1993
Type: Movie
Shockumentary that consists of various scenes of stock footage depicting death and real scenes of violence.
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Commercial Entertainment Product
Title: Commercial Entertainment Product
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: November 24, 1992
Type: Movie
The video debut of experimental musicians and culture jamming artists Emergency Broadcast Network.
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Death Scenes 2
Title: Death Scenes 2
Character: Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: January 1, 1992
Type: Movie
DEATH SCENES II continues the exploration into the dark recesses of violence and rage that ended in such heinous crimes as the Manson Family's assault on society. You'll see the gruesome aftermath of mob reprisals, public executions and international terrorism. DEATH SCENES II uniquely ushers the brave and curious into a spellbinding trip through the reality that is our world today.
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Video Macumba
Title: Video Macumba
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: January 1, 1991
Type: Movie
Video compilation by Mike Patton featuring various shocking film clips such as coprophagia, BDSM, Budd Dwyer's suicide, a young boy drowning, Mr. Bungle's music video for “Travolta”, skits starring Mike Patton, and much, much more.
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T.V. Sphincter
Title: T.V. Sphincter
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: September 5, 1987
Type: Movie
The sequel to Film Threat founder Chris Gore's video mixtape Cathode Fuck, T.V. Sphincter focuses more on death, sex, and the bizarre, similar in style to a Mondo/Death film.