Eugene Atkinson
Encyclopedia
Eugene Vincent Atkinson was a member of the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
.
Atkinson was born in the Pittsburgh Metro Area
city of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
and he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh
. Atkinson was the director of customs for the port of Pittsburgh
from 1962 to 1969. Atkinson then served as the Beaver County
commissioner from 1972 to 1978. Atkinson was elected to the House as a member of the Democratic Party.
Atkinson was an early supporter of Jimmy Carter
in 1976
but in 1980
, Atkinson endorsed Ted Kennedy
for President. At rallies for Kennedy, Atkinson praised Kennedy's leadership.
While he was on a radio call-in show in 1981, Atkinson was called by President Ronald Reagan
and persuaded to support budget cuts.
On October 14, 1981, Atkinson switched parties
, joining the Republican Party. Atkinson lost re-election by a 21 percentage point margin in 1982 to Joseph P. Kolter
.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Atkinson was born in the Pittsburgh Metro Area
Pittsburgh Metro Area
The Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area surrounding the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is renowned for its industries including steel, glass and oil; moreover, its economy also thrives on healthcare, education, technology, robotics, financial services and more recently film...
city of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Aliquippa is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 9,438 at the 2010 census. Formerly a borough, it was formally named a city in 1987 by the Aliquippa Council.-History:...
and he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. Atkinson was the director of customs for the port of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
from 1962 to 1969. Atkinson then served as the Beaver County
Beaver County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 181,412 people, 72,576 households, and 50,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 418 people per square mile . There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 per square mile...
commissioner from 1972 to 1978. Atkinson was elected to the House as a member of the Democratic Party.
Atkinson was an early supporter of Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
in 1976
United States presidential election, 1976
The United States presidential election of 1976 followed the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal. It pitted incumbent President Gerald Ford, the Republican candidate, against the relatively unknown former governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter, the Democratic...
but in 1980
United States presidential election, 1980
The United States presidential election of 1980 featured a contest between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and his Republican opponent, Ronald Reagan, as well as Republican Congressman John B. Anderson, who ran as an independent...
, Atkinson endorsed Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
for President. At rallies for Kennedy, Atkinson praised Kennedy's leadership.
While he was on a radio call-in show in 1981, Atkinson was called by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and persuaded to support budget cuts.
On October 14, 1981, Atkinson switched parties
Party switching
Party-switching is any change in political party affiliation of a partisan public figure, usually one currently holding elected office.In many countries, party-switching takes the form of politicians refusing to support their political parties in coalition governments...
, joining the Republican Party. Atkinson lost re-election by a 21 percentage point margin in 1982 to Joseph P. Kolter
Joseph P. Kolter
Joseph Paul Kolter was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania.Joe Kolter was born in McDonald, Ohio. He graduated from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and served in the United States Army from 1944 to 1947...
.