It was a trip as Community Ambassador to Poland, when he came to appreciate the differences between the American and Communist systems of government.  This inspired him to become involved in the democratic process.   He became a member of the Pennsylvania State House Of Representatives from 1965-1970. He then became a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1970.   From 1980-1987, he would spend the final years of his life, as the Pennsylvania State Treasurer.

* On the morning of January 22, 1987  R. Budd Dwyer held a news conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania  to "give an update on his status", one day before he was scheduled to appear in front of a federal judge for sentencing over a bribery accusation. It was alleged that Dwyer had accepted campaign funds from John Torquato of Computer Technology in 1984, in exchange for which Dwyer credited Torquato with an overpaid Social Security recovery contract worth 4.7 million dollars, by not inviting other bids. Two company officials had admitted offering a 300,000 dollar bribe. Other charges Dwyer faced were five accounts of mail fraud, four counts of inter-state transportation in aiding racketeering and one of conspiracy to commit bribery. If convicted, Dwyer was facing up to 55 years in prison, up to a $300,000 fine, and Pennsylvania's Attorney General had announced that Dwyer would lose his job as soon as he was sentenced.
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Dwyer spent a short time speaking to his campaign staff, and made a speech.  He then handed out envelopes. He said that the envelopes, which he had handed to two of his aides and the acting State Treasurer, contained instructions for them to read later.  The final envelope he handed out contained a note that was to be later given to his wife Joanne.  He then walked up to the front of the room, a large media pack of at least 5 television crews and numerous newspaper reporters, radio reporters and photographers huddle around and waited for his exclamation. Dwyer reached into a manila envelope and withdrew a loaded .357 Magnum. Chaos broke out as reporters and political aides pleaded with Dwyer to put the gun down, as Dwyer held one hand defensively, and gripped the gun with the other. "Please leave the room, If this will...if this will offend you."  He asks, "Stay away....this will hurt someone."  Dwyer then put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. Reporters called the emergency services, but nothing could be done.  Dwyer was announced dead on arrival.

R. Budd Dwyer was survived by his wife (Joanne) and 2 children (Rob and Dyan). He is buried at the Blooming Valley Cemetery, in Blooming Valley, Pennsylvania.

Sources - The Times (London) 'US state official shoots himself' 1/23/87, and many other unofficial sources.

*   Contains some material from www.prioryv.demon.co.uk/media3.htm