Raymond P. Shafer

Former Governor of Pennsylvania

What is Raymond P. Shafer known for?

Raymond Philip Shafer, a respected American attorney and politician, was born on March 5, 1917 in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Shafer was a prominent figure in the political scene, serving as the 39th governor of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971, following his tenure as the 23rd lieutenant governor from 1963 to 1967. He was also a Pennsylvania state senator from 1959 to 1962. Shafer was known nationally as a leader of the moderate wing of the Republican Party in the late 1960s.

After graduating from Allegheny College in 1938 and Yale Law School in 1941, Shafer served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945 during World War II, earning the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal. Post service, he entered politics as a district attorney in 1948 and subsequently as a state senator.

As governor, Shafer was praised for his work in constitutional reforms in Pennsylvania, the formation of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and expenditures for health and education programs. However, his proposal for a state income tax proved unpopular, even though it was later implemented by his successor, Milton Shapp.

After leaving the governorship due to the constitutional rule limiting him to a single four-year term, Shafer chaired the Shafer Commission at the request of President Richard Nixon, recommending the decriminalization of personal marijuana use within the home. He resumed his law practice in Meadville and served in various business and consulting roles in private and public sectors. Shafer passed away in Meadville on December 12, 2006.