January 22

There are people who believe that any person who embarks on a life of crime is actually crying out for attention. Before you do anything rash, consider the case of Robert Budd Dwyer, who was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and perhaps make your cry for attention verbal. As has happened to many politicians, Dwyer got in the practice of accepting kickbacks from companies doing business with his state. In due course, his crimes were discovered and after a lengthy trial, he was convicted and faced serious jail time. On the 22nd, in 1987, just prior to his sentencing, Dwyer called a press conference, which was covered by live television. I suppose this is where he should have said ‘I’m sorry. I’m going to resign, I need this job like I need a hole in the head’ but he didn’t. On live television, he placed a revolver to his head and committed suicide.