Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. John Murtha, the first veteran of the Vietnam war to enter Congress and one of the body’s most powerful lawmakers, died Monday afternoon at Virginia Hospital Center after complications from gallbladder surgery. Murtha was 77.
“Congressman John P. Murtha (PA-12) passed away peacefully this afternoon at 1:18 p.m. at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va. At his bedside was his family,” reads a statement from his office.
A native of New Martinsville, W.Va., voters elected first elected Murtha to Congress in a 1974 special election that spelled impending doom for President Nixon and congressional Republicans. That fall, Democrats wrestled away 49 House seats from the GOP, reeling from the scourge of Watergate and a presidency in shambles.
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The king of pork is dead. All hail the king.
He may be dead but the surgeon might wish to join him. A surgically nicked intestine caused infection. Can you spell malpractice suit?
I wonder if they will change the name of the airport which he porkbarrelled from Murtha Airfield to Murtha Memorial? My condolances to his family…