JACK KEMP
July 13, 1935-May 2, 2009
JACK KEMP &
THE QUARTERBACK FINGERS
Jack Kemp was a football star (twice AFL champion with the Buffalo Bills); Republican member of the House of Representatives; tax cutter influence on Ronald Reagan; presidential candidate (1988; beaten in the primaries by George Bush); appointed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by the first President George Bush; and vice-presidential nominee on the ticket with Bob Dole (1996; they were beaten by Bill Clinton and Al Gore). (The official Congressional "Bioguide" has a quick summary here.)
Described as a "bleeding heart conservative," but thought Reagan was too quick to compromise on tax cuts.
Is said to have had his broken middle finger set around a football so he could keep his quarterback's grip (see above).
