Eugene Atkinson

{{Infobox Congressman

| name = Eugene Atkinson

| image name = Eugene Atkinson.png

| image_size=150px

| caption = Atkinson pictured during his first term in Congress, c. 1979

|birth_name=Eugene Vincent Atkinson

| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|04|05}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|08|04|1927|04|05}}

| birth_place = Aliquippa, Pennsylvania

| death_place= Aliquippa, Pennsylvania

| state = Pennsylvania

| district = 25th

| term_start = January 3, 1979

| term_end = January 3, 1983

| preceded = Gary A. Myers

| succeeded = District eliminated

| party = Republican (from 1981)
Democratic (until 1981)

}}

Eugene Vincent Atkinson (April 5, 1927 – August 4, 2016){{cite web|title=ATKINSON, Eugene Vincent - Biographical Information|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000329|website=bioguide.congress.gov|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=5 August 2016}} was an American politician who, from 1979 to 1983, served two-terms as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Early life and career

Atkinson was born in the Pittsburgh Metro Area city of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. Atkinson was the director of customs for the port of Pittsburgh from 1962 to 1969. Atkinson then served as the Beaver County commissioner from 1972 to 1978.

Tenure

In 1978, he was elected to the U.S. House as a member of the Democratic Party.

Atkinson was an early supporter of Jimmy Carter in 1976, but in 1980 Atkinson endorsed Senator Ted Kennedy for President. At rallies for Kennedy, Atkinson praised Kennedy's leadership.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/10/14/Maverick-Democratic-Rep-Eugene-Atkinson-of-Pennsylvania-who/6392371880000/|title=Maverick Democrat of Pennsylvania}}

While Atkinson was on a radio call-in show in 1981, President Ronald Reagan called into the show and persuaded Atkinson to support Reagan’s proposed budget cuts.[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/124892537/ Lobbying phone call puts Reagan on air] Reagan was calling from his Washington, D.C., hospital bed while recovering from a gunshot wound as a result of an assassination attempt.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/01/us/party-switcher-s-bid-is-reagan-test.html|title=Party switcher's bid is Reagan's test}}{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/10/14/Maverick-Democratic-Rep-Eugene-Atkinson-of-Pennsylvania-who/6392371880000/|title=Maverick Democrat of Pennsylvania}}

On October 14, 1981, Atkinson switched parties, joining the Republican Party.[http://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/10/14/Maverick-Democratic-Rep-Eugene-Atkinson-of-Pennsylvania-who/6392371880000/ Maverick Democratic Rep. Eugene Atkinson of Pennsylvania -- who...] Atkinson claimed at the time that the switch was a result of Democratic reaction to his support of Reagan’s agenda. New York Republican Representative John LeBoutillier led the congressional effort to coax Atkinson to switch parties.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/01/us/party-switcher-s-bid-is-reagan-test.html|title=Party switcher's bid is Reagan's test}}{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/10/14/Maverick-Democratic-Rep-Eugene-Atkinson-of-Pennsylvania-who/6392371880000/|title=Maverick Democrat of Pennsylvania}}

After the switch, House Speaker Tip O’Neill predicted Atkinson would be defeated in his next election.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/01/us/party-switcher-s-bid-is-reagan-test.html|title=Party switcher's bid is Reagan's test}}{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/10/14/Maverick-Democratic-Rep-Eugene-Atkinson-of-Pennsylvania-who/6392371880000/|title=Maverick Democrat of Pennsylvania}} The prediction proved accurate, as Atkinson subsequently lost his 1982 re-election by a 21 percentage point margin to Joseph P. Kolter.Barone, Michael; and Ujifusa, Grant. The Almanac of American Politics 1988', p. 1019. National Journal'', 1987.

Death

Atkinson died on August 4, 2016, at the age of 89.{{cite news|last1=Davidson|first1=Tom|title=Eugene V. Atkinson, former congressman and Beaver County commissioner, dead at 89|url=http://www.timesonline.com/news/governmentandpolitics/eugene-v-atkinson-former-congressman-and-beaver-county-commissioner-dead/article_2e24ed9c-5b26-11e6-b4ea-9782f0c1775a.html|work=Beaver County Times|date=August 5, 2016}}