Former Rep. Richard T. “Dick” Schulze, a Republican who represented Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia suburbs for 18 years, died peacefully Dec. 23 at his home in the Washington, D.C., area. He was 96.
Mr. Schulze died of heart failure with his wife of 33 years, Nancy Schulze, at his side, according to a news release from Mrs. Schulze and former chief of staff Rob Hartwell.
During his congressional tenure from 1975 to 1993, Mr. Schulze rose to become a senior member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, where he served as ranking Republican on the Oversight Subcommittee. He spent 16 years on the Trade Subcommittee, emerging as a leading voice on international trade and taxation issues.
Mr. Hartwell described the late congressman as a “visionary” who was “ahead of his time.”
Mr. Schulze’s most enduring achievement came during his first term when he authored legislation establishing Valley Forge as a national historical park. President Gerald Ford signed the bill into law July 4, 1976 — the nation’s bicentennial — before a crowd of 30,000 at the historic site, seven miles from Mr. Schulze’s home.
Mr. Schulze twice chaired the conservative Republican Study Committee. President Ronald Reagan appointed him to the Presidential Advisory Committee on Federalism.
Despite his conservative credentials, colleagues remembered him as someone willing to work across party lines.
“There’s not much bipartisanship left anymore. And I think members on the opposite side of the aisle, they trusted Dick. They were friends with him,” Mr. Hartwell said.
Mrs. Schulze said he was principled but not partisan, attributing this to why Mr. Schulze achieved many successful feats even though Democrats held the congressional majority at the time.
“All Dick cared about was getting the job done,” Mrs. Schulze said. “He didn’t care who got the credit as long as the job got done for the country.”
With every piece of legislation, he questioned whether it would benefit the country in the long run, Mrs. Schulze said, not whether it would be good for his party or political career.
Mr. Schulze recognized the importance of every person, from legislative assistants to staff members in Congress, Mr. Hartwell said.
On policy, Mr. Schulze strongly opposed Most Favored Nation status for China and advocated replacing the corporate income tax with an 8% border-adjustable flat tax. Senior Americans benefited from his work on legislation allowing substantial capital gains tax forgiveness on personal residence sales.
In 1989, Mr. Schulze founded the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and Foundation, now the largest bipartisan caucus in Congress. President George H.W. Bush appointed him to the National Fish and Wildlife Board.
Mr. Schulze played a key role in securing the 1983 release of Romanian Orthodox priest Gheorghe Calciu-Dumitreasa, who had been imprisoned for 21 years, according to The Inquirer. After his release, Father Calciu came to Capitol Hill and knelt before Mr. Schulze in gratitude.
A lifelong Presbyterian, Mr. Schulze served as the past chairman of the National Prayer Breakfast. He received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 1986. Even in his later years, he recited the Scout Law every night after getting into bed, Mrs. Schulze said.
Before Congress, Mr. Schulze served in the Pennsylvania House and owned businesses in Paoli. He never lost an election in 17 campaigns, winning an average of 68% of the vote.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Schulze is survived by four children — Karen, Rick, Mike and Linda — seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Great Valley Presbyterian Church, 2025 Swedesford Road, Malvern.
