Curt Weldon: The Troublemaker

Delivering a ‘slap in the face’

Conallen said that his former boss is no dupe. "The congressman works extremely hard to see all points of view, to research and study a particular issue or problem, and then come to what he thinks is a reasoned answer." He added, "I never saw him listen to a story and go running off with that story. He said time and time again, 'Let's check out what this guy has to say.' " People seek Weldon out, Conallen said, "because they've seen that [he] is effective. He actually is able to gain attention."

The biggest fights of Weldon's career are the ones he took on because he thought no one else would. In the early 1980s, as mayor of Marcus Hook, he helped run the Pagans motorcycle gang out of town. As a member of Congress, he personally implored the chief executive of Boeing not to close a plant in Ridley Township, thereby saving thousands of jobs. He led a vote for sanctions against Iran for its illicit weapons activities, delivering a "slap in the face," he said, to the Clinton administration, which didn't want the penalties.

Weldon built a career as the perennial David, always ready with his slingshot and sure aim. It's not in his nature to back down. It comforts Weldon, emboldens him to know that he never really left the streets of Marcus Hook. But now, Weldon finds himself in an unfamiliar, unnatural, and decidedly unwelcome position. He has become Goliath.

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