Philadelphians remember former Council President

Philadelphians are remembering George X. Schwartz, the former Philadelphia City Council President who died last week. His long political career ended with his conviction in the Abscam case thirty years ago.

Philadelphians are remembering George X. Schwartz, the former Philadelphia City Council President who died last week.  His long political career ended with his conviction in the Abscam case thirty years ago.

As President of City Council, Schwartz wielded power over legislation and patronage positions.

Civic activist Ed Schwartz, who is not related, first met the former Council President when he testified on tax reform.

ED SCHWARTZ: “He was very smart and very precise. And he knew as a good attorney how to discredit somebody who was not properly prepared.”

But the political career of George Schwartz came to an end after the F.B.I. videotaped him accepting $30,000 from agents pretending to represent an Arab sheik. 

Schwartz was convicted later that year of conspiracy and extortion and he ended up serving a one-year prison sentence. He was 95 years old when he died in his sleep Friday in Center City.