U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., in February of this year. (Photo by Michael Fernandez)

c.2008 Newhouse News Service

WASHINGTON — What's left of his hair is thinning, grayer and falling out. He's tired, his skin is pale and his voice sounds weaker and raspy.

But as U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, 78, faces his second bout of Hodgkin's disease and debilitating treatments, the Pennsylvania Republican says he's no worse for wear and vows not to give up the fight.

"Chemotherapy is a tough regimen, but my approach to it is that it's tough but tolerable," Specter said during an interview Wednesday in his Capitol hideaway, one of the unmarked offices that are doled out to lawmakers according to seniority.

Specter is no stranger to health problems. In addition to first facing Hodgkin's three years ago, he's twice been given fatal diagnoses, survived a brain tumor diagnosed in 1993 and a recurrence in 1996, underwent heart bypass surgery and suffered cardiac arrest in 1998.

Specter, like many Senate colleagues, said he was "devastated, just devastated" when he learned Tuesday that Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor.

A senator since 1981, Specter has partnered with Kennedy on numerous health, education, civil rights, hate-crime and judiciary matters over the years.

Though they have sometimes been at odds, they remain good friends.

"The guy has just had such bad luck," Specter said, referring to the Kennedy family legacy that includes the deaths of his older brothers.

Despite weekly chemotherapy treatments — he's had four of 12 since being diagnosed last month with a recurrence of Hodgkin's — Specter maintains a full schedule whether on Capitol Hill or back in Pennsylvania, and said his illness has not changed his plans to seek a sixth term in 2010.

Specter's already planning his annual statewide tour for August.

"I'm at the top of my game," he said in his office, decorated with nearly floor-to-ceiling photos of himself with national and world leaders from Ronald Reagan to Yasser Arafat.

"I really enjoy the advocacy and push on the big issues," said Specter, ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee. He cited his role in the Senate fight over confirming federal judges, work on patent reform, promotion of mentoring programs in his hometown of Philadelphia, and inclusion of extra money for the National Institutes of Health in a supplemental spending bill that will fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I think I can be of real service to the state and nation and it's good for me," he said, adding that he anticipates tough primary and general election challenges.

But the treatments every Friday take a toll. Fridays and Saturdays aren't bad, he said. The effects start to hit on Sundays, and Mondays and Tuesdays are really bad.

Keeping active, staying focused and maintaining a sense of humor help, he said. "When I have a problem, I just reach over to this book," he said, jokingly gesturing to the motivational book he authored earlier this year on his first fight with Hodgkin's three years ago.

He plays squash nearly every day. He joined his son, Shanin, to watch the Phillies play the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Tuesday night, then grilled oil company executives about record industry profits and high gas prices Wednesday.

"When I'm fully engaged I feel good," said Specter. "When I'm not fully engaged I feel the effects of the chemo."
   Specter said he plans to take an active role in helping presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in Pennsylvania and also is trying to help the GOP win back voters who have grown disillusioned with the party or who changed their registration to vote in the Democratic primary between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

He's helping Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell raise money in Philadelphia next week and is planning a June 30 fundraiser in the state for McCain, who he thinks will do well with independent voters in the crucial Philadelphia suburbs.

McCain needs to lay out a strategy to show how he would bring the Iraqi factions together and minimize the U.S. role in Iraq, said Specter, who agreed with Obama that the U.S. should be willing to directly engage foes including Iran, Venezuela and Syria.

He cited his own experience conducting talks with world leaders and traditional U.S. enemies such as former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

"I think we need a very fundamental shift on international diplomacy," Specter said.

"I think there's a way to deal with them," he said, pointing to pictures of himself with Assad and Chavez. "I had some good talks with that guy Arafat and (Libyan leader Moammar) Gadhafi and Castro."

(Brett Lieberman can be contacted at brett.lieberman(at)newhouse.com.)