Phil Crane - Early Life

Early Life

Crane was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Cora Ellen (née Miller) and George Washington Crane III, a physician and college professor. He was educated at Hillsdale College, the University of Vienna, and Indiana University, where received a PhD in history in 1961. Crane served in the United States Army. He also attended DePauw University and the University of Michigan.

Crane was a faculty member at Indiana University and at Bradley University in Peoria, a staff member for the Republican National Committee, and a director of research for the 1964 Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.

His brother Dan Crane served alongside him as Congressman from another Illinois district for three terms. Another brother, David Crane, ran for Congress from Indiana a few times simultaneously with Phil and Dan. The brothers were dubbed "the Kennedys of the Right".

However, David never won a seat in Congress, and Dan ended up being defeated for re-election in 1984 due, in part, to his involvement in the 1983 Congressional page sex scandal. Philip Crane began to battle alcoholism, which he publicly acknowledged after winning reelection in 2000.

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