Richard Schultz Schweiker ( June 1 , 1926 – July 31 , 2015 ) was an American businessman and politician . A member of the Republican Party , he served as the 14th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1983 . He previously served as a U.S. Representative ( 1961 – 1969 ) and a U.S. Senator ( 1969 – 1981 ) from Pennsylvania . In 1976 , Schweiker was Reagan 's vice presidential pick during his unsuccessful presidential campaign
presidential
1976 Republican National Convention
Richard Schweiker