QUESTIONS:
1. Actor John Ritter, who died recently at age 54, was a Democrat. However, his father, country-Western star Tex Ritter, was an active Republican. What political office did Tex Ritter run for?
2. The stabbing death of Swedish Foreign Minister Lindh last week stunned the world. When was the last assassination of a major Swedish politician?
3. Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, a Democrat, made news recently when he said he would vote for Republican George W. Bush for President next year. Aside from Koch, how many former mayors of New York are living?
4. North Carolina Sen. John Edwards recently announced he was leaving his Senate seat after one term to seek the Democratic nomination for President. Edwards is the sixth occupant of that seat in the last 30 years. Who was the last holder of that seat to be re-elected to the Senate?
5. Who was the first Republican senator from North Carolina after Reconstruction?
ANSWERS:
1. He sought the Republican nomination for U.S. senator from Tennessee in 1970, but lost the primary to Rep. Bill Brock.
2. The shooting death of Prime Minister Olaf Palme in 1986. (The assassin has never been captured.)
3. Democrat David Dinkins, mayor from 1989-93, and Republican Rudy Giuliani, mayor from 1993-2001.
4. Democrat Sam Ervin, who held the seat from 1956-74 and won his last re-election in 1968.
5. Jesse Helms, who was elected to the other North Carolina seat in 1972 and served until he retired last year.
