In 1970, the very year after hanging up his helmet; Kemp was elected to congress from western new York, a republican in a democratic district.
Jack Kemp had said, "I went from a competitive football arena, to a competitive arena of ideas, so in that sense I was fulfilled quite easily into football competition to political competition."
During his years on Capitol Hill, Kemp championed supply-side economics. The belief the economy would grow by cutting taxes.
But he was also a self-described "bleeding-heart conservative".
Jack Kemp opposed abortion, supported school prayer...and yet was widely admired and accepted in the civil rights community.
In 1988, he left congress to run for president. And though he lost the nomination to George Bush, Sr., Kemp went on to serve as his as secretary of housing and urban development.
"Bob, you are the quarterback and I'm your blocker and we're going all the way", Jack Kemp said.
In 1996, he would try for the white house once again...only this time as bob dole's running mate.
Jack Kemp had said, "Bob Dole and myself do not see al gore and Bill Clinton as our enemy. We see them as our opponents."
In recent years, Jack Kemp was a popular speaker on the lecture circuit, where he made millions.
It was just this past January, when he announced he had been diagnosed with cancer.
Jack Kemp was 73 and died at his home outside of Washington
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