Indie Film Tells Backstory of Treasurer Suicide

While surfing the web five years ago, independent filmmaker James Dirschberger saw uncensored footage of Pennsylvania Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer's suicide during a press conference in 1987.

He could not shake off the graphic scene, and the desire to uncover the story behind the suicide spurred him to create his documentary film, "Honest Man: The Life of R. Budd Dwyer," which made its Los Angeles debut Friday night at the Royal/T Cafe in Culver City. 

“I needed to know why someone would do this,” Dirschberger told an audience at a panel discussion following the screening. 

Royal/T showed the film in partnership with Cinema Speakeasy, a monthly screening series of independent films.

Dirschberger's film, which he financed entirely on his own, serves as a vindication of the treasurer and an effort to provide context to the suicide. 

"A lot of people only know the story because of the video online," Dirschberger said.

His film reconstructs Dwyer's political rise and fall up to the treasurer's public suicide, which took place on Jan. 22, 1987.

On that day, Dwyer called a press conference. He recently had been convicted of accepting money in exchange for awarding a state contract. Television crews were expecting Dwyer to announce his resignation. Reading from prepared remarks, Dwyer proclaimed his innocence and said the past few years had been "hell" for him.

Before finishing his speech, Dwyer pulled a gun from an envelope, asked those in the room to stand back, put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.

Later that day, some media outlets ran the uncensored footage, spurring a journalism ethics conversation that continues to this day. Among its messages, "Honest Man" turns a critical eye to what the film synopsis refers to as a "dehumanizing press corps" and "our callous treatment of public figures." 

The film features interviews with friends and family as well a slew of newspaper articles documenting Dwyer's rise and fall in politics. It consistently argues for Dwyer's innocence, casting a likable, earnest man who was set up for his own demise by unsavory individuals.

No money changed hands, the film emphasizes, and Dwyer was unaware of any wrongdoing. Dirschberger also portrays William Smith, the man whose testimony convicted Dwyer, as a lifelong criminal whose word should not have stood against the treasurer's.

Budd Dwyer’s children, Robert Dwyer and Dyan Dwyer Seaberg, attended the panel. Panelists also included Budd Dwyer's sister, Mary Kun, and Trevor Moore of the comedy group "The Whitest Kids U’Know." Moore heard a Filter song on a middle school playground years ago that he originally thought was about Kurt Cobain — but found out later the song was about Dwyer, he said. 

Dwyer's suicide at a press conference was supposed to be a way to send a message to a system that failed him, Kun told the audience. 

“There was a story to be told, but we needed to find the right person to tell it,” Robert Dwyer said. “Jim was that person.”

The film also includes an interview with William Smith and Dwyer's widow, Joanne, who died in 2009. 

Audience members raised questions about the true antagonist of the film. One woman said she had never heard the story, even as a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.   

Culver City residents and filmmakers Kara Crew and Kyle Seago also had never heard the story of Dwyer. They came to see it from both an enjoyment and critical perspective. Both left impressed by Dirschberger’s work.

“It’s interesting to see scenes from the ‘80s and revisit the themes in 2011,” Seago said.

Next month, Dirschberger and the Dwyer family plan to launch an online database of documentation about Dwyer so others can explore the background to the story. 

The Dwyer children said they do not watch the film at the screenings because it is too difficult to relive the experience. But they believe in accompanying Dirschberger around the country to lead discussions about the film.  

”This part of it, getting the story out there — it’s important,” Robert Dwyer said.