Just Like Cory Booker: 9 Other Heroic Political Figures Who've Saved Lives

Newark Mayor Cory Booker has become a viral sensation after he ran into a burning building to save a neighbor. He's even inspired his very own Twitter hashtag.

But Booker isn't the only hero politician around.

From a president who saved dozens from drowning to a congressman who performed CPR at an airport, many of our political leaders have had illustrious and inspiring pasts. Heimlich maneuvers, organ donations and catching thieves -- these brave men and women have done it all.

Take a look at the nine most heroic politicians in recent history:

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Comments

[April Dancer 25]

09:50 AM on 04/16/2012

Don't you dare compare Cory Bookier and Reagan and Schwartzeneggar. Cory is actually GOOD at his job as mayor.

[TxEarlyBird]

05:39 AM on 04/15/2012

And, of course, let's not forget the Mayor of Newark, Cory Booker :-)

[TxEarlyBird]

05:38 AM on 04/15/2012

IMHO there are only five heroes, Arnold, April Capone Almon, Adam Kinzinger, Jolanda Jones and Adam Barringer, people who endangered their own lives to help someone else. RR saved lives during the time he was a lifeguard, i.e. it was his job.

[Num1Christy]

04:29 PM on 04/15/2012

How many lives have you saved...?

[TxEarlyBird]

11:25 AM on 04/16/2012

None that I know of ... then again, I have NEVER claimed to be a Hero.

[April Dancer 25]

09:51 AM on 04/16/2012

Lifeguards save lives for a living. RR was paid to do it, just like a fireman or policeman. He is no hero.

[Mike Burkett]

01:12 AM on 04/15/2012

Ronald Reagan also ignored the beginning of the "Gay Cancer", but responded well to women dying of Toxic Shock Syndrome of which not even half as many have died, sat stupid through illegal arms deals, and single handed wrecked a lot of social services, ran up the budget surplus by trillions, etc. A TERRIBLE PRESIDENT!

[maninal2]

05:46 PM on 04/18/2012

A terrible human being as well

[fratricide08]

04:57 AM on 04/14/2012

They're still lifesavers but when you're simply doing what you're trained to do it's not quite the same as when you're doing something outside your profession and training. I expect the doctors and lifeguards among the group to do what they're trained to do. For them to do otherwise, would be shirking their responsibility big time and morally reprehensible. A doctor turning their back on someone needing CPR or a lifeguard spotting a swimmer in distress and deciding to hit the snack bar would be morally culpable for that person's death.

[ny1989]

03:37 AM on 04/14/2012

this kind of story, though fluffy and somewhat inconsequential, serves a very valuable purpose. Looking through that list, those politicians fall on both sides of the aisle and, for a number of them, risked their lives to help others. It just goes to remind you that, regardless of personal political beliefs or the negative motivations we can ascribe to them, an opposing politician is still a person and still capable of tremendous kindness and selflessness

[maninal2]

01:44 PM on 04/18/2012

Saving one life does not balance the horrendous public policies they put in place that lead to the decimation of millions of lives.

[ny1989]

05:39 PM on 04/18/2012

I agree completely. the value i see though is that it has the potential to rehumanize many of the people who we vilify on a regular basis. Even though Reagan was terrible for this country, responsible for millions of deaths, and the single greatest contributor to the development of the neoconservative movement and american wealth disparity, he's still a person. Painting him like a caricature of evil doesn't have much value in the political process

[Rteefact]

10:48 PM on 04/13/2012

Why not JFK he saved his surviving crew from PT109.

[vtmilitia]

05:49 PM on 04/16/2012

Very valid point.

[libmenace2012]

03:30 PM on 04/13/2012

Makes sense, seeing as how Ronald Reagan went on to save the whole country.

[SidTheScienceKid]

10:56 PM on 04/13/2012

sarcasm ? Or full of fail ?

[maninal2]

01:53 PM on 04/18/2012

Ronald Reagan tripled the national debt and began the nightmarish decline of America that's occurred since.