[2] His studies at Harvard were interrupted during the Korean War, when he served as a captain in the United States Marine Corps and an aide to Lieutenant General Chesty Puller (1950–1952).

[1] Following his military service, Coughlin entered the Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia, attending classes at night while working as a foreman on an assembly line at a steel company during the day.

[1] In 1959, Coughlin was admitted to the bar and joined the law firm of Saul Ewing in Philadelphia.

[2] His two most competitive campaigns for re-election came in 1984 and 1986, facing Democratic state Representative Joe Hoeffel both times.

[3] After retiring from Congress, Coughlin remained in Washington, D.C., and joined the law firm of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott.

[3] He joined the law firm of Thompson Coburn in 2001, and also served as president of the Friends of the United States National Arboretum.