[1] He served as a Construction Mechanic in the United States Navy SeaBees[2] during World War II from 1942 to 1944.

An avid fisherman and environmentalist, he introduced legislation to bring back Atlantic salmon to the Connecticut River and worked to protect other natural resources.

He is somewhat famous for wearing a pig mask in a 1983 press conference, as a protest against pork barrel spending.

[13] Conte voted against U.S. involvement in the 1991 Gulf War, one of only three Republicans in the House to oppose the resolution, along with Frank Riggs (CA) and Connie Morella (MD).

On social issues, Conte's record was more conservative, also reflecting his Roman Catholic faith; for instance, he was opposed to abortion.

For instance, Betty Boothroyd worked for him as a legislative assistant between 1960 and 1962; she later became Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

Cabinet secretaries, 100 members of Congress, and the sitting Vice President of the United States, Dan Quayle.

He was eulogized by long-time political friends Tip O'Neill (former U.S. Speaker of the House) and Senator Edward Kennedy.