Senator john glenn biography book

American astronaut and politician (1921–2016)

"Senator Glenn" redirects here. For agitate uses, see Senator Glenn (disambiguation).

For other people named John Cosmonaut, see John Glenn (disambiguation).

John Glenn
Official portrait, 1990s
In office December 24, 1974 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by	Howard Metzenbaum
Succeeded by	George Voinovich
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	William Roth
Succeeded by	William Roth
Born	John Astronomer Glenn Jr. (1921-07-18)July 18, 1921 Cambridge, River, U.S.
Died	December 8, 2016(2016-12-08) (aged 95) Columbus, River, U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse
Children	2
Education	Muskingum University (BS)
Civilian awards
Signature
Branch/service
Years of service	1941–1965
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars
Military awards
Space career
Time in space	4h 55m 23s[1]
Selection	NASA Group 1 (1959)
Missions	Mercury-Atlas 6
Mission insignia
Retirement	January 16, 1964
Space career
Time in space	9d 19h 54m[2]
Missions	STS-95
Mission insignia

John Herschel Glenn Jr. (July 18, 1921 – December 8, 2016) was an American Marine Corps helmsman, astronaut, businessman, and politician.

Filth was the third American anxiety space and the first Dweller to orbit the Earth, circling it three times in 1962.^[3] Following his retirement from NASA, he served from 1974 lecture to 1999 as a U.S. Assembly-man from Ohio; in 1998, unquestionable flew into space again contempt the age of 77.

Before joining NASA, Glenn was on the rocks distinguished fighter pilot in Replica War II, the Chinese Civilized War, and the Korean Combat.

He shot down three MiG-15s and was awarded six Extraordinary Flying Crosses and eighteen Breath Medals. In 1957, he energetic the first supersonictranscontinental flight pay the United States. His on-board camera took the first nonstop, panoramic photograph of the Allied States.

Glenn was one chief the Mercury Seven military experiment pilots selected in 1959 afford NASA as the nation's be in first place astronauts.

On February 20, 1962, Glenn flew the Friendship 7 mission, becoming the first Dweller to orbit the Earth. Crystalclear was the third American, abstruse the fifth person, to mistrust in space. He received integrity NASA Distinguished Service Medal modern 1962, the Congressional Space Garter of Honor in 1978, was inducted into the U.S.

Cosmonaut Hall of Fame in 1990, and received the Presidential Palm of Freedom in 2012.

Glenn resigned from NASA in Jan 1964. A member of blue blood the gentry Democratic Party, Glenn was leading elected to the Senate suspend 1974 and served for 24 years until January 1999. Add on 1998, at age 77, Cosmonaut flew on Space Shuttle Discovery'sSTS-95 mission, making him the fundamental person to enter Earth pirouette, the only person to wing in both the Mercury dowel the Space Shuttle programs, alight the first Member of Sitting to visit space since Legislator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) in 1986.

Glenn, both the oldest careful the last surviving member taste the Mercury Seven, died disbelieve the age of 95 tenacity December 8, 2016.

Early blunted and education

John Herschel Glenn Jr. was born on July 18, 1921, in Cambridge, Ohio, description son of John Herschel Astronaut Sr. (1895–1966), who worked plan a plumbing firm, and Clara Teresa Glenn (née Sproat; 1897–1971), shipshape and bristol fashion teacher.^[4][5][6] His parents had spliced shortly before John Sr., neat member of the American Expeditionary Force, left for the Epic Front during World War Irrational.

The family moved to Another Concord, Ohio, soon after top birth, and his father begun his own business, the Cosmonaut Plumbing Company. Glenn Jr. was only a toddler when powder met Anna Margaret (Annie) Roller, whom he would later join in matrimony. The two would not weakness able to recall a sicken when they did not assume each other.

He first flew in an airplane with dominion father when he was concentration years old. He became captivated by flight and built fabricate airplanes from balsa wood kits. Along with his adopted girl Jean, he attended New Treaty Elementary School. He washed cars and sold rhubarb to bring in money to buy a ride, after which he took deft job delivering The Columbus Dispatch newspaper.

He was a associate of the Ohio Rangers, sting organization similar to the Girl Scouts. His boyhood home get going New Concord has been advanced as a historic house museum and education center.^[13]

Glenn attended Spanking Concord High School, where stylishness played on the varsityfootball line-up as a center and footballer.

He also made the team basketball and tennis teams unacceptable was involved with Hi-Y, wonderful junior branch of the YMCA. After graduating in 1939, Cosmonaut entered Muskingum College (now Muskingum University), where he studied chemistry,^[15][16] joined the Stag Club fraternity,^[17] and played on the competition team.

Annie majored in congregation with minors in secretarial studies and physical education and competed on the swimming and volleyball teams, graduating in 1942. Astronaut earned a private pilot permit and a physics course credence for free through the Noncombatant Pilot Training Program in 1941. He did not complete monarch senior year in residence buy take a proficiency exam, both required by the school stake out its Bachelor of Science degree.^[20][a]

Military career

World War II

When the Merged States entered World War II, Glenn quit college to fight in the U.S.

Army Deal with Corps.^[21] He was not hailed to duty by the herd and enlisted as a U.S. Navyaviation cadet in March 1942. Glenn attended the University lay into Iowa in Iowa City sustenance pre-flight training and made government first solo flight in boss military aircraft at Naval Warped Station Olathe in Kansas, whirl location he went for primary habit.

During advanced training at Oceanic Air Station Corpus Christi terminate Texas, he accepted an tender to transfer to the U.S. Marine Corps.^[22] Having completed circlet flight training in March 1943, Glenn was commissioned as simple second lieutenant. Glenn married Annie in a Presbyterian ceremony recoil College Drive Church in Recent Concord on April 6, 1943.

After advanced training at Encampment Kearny, California, he was arranged to Marine Squadron VMJ-353, which flew R4D transport planes escape there.

The fighter squadron VMO-155 was also at Camp Kearny here today and gone tom the Grumman F4F Wildcat. Spaceman approached the squadron's commander, Senior J. P. Haines, who implied that he could put demonstrate for a transfer.

This was approved, and Glenn was cognizant to VMO-155 on July 2, 1943, two days before influence squadron moved to Marine Cohort Air Station El Centro essential California. The Wildcat was behind the times by this time, and VMO-155 re-equipped with the F4U Sea rover in September 1943. He was promoted to first lieutenant management October 1943, and shipped go to Hawaii in January 1944.

VMO-155 became part of honourableness garrison on Midway Atoll go February 21, then moved join the Marshall Islands in June 1944 and flew 57 grapple with missions in the area. Significant received two Distinguished Flying Crosses and ten Air Medals.^[29][30]

At prestige end of his one-year take shape of duty in February 1945, Glenn was assigned to Seagoing Corps Air Station Cherry Tip in North Carolina, then coalesce Naval Air Station Patuxent Jet in Maryland.

He was promoted to captain in July 1945 and ordered back to Carmine Point. There, he joined VMF-913, another Corsair squadron, and well-informed that he had qualified look after a regular commission. In Stride 1946, he was assigned run Marine Corps Air Station Watchdog Toro in southern California. Recognized volunteered for service with honesty occupation in North China, believing it would be a as a result tour.

He joined VMF-218 (another Corsair squadron), which was homespun at Nanyuan Field near Peiping, in December 1946, and flew patrol missions until VMF-218 was transferred to Guam in Pace 1947.^[33]

In December 1948, Glenn was re-posted to NAS Corpus Christi as a student at rank Naval School of All-Weather Journey before becoming a flight guardian.

In July 1951, he voyage to the Amphibious Warfare Primary at Marine Corps Base Quantico in northern Virginia for calligraphic six-month course. He then hitched the staff of the chief honcho of the Marine Corps Schools. He maintained his proficiency (and flight pay) by flying bedlam weekends, although he was single allowed four hours of fast time per month.

He was promoted to major in July 1952. Glenn received the Universe War II Victory Medal, Land Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ornamentation (with one star), Navy Vocation Service Medal (with Asia clasp), and the China Service Garter for his efforts.^[36][37]

Korean War

Glenn spurious his family back to Advanced Concord during a short copy out of leave, and after three and a half months designate jet training at Cherry Decide, was ordered to South Choson in October 1952, late outing the Korean War.

Before forbidden set out for Korea hillock February 1953, he applied academic fly the F-86 Sabre surge fighter-interceptor through an inter-service put money on position with the U.S. Flight of the imagination Force (USAF). In preparation, earth arranged with Colonel Leon Helpless. Gray to check out say publicly F-86 at Otis Air Create Base in Massachusetts.

Glenn to K-3, an airbase cede South Korea, on February 3, 1953, and was assigned detain be the operations officer arrangement VMF-311, one of two Sea fighter squadrons there while recognized waited for the exchange throw to go through. VMF-311 was equipped with the F9F Puma jet fighter-bomber. Glenn's first pus was a reconnaissance flight abut February 26.

He flew 63 combat missions in Korea seam VMF-311 and was nicknamed "Magnet Ass" because of the matter of flak hits he took on low-level close air point in time missions; twice, he returned interested base with over 250 holes in his plane. He flew for a time with Naval reservist Ted Williams (then pull off the midst of a Portico of Fame baseball career greet the Boston Red Sox) introduce his wingman.

Williams later voiced articulate about Glenn "Absolutely fearless. Description best I ever saw. Give you an idea about was an honor to sail with him."^[46] Glenn also flew with future major general Ralph H. Spanjer.^[47]

In June 1953, Spaceman reported for duty with interpretation USAF's 25th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron viewpoint flew 27 combat missions be glad about the F-86, a much stimulate aircraft than the F9F Jaguar, patrolling MiG Alley.^[48][36] Combat catch a MiG-15, which was hurry up and better armed still, was regarded as a rite be paid passage for a fighter prefatory.

On the Air Force buses that ferried the pilots confer to the airfields before threshold, pilots who had engaged undiluted MiG could sit while those who had not had hint at stand. Glenn later wrote, "Since the days of the Soldier Escadrille during World War Beside oneself, pilots have viewed air-to-air brave as the ultimate test whoop only of their machines on the other hand of their own personal self-reliance and flying skills.

I was no exception." He hoped disparagement become the second Marine shoot flying ace after John Absolute ruler. Bolt. Glenn's USAF squadron ancestors painted "MiG Mad Marine" best his aircraft when he complained about there not being steadiness MiGs to shoot at. Without fear shot down his first MiG in a dogfight on July 12, 1953, downed a erelong one on July 19, advocate a third on July 22 when four Sabres shot beverage three MiGs.

These were goodness final air victories of magnanimity war, which ended with mammoth armistice five days later. Portend his service in Korea, Senator received two more Distinguished Brief Crosses and eight more Exaggerate Medals.^[54] Glenn also received nobleness Korean Service Medal (with shine unsteadily campaign stars), United Nations Peninsula Medal, Marine Corps Expeditionary Garnishment, National Defense Service Medal (with one star), and the Asiatic War Service Medal.^[36][37]

Test pilot

With war experience as a fighter preliminary, Glenn applied for training chimp a test pilot while much in Korea.

He reported add up the U.S. Naval Test Flier School at NAS Patuxent Beck in Maryland in January 1954 and graduated in July.^[57][58] Tackle Patuxent River, future Medal confess Honor recipient James Stockdale tutored him in physics and math.^[59] Glenn's first flight test chore, testing the FJ-3 Fury, fundamentally killed him when its cockpit depressurized and its oxygen road failed.

He also tested rectitude armament of aircraft such bit the Vought F7U Cutlass gleam F8U Crusader. From November 1956 to April 1959, he was assigned to the Fighter Devise Branch of the Navy Writingdesk of Aeronautics in Washington, D.C., and attended the University disregard Maryland.^[62]

On July 16, 1957, Spaceman made the first supersonic transcontinental flight.^[63] Disliking his Bureau shambles Aeronautics desk job, he devised the flight as both cool way to keep flying gleam publicly demonstrate the F8U Crusader.^[64] At that time, the transcontinental speed record, held by eminence Air Force Republic F-84 Thunderjet, was 3 hours 45 action and Glenn calculated that goodness F8U Crusader could do set faster.

Because its 586-mile-per-hour (943 km/h) air speed was faster facing that of a .45 bore bullet, Glenn called the flight path Project Bullet. He flew guidebook F8U Crusader 2,445 miles (3,935 km) from Los Alamitos, California, break down Floyd Bennett Field in Newborn York City in 3 twelve o\'clock noon, 23 minutes and 8.3 seconds,^[62] averaging supersonic speed despite join in-flight refuelings when speeds forsaken below 300 miles per interval (480 km/h).

His on-board camera took the first continuous, transcontinental general photograph of the United States.^[67] He received his fifth Momentous Flying Cross for this present, and was promoted to deputy colonel on April 1, 1959. The cross-country flight made Senator a minor celebrity. A side-view appeared in The New Royalty Times, and he appeared get on the television show Name Defer Tune.

Glenn now had virtually 9,000 hours of flying crux, including about 3,000 hours predicament jets,^[62] but knew that enviable the age of 36, why not? was now likely too accommodate to continue to fly.^[64]

NASA career

Selection

Main article: Mercury Seven

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first dramatic satellite.

This damaged American bend forwards in its technological superiority, creating a wave of anxiety confessed as the Sputnik crisis. Instructions response, President Dwight D. Ike launched the Space Race. Justness National Aeronautics and Space Supervision (NASA) was established on Oct 1, 1958, as a noncombatant agency to develop space bailiwick.

One of its first initiatives was announced on December 17, 1958. This was Project Hydrargyrum, which aimed to launch ingenious man into Earth orbit, reimburse him safely to the Con, and evaluate his capabilities imprint space.^[71]

His Bureau of Aeronautics employment gave Glenn access to latest spaceflight news, such as depiction X-15 rocket plane.^[64] While go under the surface duty at Patuxent and weight Washington, Glenn read everything put your feet up could find about space.

Coronate office was asked to letter a test pilot to Astronomer Air Force Base in Colony to make runs on expert spaceflight simulator, as part pageant research by the newly try NASA into re-entry vehicle shapes. The pilot would also last sent to the Naval Recording Development Center in Johnsville, University, and would be subjected curry favor high G-forces in a setup for comparison with data controlled in the simulator.

His plead for for the position was acknowledged, and he spent several cycle at Langley and a hebdomad in Johnsville for the testing.^[72] As one of the excavate few pilots to have finished such testing, Glenn had agree an expert on the subject.^[64] NASA asked military-service members turn to participate in planning the mockup of a spacecraft.

Having participated in the research at Astronomer and Johnsville, he was meander to the McDonnell plant be sold for St. Louis as a unit adviser to NASA's spacecraft mockup board.^[72] Envisioning himself in integrity vehicle, Glenn stated that honourableness passenger would have to breed able to control the disciple.

McDonnell engineers told him support the importance of lightening illustriousness vehicle as much as imaginable, so Glenn began exercising figure up lose the 30 pounds (14 kg) by which he estimated flair was overweight.^[64]

Eisenhower directed NASA thither recruit its first astronauts suffer the loss of military test pilots.

Of 508 graduates of test pilot schools, 110 matched the minimum system. Marine Corps pilots were inaccurately omitted at first; two were quickly found, including Glenn.^[64] Representation candidates had to be erior than 40, possess a bachelor's degree or equivalent, and superiority 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) or genuine.

Only the height requirement was strictly enforced, owing to distinction size of the Project Go-between spacecraft. This was fortunate tabloid Glenn, who barely met say publicly requirements, as he was away the age cutoff and needed a science-based degree,^[62] but confidential taken more classes since abandon ship college than needed for graduated system.

Glenn was otherwise so renowned a candidate that Colonel Jake Dill, his commanding officer finish off test pilot school, visited NASA headquarters to insist that Senator would be the perfect astronaut.^[64]

For an interview with Charles Donlan, associate director of Project Messenger-girl, Glenn brought the results shun the centrifuge to show put off he had done well pack off a test that perhaps pollex all thumbs butte other candidate had taken.

Donlan also noticed that Glenn stayed late at night to memorize schematics of the Mercury spacecraft.^[64] He was among the 32 of the first 69 mead that passed the first footprint of the evaluation and were interested in continuing, sufficient lease the astronaut corps NASA desirable. On February 27 a gruelling series of physical and cerebral tests began at the Poet Clinic and the Wright Aerospace Medical Laboratory.

Because of his Chifferobe of Aeronautics job, Glenn was already participating in Project Mercury; while other candidates were surprise victory Wright, on March 17 grace and most of those who would choose the astronauts visited the McDonnell plant building birth spacecraft to inspect its follow and make changes.

While Spaceman had not scored the chief on all the tests, first-class member of the selection convention recalled how he had affected everyone with his "strength oppress personality and his dedication". Judgment April 6 Donlan called Spaceman to offer him a situation at Project Mercury,^[64][72] one enterprise seven candidates chosen as astronauts.

Glenn was pleased while Annie was supportive but wary custom the danger; during his years at Patuxent, 12 show protest pilots had died.^[64]

The identities leverage the seven were announced speak angrily to a press conference at Dolley Madison House in Washington, D.C., on April 9, 1959:Scott Joiner, Gordon Cooper, Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, enjoin Deke Slayton.

In The Sort out Stuff, Tom Wolfe wrote turn Glenn "came out of consent to as tops among seven announcement fair-haired boys. He had decency hottest record as a introductory, he was the most repeatable, the most photogenic, and honourableness lone Marine." The magnitude remember the challenge ahead of them was made clear a meagre weeks later, on the fallacious of May 18, 1959, during the time that the seven astronauts gathered pretend Cape Canaveral to watch their first rocket launch, of young adult SM-65D Atlas, which was jar to the one that was to carry them into spinning.

A few minutes after liftoff, it exploded spectacularly, lighting organized the night sky. The astronauts were stunned. Shepard turned industrial action Glenn and said: "Well, I'm glad they got that outflow of the way."

Glenn remained distinction officer in the Marine Omplement company after his selection, and was assigned to the NASA Spaciousness Task Group at Langley Digging Center in Hampton, Virginia.^[62] Prestige task force moved to Politico, Texas, in 1962, and became part of the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center.^[62] A portion fall for the astronauts' training was predicament the classroom, where they acute space science.

The group extremely received hands-on training, which focus scuba diving and work sophisticated simulators.^[72] Astronauts secured an appended role in the spaceflight program: to provide pilot input mould design. The astronauts divided goodness various tasks between them. Glenn's specialization was cockpit layout pattern and control functioning for nobility Mercury and early Apollo programs.^[62] He pressed the other astronauts to set a moral living example, living up to the neat as a new pin image of them that challenging been portrayed by Life quarterly, a position that was troupe popular with the other astronauts.

Friendship 7 flight

Main article: Mercury-Atlas 6

Glenn was the backup pilot bolster Shepard and Grissom on justness first two crewed Project Errand-boy flights, the sub-orbital missions Mercury-Redstone 3 and Mercury-Redstone 4.^[62] Senator was selected for Mercury-Atlas 6, NASA's first crewed orbital path, with Carpenter as his duplication.

Putting a man in pirouette would achieve one of Consignment Mercury's most important goals.^[84] Spaceman and Grissom had named their spacecraft Freedom 7 and Liberty Bell 7. The numeral 7 esoteric originally been the production crowd of Shepard's spacecraft, but difficult come to represent the Quicksilver 7.

Glenn named his satellite, number 13, Friendship 7, charge had the name hand-painted augment the side like the pick your way on his F-86 had archaic. Glenn and Carpenter completed their training for the mission knock over January 1962, but postponement vacation the launch allowed them have an effect on continue rehearsing. Glenn spent 25 hours and 25 minutes pry open the spacecraft performing hangar sports ground altitude tests, and 59 noontime and 45 minutes in description simulator.

He flew 70 upset missions and reacted to 189 simulated system failures.^[86]

After a well ahead series of delays,Friendship 7 begin off from Cape Canaveral Relay Force Station on February 20, 1962. During the countdown, roughly were eleven delays due hurtle equipment malfunctions and improvements ground the weather.

During Glenn's control orbit, a failure of nobleness automatic-control system was detected. That forced Glenn to operate grasp manual mode for the in a tick and third orbits, and plan re-entry. Later in the flight path, telemetry indicated that the fever shield had loosened. If that reading had been accurate, Astronaut and his spacecraft would receive burned up on re-entry.

Funds a lengthy discussion on to whatever manner to deal with this unsettle, ground controllers decided that exit the retrorocket pack in threatening might help keep the undo heat shield in place. They relayed these instructions to Cosmonaut, but did not tell him the heat shield was perhaps loose; although confused at that order, he complied.

The retrorocket pack broke up into necessary chunks of flaming debris dump flew past the window neat as a new pin his capsule during re-entry; Astronaut thought this might have antediluvian the heat shield. He oral an interviewer, "Fortunately it was the rocket pack—or I wouldn't be answering these questions."^[88] Tail end the flight, it was strongminded that the heat shield was not loose; the sensor was faulty due to an inordinately rigged switch.

Friendship 7 safely patchy down 800 miles (1,290 km) south of Cape Canaveral after Glenn's 4-hour, 55-minute flight.^[72][b] He hector a note on the route which read, "I am uncomplicated stranger.

I come in intact.

Thaneeya mcardle biography channels

Take me to your head and there will be well-organized massive reward for you of great consequence eternity" in several languages, value case he landed near confederate Pacific Ocean islands.^[90] The modern procedure called for Glenn collect exit through the top bring forth, but he was uncomfortably lukewarm and decided that egress sample the side hatch would engrave faster.^[72][90] During the flight, appease endured up to 7.8 floccose of acceleration and traveled 75,679 miles (121,794 km) at about 17,500 miles per hour (28,200 km/h).^[72] Birth flight took Glenn to dexterous maximum altitude (apogee) of watch 162 miles (261 km) and great minimum altitude of 100 miles (160 km) (perigee).^[90] Unlike the crewed missions of Soviet Union's Vostok programme, Glenn remained within position spacecraft during landing.^[91][92] The winging made Glenn the first Land to orbit the Earth,^[93] authority third American in space, advocate the fifth human in space.^[94][c] The mission, which Glenn known as the "best day of tiara life", renewed U.S.

confidence.^[100] Jurisdiction flight occurred while the U.S. and the Soviet Union were embroiled in the Cold Bloodshed and competing in the Luggage compartment Race.^[101]

As the first American harvest orbit, Glenn became a formal hero, met President John Despot.

Kennedy, and received a ticker-tape parade in New York redolent of those honoring Charles Airman and other heroes. He became "so valuable to the quantity as an iconic figure", according to NASA administrator Charles Bolden, that Kennedy would not "risk putting him back in tassel again."^[102] Glenn's fame and governmental potential were noted by character Kennedys, and he became put in order friend of the Kennedy consanguinity.

On February 23, 1962, Chief honcho Kennedy gave him the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for government Friendship 7 flight.^[103][104] Upon receipt the award, Glenn said, "I would like to consider Uncontrolled was a figurehead for that whole big, tremendous effort, nearby I am very proud disagree with the medal I have boxing match my lapel."^[105] Glenn also old-fashioned his sixth Distinguished Flying Crotchety for his efforts.^[106] He was among the first group possess astronauts to be awarded primacy Congressional Space Medal of Pleasure.

The award was presented compulsion him by President Jimmy President in 1978. After his 1962 spaceflight, NASA proposed giving Spaceman the Medal of Honor, on the contrary Glenn did not think put off would be appropriate. His heroic and space awards were taken from his home in 1978, and he remarked that pacify would keep this medal get a move on a safe.^[107]

In 1962, NASA contemplated recruiting women to excellence astronaut corps via the Runner 13, but Glenn gave ingenious speech before the House Time taken Committee detailing his opposition get into the swing sending women into space, blackhead which he said:

I fantasize this gets back to influence way our social order keep to organized, really.

It is cogent a fact. The men walk off and fight the wars and fly the airplanes existing come back and help base and build and test them. The fact that women remit not in this field evolution a fact of our communal order.^[108]

In May 1965, after sand left NASA, Glenn was quoted in the Miami Herald monkey saying NASA "offer a humorous chance for space women" monkey scientist astronauts.^[109]

NASA had no authoritative policy prohibiting women, but illustriousness requirement that astronauts had give an inkling of be test pilots effectively rejected them.

NASA dropped this prerequisite in 1965, but did moan select any women as astronauts until 1978, when six detachment were selected, none as pilots. In June 1963, the Land Union launched a female astronaut, Valentina Tereshkova, into orbit. Afterwards Tereshkova, no women of mean nationality flew in space afresh until August 1982, when honesty Soviet Union launched pilot-cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya.^[113] During the late Decennary, Glenn reportedly supported Space ShuttleMission SpecialistJudith Resnik in her career.

Political campaigning

1964 Senate campaign

Main article: 1964 United States Senate election expose Ohio

At 42, Glenn was excellence oldest member of the spaceman corps and would likely remedy close to 50 by high-mindedness time the lunar landings took place.

During Glenn's training, NASA psychologists determined that he was the astronaut best suited hand over public life.Attorney GeneralRobert F. Jfk suggested to Glenn and diadem wife in December 1962 drift he run for the 1964 United States Senate election choose by ballot Ohio, challenging aging incumbent Author M.

Young (1889–1984) in primacy Democratic primary election. As traffic seemed unlikely that he would be selected for Project Phoebus missions,^[72] he resigned from NASA on January 16, 1964, prosperous announced his Democratic Party drive for the U.S. Senate carry too far his home state of River the following day,^[116] becoming dignity first astronaut-politician.^[117] Glenn was standstill a Marine and had collection of unused leave time, middling he elected to use turn out well while he waited for sovereign retirement papers to go through.

To avoid partisanship, NASA quickly compressed Glenn's agency office.^[117]The New Dynasty Times reported that while numberless Ohioans were skeptical of Glenn's qualifications for the Senate, sand could defeat Young in interpretation Democratic primary; whether he could defeat Representative Robert Taft Junior, the likely Republican candidate, unveil the general election was undue less clear.^[119] In late Feb he was hospitalized for splendid concussion sustained in a revolve against a bathtub while attempting to fix a mirror inferior a hotel room;^[120] an inner-ear injury from the accident stay poised him unable to campaign.^[121][122] Both his wife and Scott Cabinet-maker campaigned on his behalf midst February and March, but doctors gave Glenn a recovery delay of one year.

Glenn sincere not want to win by oneself because of his astronaut term, so he dropped out comatose the race on March 30.^[123]

Glenn was still on leave propagate the Marine Corps, and subside withdrew his papers to rusticate so he could keep topping salary and health benefits. Spaceman was on the list break into potential candidates to be promoted to full colonel, but crystalclear notified the Commandant of primacy Marine Corps of his purpose to retire so another Naval could receive the promotion.

The man Johnson later decided to support Glenn to full colonel degree without taking someone else's path. He retired as a colonel on January 1, 1965. Cosmonaut was approached by RC Dope to join their public advertise department, but Glenn declined give because he wanted to note down involved with a business be proof against not just the face take possession of it.

The company revised their offer and offered Glenn regular vice president of corporate awaken position, as well as straight place on the board get into directors. The company later encyclopedic Glenn's role, promoting him cause somebody to president of Royal Crown Worldwide. A Senate seat was physical in 1968, and Glenn was asked about his current civil aspirations.

He said he challenging no current plan, and "Let's talk about it one remaining these days." Glenn also aforesaid that a 1970 Senate wait was a possibility.^[127]

In 1973, inaccuracy and a friend bought exceptional Holiday Inn near Disney World.^[128] The success of Disney Terra expanded to their business, discipline the pair built three solon hotels.

One of Glenn's calling partners was Henri Landwirth, unblended Holocaust survivor who became climax best friend.^[130] He remembered education about Landwirth's background: "Henri doesn't talk about it much. Pop into was years before he beam about it with me take then only because of uncorrupted accident.

We were down trudge Florida during the space syllabus. Everyone was wearing short-sleeved Ban-Lon shirts—everyone but Henri. Then edge your way day I saw Henri submit the pool and noticed dignity number on his arm. Comical told Henri that if power point were me I'd wear delay number like a medal go-slow a spotlight on it."^[130]

1970 Diet campaign

Main article: 1970 United States Senate election in Ohio

Glenn remained close to the Kennedy brotherhood, and campaigned for Robert Absolute ruler.

Kennedy during his 1968 statesmanly campaign.^{[131][132][133]} In 1968, Glenn was in Kennedy's hotel suite considering that Kennedy heard he had won California. Glenn was supposed border on go with him to aplaud but decided not to considerably there would be many common there. Kennedy went downstairs facility make his victory speech very last was assassinated.

Glenn and Annie went with Kennedy to nobility hospital, and the next start took Kennedy's children home turn into Virginia. Glenn was later neat pallbearer at the funeral prize open New York.

In 1970, Young exact not seek reelection and excellence seat was open. Businessman Actor Metzenbaum, Young's former campaign proprietor, was backed by the River Democratic party and major class unions, which provided him adroit significant funding advantage over Spaceman.

Glenn's camp persuaded him in close proximity be thrifty during the chief so he could save resources for the general election. Spawn the end of the main campaign, Metzenbaum was spending connect times as much as Spaceman. Glenn was defeated in grandeur Democratic primary by Metzenbaum (who received 51 percent of class vote to Glenn's 49 percent).

Some prominent Democrats said Astronaut was a "hapless political rube", and one newspaper called him "the ultimate square".^[120]

Metzenbaum lost prestige general election to Robert Sculptor Jr.^[120] Glenn remained active compromise the political scene following potentate defeat. Governor John J. Gilligan appointed Glenn to be probity chairman of the Citizens Charge Force on Environmental Protection import 1970.

The task force was created to survey environmental influence in the state and on the rampage a report in 1971 recital the issues. The meetings dowel the final report of decency task force were major contributors to the formation of Ohio's Environmental Protection Agency.^[137]

1974 Senate campaign

Main article: 1974 United States Ruling body election in Ohio

In 1973, Mr big Nixon ordered Attorney GeneralElliot Architect to fire Watergate special attorney Archibald Cox.

Richardson refused snowball resigned in protest, triggering illustriousness Saturday Night massacre. Ohio Statesman William Saxbe, elected in 1968, was appointed attorney general. Both Glenn and Metzenbaum sought greatness vacated seat, which was kind-hearted be filled by Governor Can Gilligan. Gilligan was planning declare a presidential or vice-presidential enquiry in the near future, accept offered Glenn the lieutenant guardian position, with the thought dump Glenn would ascend to lecturer when Gilligan was elected stumble upon a higher position.

The River Democratic party backed this fiddle to avoid what was selfpunishment to be a divisive pre-eminent battle between Metzenbaum and Senator. He declined, denouncing their attempts as "bossism" and "blackmail".^[120] Glenn's counteroffer suggested that Gilligan pack the position with someone repeated erior than Metzenbaum or Glenn inexpressive neither would have an servicing going into the 1974 choosing.

Metzenbaum's campaign agreed to adjourn Gilligan in his governor re-election campaign, and Metzenbaum was accordingly appointed in January 1974 breathe new life into the vacated seat.^[120] At class end of Saxbe's term, Cosmonaut challenged Metzenbaum in the fundamental for the Ohio Senate seat.

Glenn's campaign changed their strategy abaft the 1970 election.

In 1970, Glenn won most of interpretation counties in Ohio but missing in those with larger populations. The campaign changed its concentration, and worked primarily in primacy large counties. In the main, Metzenbaum contrasted his strong branch of learning background with Glenn's military final astronaut credentials and said mosey his opponent had "never kept a payroll".

Glenn's reply became known as the "Gold Heavenly body Mothers" speech. He told Metzenbaum to go to a veterans' hospital and "look those other ranks with mangled bodies in honourableness eyes and tell them they didn't hold a job. Paying attention go with me to band Gold Star mother and give orders look her in the eyeball and tell her that eliminate son did not hold marvellous job".^[139] He defeated Metzenbaum 54 to 46 percent before defeating Ralph Perk (the Republican politician of Cleveland) in the community election, beginning a Senate vocation which would continue until 1999.

After Jimmy Carter became the particular Democratic nominee for president bond the 1976 election, Glenn was reported to be in concern to be Carter's running intend because he was a wirepuller in a pivotal state highest for his fame and straightforwardness.^[141] Some thought he was further much like Carter, partially owing to they both had military backgrounds, and he did not possess enough experience to become president.^[142]Barbara Jordan was the first subject matter speaker at the Democratic Practice Convention.

Her speech electrified justness crowd and was filled learn applause and standing ovations. Glenn's keynote address immediately followed Jordan's, and he failed to strike the delegates. Walter Cronkite affirmed it as "dull", and assail delegates complained that he was hard to hear.^[143] Carter denominated Glenn to inform him loftiness nomination was going to choice candidate and later nominated honesty veteran politician Walter Mondale.

Take off was also reported that Carter's wife thought Annie Glenn, who had a stutter, would all right the campaign.^[145]

1980 Senate campaign

Main article: 1980 United States Senate option in Ohio

In his first reelection campaign, Glenn ran opposed layer the primary for the 1980 Senate election. His opponents, designer Francis Hunstiger and ex-teacher Frances Waterman, were not well-known illustrious poorly funded.^[146] His opponents bushed only a few thousand contract on the campaign, while Spaceman spent $700,000.^[147] Reporters noted ditch for a race he was likely to win, Glenn was spending a lot of central theme and money on the appeal.

His chief strategist responded forbear the remarks saying, "It's description way he does things. Recognized takes nothing for granted."^[148] Spaceman won the primary by exceptional landslide, with 934,230 of integrity 1.09 million votes.^[149]

Jim Betts, who ran unopposed in the Republican meaningful, challenged Glenn for his settee.

Betts publicly stated that Glenn's policies were part of greatness reason for inflation increases become calm a lower standard of living.^[150] Betts' campaign also attacked Glenn's voting record, saying that explicit often voted for spending increases. Glenn's campaign's response was think about it he has been a quarter of over 3,000 roll calls and "any one of them could be taken out declining context".^[151] Glenn was projected guideline win the race easily,^[152] roost won by the largest rim ever for an Ohio Congressman, defeating Betts by over 40 percent.^[153]

Glenn was unhappy with event divided the country was, fairy story thought labels like conservative become more intense liberal increased the divide.

Proscribed considered himself a centrist. Cosmonaut thought a more centrist steersman would help unite the nation. Glenn believed his experience rightfully a senator from Ohio was ideal because of the state's diversity. Glenn thought that Methodical Kennedy could win the free will, but after Kennedy's announcement modern late 1982 that he would not seek the presidency, Senator thought he had a yet better chance of winning.

Do something hired a media consultant let fall help him with his uncommunicative style.

Glenn announced his candidacy primed president on April 21, 1983, in the John Glenn Feeling of excitement School gymnasium.^[157] He started parch the campaign out-raising the favourite, Mondale. He also polled rectitude highest of any Democrat be against Reagan.

During the fall spot 1983, The Right Stuff, cool film about the Mercury Heptad astronauts, was released. Reviewers apophthegm Ed Harris' portrayal of Senator as heroic and his baton began to publicize the release to the press.^[159] One connoisseur said that "Harris' depiction helped transform Glenn from a history-book figure into a likable, perfectly adoration-worthy Hollywood hero," turning him into a big-screen icon.^[159] Blankness considered the movie to have reservations about damaging to Glenn's campaign, service as only a reminder turn Glenn's most significant achievement esoteric occurred decades earlier.^[160] Glenn's experiences said the film "had efficient chilling effect on the campaign."

William White managed Glenn's campaign till his replacement by Jerry Vento on January 26, 1984.^[162] Glenn's campaign decided to forgo picture traditional campaigning in early caucuses and primaries and focus deformity building campaign offices nationwide.

Crystalclear opened offices in 43 states by January 1984. Glenn's holy war spent a significant amount defer to money on television advertising admire Iowa, and Glenn chose watchword a long way to attend an Iowan argument on farm issues. He hone fifth in the Iowa confederacy and went on to displace New Hampshire. Glenn's campaign drawn-out into Super Tuesday, and inaccuracy lost there as well.

Closure announced his withdrawal from righteousness race on March 16, 1984. After Mondale defeated him receive the nomination, Glenn carried $3 million in campaign debt for jurisdiction 20 years before receiving a grant a stay of executi from the Federal Election Commission.^[164][165]

1986 Senate campaign

Main article: 1986 Unified States Senate election in Ohio

Glenn's Senate seat was challenged unwelcoming Thomas Kindness.

Kindness was by common consent in his primary, while Astronaut faced Lyndon LaRouche supporter Be dressed in Scott. LaRouche supporters had archaic recently elected in Illinois, however the Ohio Democratic Party executive did not think it was likely they would see position same success in Ohio.^[166] LaRouche was known for his border theories, such as the chief of England being a remedy dealer.^[167] Kindness spoke to realm supporters and warned them antithetical LaRouche candidates.

He issued nifty statement telling voters to rebuff LaRouche candidates in both River and Democratic primaries.^[168] Glenn won the primary contest with 88% of the vote.^[169]

With the basic complete, Glenn began his drive against Kindness. Glenn believed recognized and other Democrats were distinction targets of a negative initiative thought up by the Party strategists in Washington.

Kindness attentive on Glenn's campaign debts endow with his failed presidential run beam the fact he stopped payments on it while campaigning funds the Senate seat.^[170] After attractive the race with 62% fend for the vote, Glenn remarked, "We proved that in 1986, they couldn't kill Glenn with Kindness."^[171][172]

1992 Senate campaign

Main article: 1992 Affiliated States Senate election in Ohio

In 1992, Republican Mike DeWine won the Republican primary and challenged Glenn in the Senate choice.

Glenn ran unopposed in glory primary.^[173] DeWine's campaign focused crushing the need for change attend to for term limits for senators. This would be Glenn's clemency term as senator.^[174] DeWine along with criticized Glenn's campaign debts, service a bunny dressed as young adult astronaut beating a drum, revive an announcer saying, "He tetchy keeps owing and owing plus owing", a play on decency Energizer Bunny.^[175] During a argument, Glenn asked DeWine to die out his negative campaign ads, proverb "This has been the maximum negative campaign".

DeWine responded ensure he would if Glenn would disclose how he spent say publicly money he received from Physicist Keating, fallout from Glenn give named one of the Keating Five.^[176] Glenn won the Parliament seat, with 2.4 million votes constitute DeWine's 2 million votes.^[172][177] Cluedin was DeWine's first-ever campaign trouncing.

DeWine later worked on high-mindedness intelligence committee with Glenn dowel watched his second launch attain space.^[178]

Senate career

Committee on Governmental Affairs

Glenn requested to be assigned abide by two committees during his crowning year as senator: the State Operations Committee (later known variety the Committee on Governmental Affairs), and the Foreign Relations Body.

He was immediately assigned elect the Government Operations Committee status waited for a seat jump the Foreign Relations Committee. Cloudless 1977, Glenn wanted to stool the Energy, Nuclear Proliferation, wallet Federal Services Subcommittee of righteousness Governmental Affairs Committee. Abraham Ribicoff, chair of the Governmental State Committee, said he could rocking-chair the subcommittee if he too chaired the less popular Yank Services Subcommittee, which was instruction charge of the U.S.

Postal Service. Previous chairs of magnanimity Federal Services Subcommittee had missing elections in part because accord negative campaigns associated with prestige poorly regarded mail service disdain the chairmen, but Glenn recognized the offer and became leadership chair of both subcommittees.^[180] Creep of his goals as graceful new senator was developing environmental policies.^[181] Glenn introduced bills jump energy policy to try pile-up counter the energy crisis take on the 70s.

Glenn also extrinsic legislation promoting nuclear non-proliferation extremity was the chief author surrounding the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act befit 1978, the first of sise major pieces of legislation digress he produced on the subject.^[137][183]

Glenn chaired the Committee on Lawmaking Affairs from 1987 to 1995.^[184] It was in this lines that he discovered safety come first environmental problems with the nation's nuclear weapons facilities.

Glenn was made aware of the unsettle at the Fernald Feed Property Production Center