John Glenn
-- U.S. Senator, astronaut
 John Glenn became part of American legend in 1962 when he became the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the Earth in space. And 36 years later at age 77 he got his wish to return to space aboard the shuttle Discovery. In between flights Glenn served four terms in the U.S. Senate and ran for president. In the early 1990s Glenn's endured months of negative publicity when he found himself one of the "Keating Five" -- senators accused of ethics violations involving former savings and loan executive Charles H.Keating Jr. However, Glenn was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing. In 1997 Glenn announced he would not run for re-election in 1998 and instead took up a new campaign -- to go to space one last time. On Oct. 29, 1998 Glenn got his wish and was among the crew of the space shuttle Discovery. |
Chronology of John Glenn's life:
1943-45: As a Marine Corps fighter pilot, Glenn flew 59 missions in WorldWar II, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses and 10 Air Medals. He wouldearn two more Distinguished Flying Crosses and eight Air Medals In the KoreanWar, 1952-53. 1957: Glenn made the first transcontinental supersonic flight, setting aspeed record flying from Los Angeles to New York in three hours and 23minutes. APRIL 9, 1959: Chosen as one of NASA's Project Mercury astronauts. FEB. 20, 1962: Became the first American to orbit the Earth.
1964: Briefly entered the U.S. Senate race, but withdrew after suffering ahead injury in a household accident. 1970: Ran for the U.S. Senate, losing in the primary to Howard Metzenbaum,who lost in the general election. 1974: Won a Senate seat, receiving 65 percent of the vote. He would winthree more Senate terms. 1984: Unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for president;incurred a debt of more than $3 million that dogged him for a decade.Eventually, he received FEC permission to use his own money to help repay thedebt. FEB 27, 1991: Cleared by the Senate Ethics Committee of improper conduct inthe Keating Five scandal but the committee said he showed "poor judgment" in arranging a lunch between formersavings-and-loan financier Charles Keating and then-House Speaker Jim Wright, D-Texas.
FEB. 20, 1997: Announced he would not seek a fifth term in the Senate. Jan. 16, 1998: NASA announced that Glenn would return to space. Oct. 29, 1998: The Discovery lifts off with Glenn on board. Nov. 7, 1998: The Discovery lands safely on earth.
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NOV. 3, 1992: Won re-election in a close race against challenger Mike DeWine.
Selected Dayton Daily News stories:
| SENATE COMMITTEE CLEARS GLENN OFIMPROPRIETY IN KEATING CASE Published: Thursday, February 28, 1991 Page: 1A By Sharyn Wizda WASHINGTON BUREAU GLENN WINS FIGHT OF POLITICAL LIFE U.S. SENATE EDITORIAL GLENN WILL ORBIT AGAIN SPACE
| BACK IN ORBIT - Scott Montgomery, Dayton Daily News Published: 10/25/98 -- Page: 1A EXPERIMENTS ON AGING NASA DISCOVERY'S CREW LIFTOFF SPACE HERO'S WELCOME |
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