James A. Michener had a lifelong interest in politics. He frequently wrote books and op-ed articles about foreign and domestic issues and even campaigned for office in Pennsylvania. He explained his motivation in his 1962 article Why I am Running for Congress, saying:
As a boy, I lived in dire poverty and was rescued by scholarships, fellowships and the generosity of our nation. I owe a debt to America which I want to repay. Serving my government is one method of repayment.
As Michener’s writings grew in popularity, he was invited to serve as an advisor on several political committees and even accompanied President Richard Nixon on his 1972 trip to China.
In 1960, John F. Kennedy’s campaign contacted Michener and asked him to serve as the chairman of the Citizens for Kennedy Committee in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Michener, an avid Kennedy supporter, took up the charge and toured the county raising funds and giving speeches. In the weeks leading up to the election, campaign leaders again reached out to Michener, asking him to join an 8 state tour of celebrities to stump for Kennedy (Michener, 1992). Michener, along with Angie Dickinson, Stan Musial, and Jeff Chandler flew from state to state, rallying support for Kennedy. After Kennedy took office in 1961, he appointed Michener as the chairman of the Food for Peace Committee, which focused on promoting peace by alleviating food insecurity in developing nations.
In the wake of Kennedy’s 1960 victory, Michener’s interest in politics remained strong. When the Bucks County Democratic Committee reached out to Michener about running for U.S. Congress, he was intrigued, writing in a 1962 article:
The battle with one’s neighbors for votes is an honorable occupation, and men who have not done so should have no pretensions for government.
The eight district, where Bucks County was situated, had only elected republican candidates for the past 25 years (Hayes, 1984). Adding to the challenge, Mari Michener was vehemently opposed to the idea (May, 2005). In light of this opposition and low likelihood of victory, Michener forged ahead and campaigned for a seat in Congress. He ultimately lost the election but expressed no regrets about his decision to campaign for congress.
In 1970, President Nixon appointed Michener as an advisor to the United States Information Agency (USIA) (May, 2005). Chosen for his knowledge of Russia and China, Michener served until 1975 on the Advisory Council for Information, which oversaw the USIA’s efforts to promote international education with informational programs. In this capacity, Michener briefed the president and accompanied Nixon on his landmark 1972 trip to China.
For nearly a decade, Michener served as a member of the NASA Advisory Council. From 1978-1987, he, along with other members of the board, provided NASA with civilian input on space and exploration.
His knowledge of NASA programs and technology eventually became the foundation for his 1982 novel Space. He also established the NASA College Scholarship Fund in 1982 to support science and engineering education for NASA employee dependents (NASA, 2017).
Photo Credit: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Photo Credit: courtesy of James A. Michener
Photo Credit: Oliver Atkins, White House Press Office
Photo Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Hayes, John Phillip. James A. Michener, a Biography. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1984. Print.
May, Stephen J. Michener: A Writer's Journey. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2005. Print.
Michener, James A. "What Every New Candidate should Know." New York Times: 230. Sep 23, 1962 Print.
Michener, James A. "European Terror Forecast." New York Times (1923-Current file): 18. Sep 3, 1942 Print.
---. "Why I Am Running for Congress." Saturday Evening Post 235.18 (1962): 8-12. Print.
---. The World is My Home: A Memoir. London: Secker & Warburg, 1992. Print.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). "NASA College Scholarship Fund." 2017. Web. <https://nasapeople.nasa.gov/nasascholarship/index.htm>.