John Glenn, R.I.P.

Astronaut turned U.S. Senator John Glenn has passed away after being hospitalized yesterday for an undisclosed illness. He was 95.


Glenn served this country as a fighter pilot in both WWII and in Korea earning the Distinguished Flying Cross six times. But Glenn was only getting started. At the end of the 1950's Glenn was selected to be part of NASA's Mercury Seven program and would gain worldwide fame as the first American to orbit Earth on February 20, 1962.


Glenn would have entered political life much sooner, but a head injury following a fall in a bathtub preempted a Senate campaign in 1964. He would try again in 1970, but was narrowly defeated in the Ohio Democrat Primary by Howard Metzenbaum. However, Metzenbaum did not win the general election. Glenn would win a rematch with Metzenbaum in 1974 Democrat Primary and would be elected to the Senate that November and was re-elected thrice more.


Jimmy Carter considered Glenn to be his running mate in 1976, but opted for Walter Mondale. In 1984, Glenn sought the Democratic nomination for President but again was no match for Mondale. Glenn was also considered for the number two job by Mondale, Michael Dukakis and Bill Clinton but would remain in the Senate.


While Glenn would never ascend further in Washington, he would ascend to the stars once again. In October 1998, set to retire from the Senate, Glenn became the oldest person to launch into space as a Payload Specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. It was 36 years between missions.


But perhaps most remarkable of all was that John Glenn was married to his wife Anna for 73 years.


A life well lived. R.I.P.