Before political life,Politicians previous jobs-As the recent sexual harassment allegations against Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain illustrate, pre-political history can haunt or help a candidate. We take a look at the lives of political leaders before they detoured into politics -- from actors to athletes, musicians to musclemen.
Jimmie Davis,Years in office: 1944 to 1948 and 1960 to 1964
Office: Former governor of Louisiana, Democrat
Political life: He served two nonconsecutive terms as governor and attempted, but failed, to enforce these controversial policies.
His former gig,Jimmie Davis + country singer,James Houston Davis (September 11, 1899 – November 5, 2000), better known as Jimmie Davis, was a noted singer of both sacred and popular songs who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana (1944–1948 and 1960–1964). Davis was a nationally popular country music and gospel singer from the 1930s into the 1960s, occasionally recording and performing as late as the early 1990s. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Helen Gahagan Douglas,Years in office: 1945 to 1951
Office: Former U.S. representative, California, Democrat
Political life: The three-term congresswoman was the first Democratic woman elected to Congress from California. During her time in office, she had an affair with a senator who later became president.
Her former gig,Helen Gahagan (November 25, 1900 – June 28, 1980) was an American actress and (under the name Helen Gahagan Douglas) politician. She was the third woman and first Democratic woman elected to Congress from California; her election made California one of the first two states (the other was Illinois) to have elected female members of the House from both parties.
Early life and acting career
Gahagan was born in Boonton, New Jersey of Scotch-Irish descent, and reared Episcopalian. She graduated from the Berkeley Institute in 1920, and from Barnard College in 1924. Gahagan became a well-known star on Broadway in the 1920s. In 1931, she married actor Melvyn Douglas. Gahagan starred in only one Hollywood movie, She in 1935, playing Hash-a-Motep, queen of a lost city. The movie, based on H. Rider Haggard's novel of the same name, is perhaps best known for popularizing a phrase from the novel, "She who must be obeyed." Her character in She served as the inspiration for the appearance of the Evil Queen in Walt Disney's 1937 animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
Political career
In the 1940s, Gahagan Douglas entered politics. She was elected to the United States House of Representatives from California's 14th congressional district as a liberal Democrat in 1944, and served three full terms as "a principled advocate of women's rights, civil liberties and world disarmament". During this time she openly had an enduring love affair with then Congressman (and afterwards U.S. President) Lyndon B. Johnson. Ms. Douglas was mentioned in the song "George Murphy" by satirist Tom Lehrer. The song begins, "Hollywood's often tried to mix-show business with politics-from Helen Gahagan-to Ronald Reagan?"
Jack Kemp,Years in office: 1971 to 1993
Office: Former U.S. housing secretary and U.S. representative, New York, Republican
Political life: The nine-term congressman served as housing secretary (for whom?) and was the Republican vice presidential nominee in the 1996 election.
Previous gig: Kemp took more than a pass at a pre-political career. His former gig,jack kemp pro football quarterback for NFL and AFL
John Glenn,Years in office: 1974 to 1999
Office: Former U.S. senator, Ohio, Democrat
Political life: Glenn was a potential three-time vice presidential running mate who also ran for the 1984 Democratic presidential nomination but lost to a veteran politician.
Previous gig: Glenn's pre-political career was out of this world. His former gig,John Glenn + astronaut