Pat Buchanan - A True American

Patrick Joseph Buchanan was born on November 2nd 1938 in Washington D.C. His father, William Baldwin Buchanan was a partner in an accounting firm and his mother, Katherine Elizabeth was a nurse. Pat went to private Catholic elementary and high school. After graduating Gonzaga College High School that was run by Jesuit priests he entered Georgetown University. After graduating from the Georgetown he enter Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism where he received his masters degree in 1962.

Pat Buchanan's professional career began with his job as a writer for the St. Louis Globe -Democrat in 1961 at the age of 23. It was 3 years later in 1964 that he was promoted to assistant editorial page editor. He stayed in this position for a short time and in 1965 joined the law firm of Nixon, Mudge, Rose, Guthrie, Alexander, and Mitchell in New York City as an executive assistant. This would turn out to be his introduction to his own political future.

As a speechwriter for Richard Nixon's campaign for president it was a natural progression to continue his position as a writer for the newly elected president. Buchanan was also elevated to White House adviser to the President Nixon. During his years serving the president he developed political strategies for the White House and the Republican party. Because of his political acumen and his loyalty to Nixon he traveled with the president to China and to the summits held in Moscow, Yalta and Minsk. Because of his staunch support and belief in his president, Buchanan stayed on through the Watergate scandal up to President Nixon's resignation as president in 1974.

The post-Nixon years found Pat Buchanan back to writing his column and a daily radio show for NBC. He also made television appearances on shows such as Crossfire and the Capital Gang on CNN and became a frequent guest on these news programs. This exposure made him a nationally recognized and popular political commentator.

Buchanan re-entered the Washington political stage as President Reagan's White House Communications Director in 1985. He left this position in 1987. He went back to his television appearances and his column. In 1992 Pat Buchanan ran in the Republican primary for president on a platform of immigration reduction, social conservatism, and opposition to gay rights and abortion. Though his bid for the republican nomination to run for president failed Pat backed George Bush's attempt to be reelected to the presidency. It should be noted that George Bush was defeated in his bid for reelection by Bill Clinton.

Again Buchanan left politics behind to pursue his television and radio appearances making commentary on current events and the political arena. Together with these medias and his editorial column he kept his face, voice and his political agendas on the national scene. It was in 1996 that Pat Buchanan made his second attempt for the republican nomination for party's presidential slot. Having been heavily defeated in the Super Tuesday primaries he ended his run in March and again supported the republican nominee Bob Dole.

In 1999 Pat Buchanan left the Republican party. He felt the party was going in the wrong direction and he decided he would seek the nomination to run for the presidency in the Reform Party. This Reform Party started in 1996 as a grass roots movement by Ross Perot when he made his bid for the presidency. Buchanan received 0.4% of the popular vote. This was to be his last bid for the office of President of the United States.

Today Pat Buchanan still writes his column and appears on different television and radio shows. He holds firm to his christian beliefs and politically conservative views. His service to his country and love for his country will always be appreciated by friends and foes from different political arenas.

America is a great country. Celebrate the freedoms we enjoy as a nation.