Alan Keyes is an American diplomat, author, and former radio and television talk show host. He is most well-known for his unsuccessful bids for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996, 2000, and 2008.
Alan Keyes was born in New York City on August 7, 1950. He is the fifth of the six children of Gerthina and Allison Keyes, a U.S. Army sergeant. When he was four years old, his family moved to the Panama Canal Zone. Keyes attended the Canal Zone’s Balboa High School and graduated in 1968.
In 1972, Keyes graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in government. He then attended Harvard University, where he earned a Ph.D. in government affairs in 1979. After completing his degree, Keyes worked as a professor at the University of Maryland.
In 1988, Keyes became the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs under President Ronald Reagan. He also served as Ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council in the 1990s.
In the late 1990s, Keyes began hosting a radio talk show called “The Alan Keyes Show: America’s Wake-Up Call” which aired on more than 200 radio stations nationwide. He also hosted a television show, “Alan Keyes Is Making Sense”, which aired on the MSNBC network from 2002-2003.
In 1996, Keyes ran for the Republican presidential nomination. He failed to gain significant support, but he ran again in 2000, and received a total of 4 million votes. He ran for president for a third time in 2008, but dropped out of the race before the primary elections.
In addition to his political pursuits, Keyes is an author of several books, including Our Character, Our Future (1996), Masters of the Dream: The Strength and Betrayal of Black America (1995), and A Father’s Love: One Man’s Unrelenting Battle to Bring His Abducted Son Home (2002).
Alan Keyes is a passionate advocate for social justice and conservative values. His efforts to promote the conservative agenda have been highly praised by many on the right, and he continues to be an influential voice in the Republican Party.
