[Political Junkie Too]

One really wonders why Glenn wasn't chosen to fly any of the Gemini missions or even the early Apollo missions.

The story was that during the Cold War, Glenn became such an American hero as the first American to orbit the Earth, that Kennedy barred him from future space flight because he didn't want to risk a mishap that killed Glenn.

That's why I didn't begrudge him the reward of a shuttle flight by Bill Clinton after Glenn spearheaded Clinton's impeachment defense in the Senate.

-PJ

[OttawaFreeper]

“The story was that during the Cold War, Glenn became such an American hero as the first American to orbit the Earth, that Kennedy barred him from future space flight because he didn’t want to risk a mishap that killed Glenn.”

Interesting to think about that, when you consider the strange circumstances under which Yuri Gagarin died in about 1965 or thereabouts.

[sharkhawk]

The story was that during the Cold War, Glenn became such an American hero as the first American to orbit the Earth, that Kennedy barred him from future space flight because he didn't want to risk a mishap that killed Glenn.

Makes sense I guess. I have also also read stories about Medal of Honor recipients not being allowed back into combat. Seems kind of silly that the best men are sometimes taken from their greatest position.