Keyes, Alan Lee (1950-…), was one of the first African Americans to seek the Republican presidential nomination. He campaigned for the nomination in 1996 and in 2000 but did not win it. In 2004, Keyes was the Republican nominee for the United States Senate from Illinois, but he did not win the election.
Keyes held several governmental positions in the administration of Republican President Ronald W. Reagan in the 1980’s. From 1983 to 1985, Keyes served as ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. In 1988 and 1992, he ran for the U.S. Senate from Maryland but was defeated both times.
In his campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination, Keyes became known for his conservative views on such issues as abortion and the right to own guns. He also became known for his abilities as a public speaker. He was not a leading candidate in either campaign, but he gained the support of many conservative voters.
Alan Lee Keyes was born in New York City on Aug. 7, 1950. He earned a doctoral degree in government from Harvard University in 1979. In addition to his public policy posts, Keyes also hosted radio and television talk shows, wrote a newspaper column, and was a paid public speaker.
