Albert A. Applegate was born December 3, 1928. A graduate of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Applegate received a master's degree in political science from the University of Michigan, where he held a Ford Foundation fellowship in political behavior research. After receiving his degree, Applegate joined the faculty of Eastern Michigan University as an assistant professor of political science.
In 1963, he joined the staff of newly elected Michigan governor George Romney as administrative assistant to the governor for program development. In 1965, Applegate was named administrative assistant for communications-research. In this capacity, Applegate was Romney's principal speech-writer, responsible for most of the governor's major gubernatorial addresses as well as for those campaign speeches made by Romney in his quest for the Republican nomination for the presidency. He served in this capacity until his resignation on January 21, 1969.
When Romney joined the Nixon administration as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Applegate followed him, serving as his executive assistant and speech-writer. Applegate also served with Romney in his work with the National Center for Voluntary Action and the Concerned Citizens Movement.
From the guide to the Albert A. Applegate papers, 1963-1973, (Bentley Historical Library University of Michigan)
