Spiro, Herbert J.

Herbert John Spiro was born in 1924 in Hamburg, Germany, and immigrated in 1938 to the United States where he would become a noted educator in political science, a U.S. ambassador, and a candidate for public office. While serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he earned a purple heart and two bronze star medals. After the war, Spiro attended Harvard where he received his Ph.D. in 1953. Spiro spent over a decade as a member of the faculty at Harvard, and taught political science at Amherst College and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the Free University of Berlin and the University of Texas. In total, he published thirteen books on government. From 1970-1975, Spiro was a senior member of the policy planning staff at the U.S. State Department, and under President Ford became ambassador to Equatorial Guinea (1975-1976), and Cameroon (1975-1977). He ran unsuccessfully on the Republican ticket for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives in 1991, the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 and 1994, and the U.S. Senate in 1993.

From the description of Herbert J. Spiro papers, 1946-2002. (University of Texas at San Antonio). WorldCat record id: 51395781

Born in 1924 in Hamburg, Germany, Herbert John Spiro immigrated to the United States in 1938 where he would become a noted educator in political science, an ambassador to Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, and a candidate for public office. Spiro became a naturalized citizen at the age of 20, attended San Antonio Jr. College from 1942-1943, served in the Army during World War II earning a purple heart and two bronze star medals. In 1945-1946 he was an administrative assistant for the U.S. War Dept. in Vienna, Austria. After the war, Spiro continued his education at Harvard where he graduated summa cum laude and went on to earn a Masters degree in 1950 and a Ph.D in 1953. Spiro spent over a decade as a member of the faculty at Harvard (1950-1961), and taught political science at Amherst College (1961-1965) and the University of Pennsylvania (1965-1973), in addition to the Free University of Berlin and the University of Texas. In total, he published thirteen books on government including: Government by Constitution, Word Politics: The Global System and Responsibility and Government.

During the 1970s, Spiro was active in national and international government. From 1970-1975, he was a senior member of the policy planning staff at the U.S. State Department, and under President Ford became ambassador to Equatorial Guinea (1975-1976), and Cameroon (1975-1977). Spiro ran unsuccessfully on the Republican ticket for the Texas House of Representatives in 1991, the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 and 1994, and the U.S. Senate in 1993.

From the guide to the Herbert J. Spiro Papers MS 113., 1946-2002, (University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections)