John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, was still in the limelight even when his astronaut days were well behind him. Would the United States Senator from Ohio run for president? He wasn’t saying no in this Parade story, as he prepared to be the keynote speaker for the Democratic Convention. Glenn planned an inspirational speech that would concentrate on the upcoming Bicentennial celebration and focus on the benefits of looking forward.

“We don’t really set out our goals in this country; we don’t plan for the opportunities ahead,” he told Parade. “But if we can look forward, we can make great strides, because we’re a nation with tremendous potential and fantastic productivity.”