11 Facts About James Boren

James Harlan Boren was an American author and politician who is best known as a humorist and writer on bureaucratese, in which he poked fun at what he called "the vacuumental thinking and idiotoxicities of Washington".

James Boren was a businessman, teacher, scholar, public servant, political operative, presidential candidate, and public speaker.

James Harlan Boren was born in Wheatland, Oklahoma in 1925 to James B and Una Lee Boren ; he was a nephew of Lyle Boren and Mae Boren Axton and first cousin of David Boren.

James Boren joined the United States Navy in 1942 at the age of 17, serving on the destroyer escort the USS William C Cole at the Battle of Okinawa.

James Boren studied at University of Texas at Austin, California State University, Long Beach, and University of Southern California.

James Boren then turned to reforming bureaucracy through the use of humor and political satire.

James Boren formed a spoof organization called the International Association of Professional Bureaucrats.

James Boren was in great demand as a professional speaker, and he wrote seven books, the most famous of which was When in Doubt Mumble: A Bureaucrat's Handbook.

In 1992, James Boren was an official candidate for Vice President of the United States, for the Apathy Party of America.

James Boren offered what he said was the country's first multiple-choice political platform, and his slogan was "I have what it takes to take what you've got".

James Boren died in Tahlequah on 24 April 2010, aged 84.