Background
Boren, James Harlan was born on December 10, 1925 in Wheatland, Oklahoma, United States. Son of James Basil and Una Lee (Hamilton) Boren.
business executive association executive
Boren, James Harlan was born on December 10, 1925 in Wheatland, Oklahoma, United States. Son of James Basil and Una Lee (Hamilton) Boren.
He studied at University of Texas at Austin (Bachelor, Doctor of Philosophy), California State University, Long Beach (Master of Arts), and University of Southern California (Master of Arts).
He was also a businessman, teacher, scholar, public servant, political operative, presidential candidate and public speaker. He joined the United States Navy in 1942 at the age of 17, serving on the destroyer escort the William C. Cole at the Battle of Okinawa. Boren initially worked in the independent oil business in Texas and Oklahoma.
In 1957 he was the campaign manager for Ralph Yarborough"s successful bid to represent Texas in the United States Senate, and was Yarborough"s chief of staff 1957-1961.
In 1961 President John F. Kennedy appointed him Deputy Director of the United States. Economic Mission to Peru. There he conceived the idea of the Partners of the Alliance (now known as Partners of the Americas), and he spent seven years helping to build schools, equip hospitals, assist with potable water systems, and other economic development projects.
In 1970 he became President of Development Services International in Washington, District of Columbia He formed a spoof organization called the International Association of Professional Bureaucrats. He 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.
The title drew on his most famous quotation:
"When in charge, ponder.
When in trouble, delegate. When in doubt, mumble."
In 1991 he became a Scholar-in-Residence at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. His slogan was "I have what it takes to take what you"ve got".
In 1996 he was the Oklahoma Democratic Party nominee for the United States. Senate but was unsuccessful.
He died in Tahlequah on 24 April 2010, aged 84. Guidelines for bureaucrats: (1) When in charge, ponder.
(2) When in trouble, delegate. (3) When in doubt, mumble.
Bureaucracy is the epoxy that greases the wheels of progress.
Boren then turned to reforming bureaucracy through the use of humor and political satire. In 1992, he was an official (if not entirely serious) candidate for President of the United States, for the Apathy Party of America.
Quotations:
A dress that zips up the back will bring a husband and wife together.
Guidelines for bureaucrats: (1) When in charge, ponder. (2) When in trouble, delegate. (3) When in doubt, mumble.
Bureaucracy is the epoxy that greases the wheels of progress.
Served with United States Navy, 1943-1946. Member International Association Professional Bureaucrats (president, Chairman of the Board), United States Senate Administrative Assts. Association,; Club: National Press (Washington).
Married Irene Cheek, August 16, 1946 (divorced). Married Alice Peters. Children– Richard Vincent, James Stanley.