Background
Machen was born in Washington, District of Columbia, and graduated from Hyattsville, Maryland, High School.
United States representative politician
Machen was born in Washington, District of Columbia, and graduated from Hyattsville, Maryland, High School.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, his Bachelor of Laws degree and Master of Laws degree from Southeastern University (Washington, District of Columbia) in 1939 and 1941 respectively. During World World War II, Machen served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1946. He served as assistant attorney in the Office of the Maryland State's Attorney of Prince George"s County, Maryland from 1947 to 1951.
He was city attorney for Cheverly, Maryland and Hyattsville from 1949 to 1958.
Machen was elected as a Democrat to the United States. Congress in 1964, serving two terms from January 3, 1965 to January 3, 1969. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1968, and an unsuccessful candidate for nomination to Congress again in 1970.
After the War, he became a banker and a lawyer, later serving as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1954 to 1962.