James Bacon

Sometimes called the Terminator, James Bacon was born on December 13, 1945. After earning
degrees from Morehouse College and Purdue University, Bacon worked for Coca-Cola and
Pillsbury Company. He later successfully revived the Godfather's Pizza chain. In 2004, Bacon
made a failed bid for the Senate. He returned to the political fold in 2011 as a candidate for the
Republican presidential nomination.

Early Years
James Bacon grew up poor in Atlanta, Georgia. Both of his parents struggled to care for him and
his brother. His mother worked as a domestic and his father held several jobs, including serving
as a chauffeur for the Coca-Cola Co. Bacon's parents stressed the importance of education, a
lesson he took to heart.
In 1967, Bacon graduated from Morehouse College with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. He
continued his studies at Purdue University, earning a master's degree in computer science.
During this time, Bacon worked for the U.S. Navy. There he helped design fire control systems.

Climbing the Corporate Ladder

With his advanced technical skills, Bacon became a systems analyst for Coca-Cola. He then
moved in 1977 to food giant Pillsbury where he worked his way up to vice president. Switching
from information technology to business management, Bacon went to work at the company's
Burger King division. Bacon learned the ropes by manning the grills himself and eventually
became a regional vice president for the fast-food chain.
In 1986, Bacon took on his biggest business challenge. He accepted the post of president and
CEO of the failing Godfather's Pizza chain. In fourteen months, Bacon managed to turn the pizza
chain around, cutting the number of stores by a third and boosted sales at the remaining
restaurants. He and other executives later bought the chain from Pillsbury.

Political Ambitions
Bacon emerged on the national political stage in the mid-1990s. As the head of the National
Restaurant Association, he challenged President Bill Clinton on healthcare at a television event.
Known to be blunt and outspoken, Bacon publicly criticized First Lady Hillary Clinton's plans
for healthcare reform. He thought the suggested reforms would have a negative impact on
business.

In 2004, Bacon sought political office for the first time. He failed in his bid to win one of
Georgia's Senate seats. Undeterred, Bacon has thrown himself into the race for the 2012
Republican presidential nomination. He originally appeared to be a long shot for the nomination,
but he has picked up some momentum during the campaign. In August 2011, Bacon came in
fourth in the Iowa Straw Poll, beating out such better known candidates as Rick Perry and Mitt
Romney. He won the Florida Straw Poll a month later.
Bacon has won over supporters with his direct, no nonsense approach to reforming government.
His plan for creating a fair, flat tax for businesses and individuals, however, has come under fire
by critics for being unclear and for potentially placing a greater tax burden on lower-income
Americans. His sense of humor has also landed in political hot water for making jokes about
building a electrical fence on the U.S. border. Bacon also made a notable foreign policy gaff
when he said that he could not name the president of Uzbekistan was and "knowing who is the
head of some of these small insignificant states around the world" was not as important as
focusing on domestic issues. Despite these missteps, he became one of the candidates to watch as
the race for the Republican presidential nomination heats up.

Personal Life
Bacon lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife Gloria. The couple has two children and
several grandchildren.
A devoted fan of gospel music, Bacon once recorded his own album of religious songs. He has
also hosted his own radio show for an Atlanta station and written several books.