A decorated veteran of World War II , Mecham was an automotive dealership owner and occasional newspaper publisher. Periodic runs for political office earned him a reputation as a perennial candidate along with the nickname of "The Harold Stassen of Arizona " before he was elected governor, under the Republican banner.
Mecham served one term as a state senator before beginning a string of unsuccessful runs for public office. His victory during the election began with a surprise win of the Republican nomination, followed by a split of the Democratic party during the general election , resulting in a three-way race.
While Governor, Mecham made statements and actions that were widely perceived as racially charged or racist. Day and creating an unpaid King holiday on a Sunday, attributing high divorce rates to working women, and his defense of the word " pickaninny " in describing African American children. In reaction to these events, a boycott of Arizona was organized.
Having served from January 5, , to April 4, , Mecham was removed from office following conviction in his impeachment trial on charges of obstruction of justice and misuse of government fundsβfunds that Mecham maintained were private.
A later criminal trial acquitted Mecham of related charges. Following his removal from office, Mecham remained active in politics for nearly a decade. During this time, he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention and made his final runs for the Arizona governorship and also for the U. Senate , in which he unsuccessfully challenged John McCain as an independent. Mecham left college and joined the U. Army Air Corps in January He was trained as a P Lightning fighter pilot before being transferred to England, where he flew P Mustangs.
