Herman Cain#Health and death

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Herman Cain

| image = Herman Cain by Gage Skidmore 4.jpg

| caption = Cain in 2011

| office = Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

| president = Thomas M. Hoenig

| term_start = January 1, 1995

| term_end = August 19, 1996

| predecessor = Burton Dole

| successor = Drue Jennings

| birth_date = {{birth date|1945|12|13}}

| birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|7|30|1945|12|13}}

| death_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

| death_cause =

| party = Republican

| spouse = {{marriage|Gloria Etchison|June 23, 1968}}

| children = 2

| education = Morehouse College (BS)
Purdue University (MS)

}}

Herman Cain (December 13, 1945{{spnd}}July 30, 2020) was an American businessman and Tea Party movement activist in the Republican Party. Cain graduated from Morehouse College with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. He then earned a master's degree in computer science at Purdue University while also working full-time for the U.S. Department of the Navy. In 1977, he joined the Pillsbury Company where he later became vice president. During the 1980s, Cain's success as a business executive at Burger King prompted Pillsbury to appoint him as chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza, in which capacity he worked from 1986 to 1996.

Cain was chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Omaha Branch from 1989 to 1991. He was deputy chairman, from 1992 to 1994, and then chairman until 1996, of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. In 1995, he was appointed to the Kemp Commission and, in 1996, he served as a senior economic adviser to Bob Dole's presidential campaign. From 1996 to 1999, Cain was president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association.

In May 2011, Cain announced his 2012 presidential candidacy. By the fall, his proposed 9–9–9 tax plan and debating performances had made him a serious contender for the Republican nomination. In November, however, Cain was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. Cain denied the allegations but announced the suspension of his campaign on December 3. He remained active in the Republican Party and was a co-chairman of Black Voices for Trump in the 2020 election cycle.

Cain died from COVID-19 on July 30, 2020, at the age of 74.

Early life

Herman Cain was born on December 13, 1945,{{cite book|title=Current Biography Yearbook 2011|year=2011|publisher=H.W. Wilson|location=Ipswich, MA|isbn=9780824211219|pages=[https://archive.org/details/currentbiography0000unse_z0h6/page/102 102–106]|chapter=Cain, Herman|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/currentbiography0000unse_z0h6/page/102}} in Memphis, Tennessee, to Lenora Davis Cain (1925–1982), a cleaning woman and domestic worker, and Luther Cain (1925–2005), who was raised on a farm and worked as a barber and janitor, as well as a chauffeur for Robert W. Woodruff, the president of The Coca-Cola Company. Cain said that as he was growing up, his family was "poor but happy." Cain related that his mother taught him about her belief that "success was not a function of what you start out with materially, but what you start out with spiritually." His father worked three jobs to own his own home—which he achieved during Cain's childhood—and to allow his two sons to attend college.{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704681904576311474087295408 |title=GOP Debate Fuels a Long Shot |first=Neil Jr. |last=King |date=May 9, 2011 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=May 16, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/149706/20110521/herman-cain-2012.htm |title=Herman Cain 2012: The Story of a Self-Made Man |last=Li |first=Hao |date=May 21, 2011 |website=International Business Times |access-date=February 10, 2021}}

Cain grew up on the west side of Atlanta, attending S. H. Archer High School and the Rev. Cameron M. Alexander's Antioch Baptist Church North in the neighborhood now known as The Bluff. Eventually the family moved to a modest brick home on Albert Street in the Collier Heights neighborhood. He graduated from high school in 1963.{{Cite book|last=Cain, Herman.|title=This is Herman Cain! : my journey to the White House|date=2011|publisher=Threshold Editions|isbn=978-1-4516-6613-7|edition=1st Threshold editions hardcover|location=New York|pages=158|oclc=733232814}}{{citation|last=McCormack|first=John|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/weekly-standard/a-cain-do-candidate|title=A Cain-Do Candidate|work=The Weekly Standard|volume=16|issue=38|date=June 20, 2011|access-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621011810/http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/cain-do-candidate_574081.html?nopager=1|archive-date=June 21, 2011|url-status=dead}}

Education and career

In 1967, Cain graduated from Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics.Green, Joshua [https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/03/herman-cain-the-gop-wild-card/308367/ Herman Cain, the GOP Wild Card], The Atlantic In 1971, he received a Master of Science in computer science from Purdue University,{{cite web |url=https://www.cs.purdue.edu/news/12-27-2004_hcain.shtml |title=Cain Receives Honorary Doctoral Degree |publisher=Purdue University |quote=2004 Honorary Doctoral Recipient Computer Science, M.S. 1971 |access-date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006171012/http://www.cs.purdue.edu/news/12-27-2004_hcain.shtml |archive-date=October 6, 2011 |url-status=dead }} while working full-time as a ballistics analyst for the U.S. Department of the Navy as a civilian.{{cite web|url=http://civilliberty.about.com/od/profiles/p/Herman-Cain-Civil-Liberties.htm |title=Herman Cain on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights – Civil Liberties Views of Herman Cain |publisher=Civilliberty.about.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415011437/http://civilliberty.about.com/od/profiles/p/Herman-Cain-Civil-Liberties.htm|archive-date=April 15, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=July 30, 2020}}

After completing his master's degree at Purdue, Cain left the Department of the Navy and began working for Coca-Cola in Atlanta as a computer systems analyst. In 1977, he moved to Minneapolis to join Pillsbury,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/20/business/godfather-s-pizza-sold-by-pillsbury.html|title= Godfather's Pizza Sold By Pillsbury|first=Eric|last=Berg|date=September 20, 1988|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 19, 2011}}{{cite journal |journal=Black Enterprise |title=Godfather's Pizza: This Pizza Man Delivers |date=February 1988 |page=89 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vaLyEawnE9UC&q=herman.cain%20pillsbury&pg=PA89 |author=Earl G. Graves }} becoming director of business analysis{{cite journal |title=The Intangibles of Implementation |journal=Interfaces |volume=9 |issue=5 |year=1979 |pages=144–147 |publisher=Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) |jstor=25059827 |last1=Cain |first1=H. |doi=10.1287/inte.9.5.144}} in its restaurant and foods group in 1978.{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rfklAAAAIBAJ&pg=6789,6964254 |first=Neal |last=St. Anthony |agency=Scripps Howard News Service |title=Executive resuscitates faltering Godfather's |date=July 26, 1987}}

=Burger King and Godfather's Pizza=

At age 36, Cain was assigned to analyze and manage 400 Burger King stores in the Philadelphia area. At the time, Burger King was a Pillsbury subsidiary. Under Cain, his region posted strong improvement in three years.{{cite news |newspaper=Star Tribune |title=Herman Cain's career at Pillsbury is a tale of two turnarounds |first=Neal |last=St. Anthony |date=October 30, 2011 |url=http://www.startribune.com/business/132823328.html |access-date=October 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031225628/http://www.startribune.com/business/132823328.html |archive-date=October 31, 2011 |url-status=dead }} According to a 1987 account in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Pillsbury's then-president Win Wallin said, "He was an excellent bet. Herman always seemed to have his act together." At Burger King, Cain "established the BEAMER program, which taught our employees, mostly teenagers, how to make our patrons smile" by smiling themselves. It was a success: "Within three months of the program's initiation, the sales trend was moving steadily higher."{{cite news |title=This Is Candidate Cain |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/278973/candidate-cain-katrina-trinko?page=2|access-date=October 9, 2011 |newspaper=National Review Online}}

Cain's success at Burger King prompted Pillsbury to appoint him president and CEO of another subsidiary, Godfather's Pizza. On his arrival on April 1, 1986, Cain told employees, "I'm Herman Cain and this ain't no April Fool's joke. We are not dead. Our objective is to prove to Pillsbury and everyone else that we will survive."{{cite news |last=Henninger |first=Daniel |title=Taking Cain Seriously |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=September 29, 2011}} Godfather's Pizza was performing poorly, having slipped in ranks of pizza chains from third in 1985 to fifth in 1988. Under Cain's leadership, Godfather's closed approximately 200 restaurants and eliminated several thousand jobs, and by doing so returned to profitability. In a leveraged buyout in 1988, Cain, executive vice president and COO Ronald B. Gartlan, and a group of investors bought Godfather's from Pillsbury.

=Federal Reserve Bank and National Restaurant Association=

File:Herman Cain 1987.jpg

Cain served as chairman of the board of the Omaha Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City from January 1, 1989, to December 31, 1991.{{cite web |url=http://kansascityfed.org/publicat/newsroom/2011pdf/press.release.05.26.11.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617100029/http://www.kansascityfed.org/publicat/newsroom/2011pdf/press.release.05.26.11.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 17, 2011 |title=Herman Cain's Service as a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City |publisher=kansascityfed.org |date=May 26, 2011 |access-date=October 28, 2011 |author=Thomas M. Hoenig, president and chief executive officer }} He became a member of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in 1992. He served as deputy chairman from January 1, 1992, to December 31, 1994, and then as its chairman until August 19, 1996, when he resigned to become active in national politics.{{cite news |title=KCP&L head temporarily fills KC Fed Bank post |first=Ted |last=Sickinger |newspaper=Kansas City Star |date=August 27, 1996 |page=D.20}}

Cain left Godfather's Pizza in 1996 and moved to the District of Columbia, From 1996 to 1999 he served as CEO of the National Restaurant Association, a trade group and lobbying organization for the restaurant industry, on whose board of directors he had previously served.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/us/politics/herman-cain-running-as-outsider-came-to-washington-as-lobbyist.html |title=Cain, Now Running as Outsider, Came to Washington as Lobbyist |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 22, 2011 |first=Sheryl Gay |last=Stoberg}} Cain's lobbying work for the association led to a number of connections to Republican lawmakers and politicians. Under Cain's leadership, the Association lobbied against increases to the minimum wage, mandatory health care benefits, regulations against smoking, and lowering the blood alcohol limit that determines whether one is driving under the influence.{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Karen |title=For Cain, some troubles as trade group chief |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cains-experience-as-restaurant-group-chief-mirrors-some-of-his-campaigns-problems/2011/11/03/gIQAxsQvjM_singlePage.html |access-date=November 14, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 3, 2011}}

Cain was on the board of directors of Aquila, Inc., Nabisco, Whirlpool, Reader's Digest, and AGCO.{{cite web |author=Herman Cain |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=638159&ticker=WHR:US&previousCapId=314515&previousTitle=WHIRLPOOL%20CORP |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011123118/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=638159&ticker=WHR:US&previousCapId=314515&previousTitle=WHIRLPOOL%20CORP |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2011 |title=Executive Profile: Herman Cain |publisher=Investing.businessweek.com |access-date=August 6, 2011}}{{cite news|url=https://people.forbes.com/profile/herman-cain/2151 |access-date=May 28, 2011 |newspaper=Forbes.Com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509030559/http://people.forbes.com/profile/herman-cain/2151 |archive-date=May 9, 2011 | title=Herman Cain (profile)}}

After Cain's term with the restaurant advocacy group ended in 1999, he returned to Omaha for about a year, then moved to his hometown of Atlanta in 2000.{{Cite news |url=http://politicalvine.com/news/newsview17514.html |publisher=The Political Vine |title=Herman Cain & Hillary Clinton: More In Common Than You Think |date=July 17, 2004 |access-date=February 6, 2012}}

=Media work=

Cain wrote a syndicated op-ed column, which was distributed by the North Star Writers Group.{{cite web|url=http://www.northstarwriters.com/author/hermancain/|title=Author Archive|publisher=North Star Writers Group|access-date=October 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012052344/http://www.northstarwriters.com/author/hermancain/|archive-date=October 12, 2011|url-status=dead}}

Cain appeared in the 2009 documentary An Inconvenient Tax.[http://aninconvenienttax.com/about/interviewees/ "Interviewees"]. An Inconvenient Tax. Retrieved January 27, 2012. From 2008 to February 2011, Cain hosted The Herman Cain Show on Atlanta talk radio station WSB.{{cite web|url=http://feeds.wsbradio.com/TheNewHermanCainShow|title=The Herman Cain Show:A podcast powered by FeedBurner|publisher=WSB Radio|access-date=October 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012201903/http://feeds.wsbradio.com/TheNewHermanCainShow|archive-date=October 12, 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2012/01/19/herman-cain-re-joins-wsb-radio-with-daily-commentaries/?cxntlid=thbz_hm|title=Herman Cain rejoins WSB Radio with daily commentaries|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=January 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121181253/http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2012/01/19/herman-cain-re-joins-wsb-radio-with-daily-commentaries/?cxntlid=thbz_hm|archive-date=January 21, 2012|url-status=dead}} On January 19, 2012, Cain began working for WSB again by providing daily commentaries, while occasionally filling in for Erick Erickson and Neal Boortz.

Cain took over Boortz's radio talk show on January 21, 2013, upon Boortz's retirement.{{cite news |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/radiotvtalk/2012-flashback-neal-boortz-announces-retirement-early-2013-replaced-herman-cain/bLP8axb0I6ujX1zXUvO3ZM/ |title=2012 flashback: Neal Boortz announces retirement in early 2013, replaced by Herman Cain |date=June 4, 2012 |first=Rodney |last=Ho |newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=July 30, 2020 }} The show was dropped from the Westwood One Radio Network in December 2016 in favor of The Chris Plante Show, but continued to air in limited syndication through WSB's owner, Cox Radio.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hermancain.com/the-herman-cain-radio-show-will-be-loud-and|title=The Herman Cain Radio Show will be loud and strong in 2017|newspaper=Herman Cain|access-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130062532/http://www.hermancain.com/the-herman-cain-radio-show-will-be-loud-and|archive-date=November 30, 2016|url-status=dead}}

On February 15, 2013, Fox News Channel announced Cain would join the network as a contributor.{{cite news|title=Herman Cain announced as Fox News Channel contributor|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/feb/15/herman-cain-announced-fox-news-channel-contributor/|newspaper=Washington Times|access-date=February 16, 2013}} In March 2019, Cain was a panelist on a Watter's World episode.[https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/donald-trump-and-kim-jong-un-trade-jabs-on-watters-world "'Donald Trump' and 'Kim Jong Un' trade jabs on 'Watters' World'" (rush transcript)], Fox News, March 2, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.

=Recognition=

Cain received the 1996 Horatio Alger Award{{cite web |url=http://www.horatioalger.org/members_info.cfm?memberid=CAI96 |title=Herman Cain |publisher=Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans |access-date=May 20, 2011 |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927002016/http://www.horatioalger.org/members_info.cfm?memberid=CAI96 |url-status=dead }} and was bestowed with honorary degrees from Creighton University, Johnson & Wales University, Morehouse College, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the New York City College of Technology, Purdue University, Suffolk University, and Tougaloo College.

Then former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Jack Kemp, referred to Cain as "the Colin Powell of American capitalism". Kemp stated that Cain's "conquests won't be counted in terms of countries liberated or lives saved, but in those things that make life worth living—expanding opportunity, creating jobs and broadening horizons, not just for those he knows, but through his example, for those he'll never meet."{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nRpfNE8iIxEC |title=The Entrepreneur's Creed: The Principles & Passions of 20 Successful Entrepreneurs |year= 2018 |publisher=Armour Publishing Pte Ltd |via=Google Books|isbn=978-9814045933}}{{page needed|date=July 2020}}

=Possible nomination to the Federal Reserve Board=

On April 4, 2019, President Donald Trump said that he intended to nominate Cain to the second of the two vacant seats on the Federal Reserve Board.Rappeport, Alan, Neil Irwin and Maggie Haberman, [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/04/business/herman-cain-federal-reserve.html "Trump Says He Wants Herman Cain, Former Pizza Executive, for Fed Board"], April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.Roberts, John (host), [https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/president-trump-praises-mexican-efforts-to-stop-migrants-theyre-apprehending-people-by-the-thousands "President Trump praises Mexican efforts to stop migrants: They're apprehending people by the thousands"], Fox News "Special Report", April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019. Assessing the possible nomination, news publications reviewed Cain's sexual misconduct allegations that preceded his withdrawal from the 2012 presidential election.Bach, Natasha, [http://fortune.com/2019/04/05/who-is-herman-cain-trump-fed/ "A Refresher on Herman Cain, Trump's Latest Pick for the Fed Board"], Fortune (magazine), April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.Rappeport, Alan, and Kenneth P. Vogel, [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/05/business/herman-cain-federal-reserve.html "Herman Cain Opens a New #MeToo Minefield for Republicans"], New York Times, April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.{{cite news |last1=Ryssdal |first1=Kai |title=A look at President Trump's potential Federal Reserve nominations |url=https://www.marketplace.org/2019/04/12/about-president-trump-s-federal-reserve-nominations/ |access-date=November 8, 2019 |work=Marketplace |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=April 12, 2019 |language=en |format=audio}} Cain acknowledged that the nomination process would be "more cumbersome" for him due to his "unusual career".Kimball, Spencer, [https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/06/herman-cain-on-possible-fed-seat-haters-are-digging-up-negative-stuff.html "Herman Cain on possible Fed nomination: 'The people who hate me are digging up negative stuff'"], CNBC, April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019. He initially stated that he was not considering withdrawing his name from consideration for the seat.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/herman-cain-fed-critics-central-bank|title=Herman Cain rips Fed critics looking to spoil his central bank chances|last=Limitone|first=Julia|website=Fox Business|date=April 18, 2019|access-date=April 22, 2019}} After it appeared likely that he would not receive enough votes to support his confirmation, Cain withdrew on April 22, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-he-won-t-nominate-herman-cain-federal-reserve-n997136|title=Herman Cain withdraws from consideration for Federal Reserve seat|date=April 22, 2019|website=NBC News|access-date=April 24, 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/6123024d123e4eda8c23fef543414e7b |title=A Trump Fed choice steps aside, and another faces new doubts |last=Rugaber |first=Christopher |date=April 22, 2019 |access-date=February 10, 2021}}

= Black Voices for Trump =

In the 2020 election cycle, Cain was a co-chairman of Black Voices for Trump.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/30/politics/herman-cain-dies-coronavirus/index.html|title=Herman Cain dies from coronavirus|first1=Veronica|last1=Stracqualursi|first2=Karl|last2=de Vries|publisher=CNN|date=July 30, 2020|access-date=July 31, 2020}}

Political activities

=Role in the defeat of 1993 Clinton health care plan=

In 1994, as president-elect of the National Restaurant Association, Cain challenged President Bill Clinton on the costs of the employer mandate contained within the Health Security Act and criticized the effect on small businesses. Bob Cohn of Newsweek described Cain as one of the primary opponents of the plan:{{Cite news | last = Cohn | first = Bob | title = The Lost Chance |work=Newsweek | date = September 19, 1994 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/lost-chance-188330 | access-date = June 6, 2014}}

{{Blockquote|text=The Clintons would later blame "Harry and Louise," the fictional couple in the ads aired by the insurance industry, for undermining health reform. But the real saboteurs are named Herman and John. Herman Cain is the president of Godfather's Pizza and president-elect of the National Restaurant Association. An articulate entrepreneur, Cain transformed the debate when he challenged Clinton at a town meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. Cain asked the president what he was supposed to say to the workers he would have to lay off because of the cost of the "employer mandate". Clinton responded that there would be plenty of subsidies for small businessmen, but Cain persisted. "Quite honestly, your calculation is inaccurate," he told the president. "In the competitive marketplace it simply doesn't work that way."|author=Bob Cohn|title=The Lost Chance|source=Newsweek}}

Because Kemp was impressed with Cain's performance, he chartered a plane to Nebraska to meet Cain after the debate. As a result, Cain was appointed to the Kemp Commission in 1995.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3x5EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2918,3644773&dq=economic-growth-and-tax-reform-commission+cain&hl=en|title= Cain should impress voters|date=September 1, 2003|work=The Albany Herald|access-date=December 3, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/herman-cains-kemp-connection-robert-costa/|title=Herman Cain's Kemp Connection|access-date=April 7, 2019|work=National Review|first=Robert|last=Costa|date=June 6, 2011}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/herman-cain-explained/2011/09/26/gIQA5KoNzK_blog.html|title=Herman Cain's Kemp Connection|access-date=October 3, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Rachel|last=Weiner|date=September 26, 2011}}

Joshua Green of The Atlantic called Cain's exchange with President Clinton his "auspicious debut on the national political stage."Green, Joshua (January 17, 2011) [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/01/watch-herman-cain-battle-bill-clinton-on-health-care/69683/ Watch Herman Cain Battle Bill Clinton on Health Care], The Atlantic

=Senior adviser to 1996 Dole campaign=

Cain was a senior economic adviser to the Bob Dole presidential campaign in 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.rlc2011.com/speakers_list/herman-cain/ |title=Herman Cain |publisher=Rlc2011.com |access-date=August 6, 2011|date=January 13, 2007}}

=2000 presidential campaign=

Cain briefly ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000. He later said in looking back at the effort that it was more about making political statements than winning the nomination. "George W. Bush was the chosen one, he had the campaign DNA that followers look for." However, Cain went on to state, "I believe that I had a better message and I believe that I was the better messenger."{{cite web|url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07/11/herman-cain-possible-dark-horse-2012-gop-presidential-candida/|title=Herman Cain: Possible 'Dark Horse' 2012 GOP Presidential Candidate|access-date=June 24, 2011|work=Politics Daily|first=Matt|last=Lewis|author-link=Matt Lewis (journalist)}} After ending his own campaign, however, he endorsed Steve Forbes.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/herman-cain-explained/2011/09/26/gIQA5KoNzK_blog.html|title=Herman Cain explained |access-date=October 3, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Rachel|last=Weiner|date=September 27, 2011}}

=2004 U.S. Senate campaign=

In 2004 Cain ran for the U.S. Senate in Georgia and did not win in the primaries. He was pursuing the seat that came open with the retirement of Democrat Zell Miller. Cain sought the Republican nomination, facing congressmen Johnny Isakson and Mac Collins in the primary. Collins tried to paint Cain as a moderate,{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58347-2004Jul17 | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Manuel | last=Roig-Franzia | title=Cain Makes Inroads in Ga. Senate Bid | date=July 18, 2004 | access-date=August 29, 2017 | archive-date=August 10, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810160600/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58347-2004Jul17/ | url-status=dead }} citing Cain's support for affirmative action programs, while Cain argued that he was a conservative, noting that he opposed the legality of abortion except when the mother's life is threatened.{{cite web |url=http://new.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=172858 |title=Three Republicans battling for spots in Georgia's likely Senate runoff |publisher=New.accessnorthga.com |date=March 27, 2004 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529192838/http://new.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=172858 |archive-date=May 29, 2012 }} Cain finished second in the primary with 26.2% of the vote, ahead of Collins, who won 20.6%, but because Isakson won 53.2% of the vote, Isakson was able to avoid a runoff.{{cite web |url=http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2004_0720/0000120.htm |title=United States Senator |publisher=Sos.georgia.gov |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-date=October 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021025714/http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2004_0720/0000120.htm |url-status=dead }}

=Americans for Prosperity and America's PAC=

Starting in 2005, Cain worked for the political advocacy group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) alongside Mark Block. Block would later become campaign manager for Cain's 2012 presidential run and would be joined in Cain's campaign by several other AFP employees. Cain continued to receive honoraria for speaking at AFP events until he announced his campaign for the Republican nomination.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/long-ties-to-koch-brothers-key-to-cains-campaign/2011/10/16/gIQAKTLPoL_story.html "Herman Cain's deep ties to Koch brothers key to campaign"]. The Washington Post. Associated Press. October 16, 2011. Cain's senior economic advisor during his 2012 presidential campaign, Rich Lowrie, who helped devise Cain's 9–9–9 tax plan, had served on the AFP board.{{cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/extensive-ties-powerful-koch-group-boost-cain-14746710 |title=Long Ties to Koch Brothers Key to Cain's Campaign |date=October 16, 2011 |access-date=2021-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028204508/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/extensive-ties-powerful-koch-group-boost-cain-14746710 |archive-date=October 28, 2011 |url-status=live }} In 2006, Cain voiced several radio ads encouraging people of color to vote Republican; the ads were funded by a group called America's PAC and its founder J. Patrick Rooney.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nysun.com/national/republican-group-chides-democrats-with-abortion/41648/|title=Republican Group Chides Democrats With Abortion Ads|website=The New York Sun}}

=2012 presidential campaign=

File:Herman Cain by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg in August 2011]]

A Tea Party activist,{{cite web |title=GOP Presidential Contender Takes Lead in Second Poll |author=Mark Memmot |website=NPR |date=October 13, 2011 |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/10/13/141306111/gop-presidential-contender-herman-cain-takes-lead-in-second-poll}} Cain addressed numerous Tea Party rallies in 2010. Following the 2010 midterm elections, Cain announced his intentions to run for president in December 2010, stating that there was a 70% chance that he would attempt to seek the office.{{cite web |url=http://www.therightscoop.com/herman-cain-70-chance-im-running-for-president |title=Herman Cain: 70% chance I'm running for President |publisher=The Right Scoop |access-date=July 30, 2020|date=December 19, 2010}} Later that month, he was the "surprise choice" for 2012 GOP nominee in a RedState reader poll. Cain announced the formation of an exploratory committee on January 12, 2011,Travis, Shannon (January 12, 2011) [https://web.archive.org/web/20110113023138/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/12/herman-cain-talks-to-cnn-on-announcing-presidential-exploratory-committee/ "Herman Cain talks to CNN on announcing presidential exploratory committee"], CNN. Retrieved January 12, 2011.Bernstein, David S. (January 12, 2011) [http://thephoenix.com/BLOGS/talkingpolitics/archive/2011/01/12/avoiding-the-quot-first-primary-quot.aspx 'Avoiding the "First Primary'?"], The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved January 12, 2011. before formally announcing his candidacy on May 21 in Atlanta.{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tea-party-favorite-herman-cain-joins-2012-gop-race/ |title=Tea Party Favorite Herman Cain Joins 2012 GOP Race |publisher=Fox News |date=April 7, 2010 |access-date=August 6, 2011}}

==Straw poll victories==

Cain's addresses to conservative groups were well received,Tony Norman, [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11270/1177807-153-0.stm Obama and Cain: are you hearin' the difference?] Pittsburgh Post-Gazette September 27, 2011 and in late September and early October 2011, Cain won the straw polls of the Florida Republican Party, TeaCon, and the National Federation of Republican Women's Convention.{{cite web|author=NBC's Anthony Terrell |url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/02/8100971-cain-wins-another-straw-poll |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003171440/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/02/8100971-cain-wins-another-straw-poll |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 3, 2011 |title=First Read – Cain wins another straw poll |publisher=MSNBC |access-date=January 15, 2012}} "My focus groups have consistently picked Herman Cain as the most likeable candidate in the debates," said GOP pollster Frank Luntz. "Don't underestimate the power of likability, even in a Republican primary. The more likeable the candidate, the greater the electoral potential."{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-campaign-winner-idUSTRE78N2RE20110925 |title=Cain upsets Perry in Florida Republican straw poll |work=Reuters |date=September 24, 2011 |access-date=September 25, 2011 |archive-date=September 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925092030/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/25/us-usa-campaign-winner-idUSTRE78N2RE20110925 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|last=Riley|first=Jason L.|title=Cain's Post-Racial Promise|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203388804576614962556506804|access-date=October 9, 2011|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=October 7, 2011}}

==9–9–9 Plan==

In July 2011, an advisor suggested that his campaign's tax policy plan be called "the Optimal Tax", but Cain rejected the name, saying "we're just going to call it what it is: 9–9–9 Plan."John D. McKinnon, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204774604576629433751126652 Cain Plan's Reagan-Era Roots] The Wall Street Journal October 14, 2011 The plan would have replaced the then current tax code with a 9-percent business transactions tax, a 9-percent personal income tax, and a 9-percent federal sales tax. During a debate on October 12, Cain said his plan "expands the base," arguing that "when you expand the base, we can arrive at the lowest possible rate, which is 9–9–9."Steven Sloan and Richard Rubin, [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-12/cain-s-9-9-9-plan-raises-2-5-trillion-in-revenue-campaign-says.html Cain Reveals 9–9–9 Math With Projection of No Revenue Loss] Bloomberg News October 13, 2011 An analysis released to Bloomberg News by the campaign claimed that the rate for each of the three taxes could in fact be as low as 7.3%, but "poverty grants"—which Cain described as a lower rate in targeted "empowerment zones"[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1110/13/ebo.01.html Interview with Herman Cain] Erin Burnett OutFront October 12, 2011—necessitated a national rate of nine percent. Paul Krugman criticized the plan, saying it shifts much of the current tax burden from the rich to the poor.Paul Krugman, [https://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/15/cain-unable/ Cain Unable] The New York Times blogs October 15, 2011 Arthur Laffer, Lawrence Kudlow,[http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/280200/cain-tax-code-killer-larry-kudlow Cain the Tax-Code Killer] National Review October 14, 2011 the Club for Growth,Seth McLaughlin, [http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2011/oct/14/club-growth-defends-cains-9-9-9-tax-plan/ Club for Growth defends Cain's 9–9–9 tax plan] Washington Times Inside Politics October 14, 2011 and Congressman Paul Ryan{{cite news |last1=Sink |first1=Justin |title=Paul Ryan 'loves' Cain's 'specific and credible' 9-9-9 plan |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/187437-paul-ryan-loves-cains-specific-and-credible-9-9-9-plan |access-date=July 30, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=October 13, 2011}} spoke favorably of the plan. On October 21, Cain told a crowd in Detroit that the plan would be 9–0–9 for the poor, saying that "if you are at or below the poverty level ... then you don't pay that middle nine on your income."Kenric Ward, [http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/herman-cains-revised-9-0-9-tax-plan-raises-new-doubts Herman Cain's Revised '9–0–9' Tax Plan Raises New Doubts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228002805/http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/herman-cains-revised-9-0-9-tax-plan-raises-new-doubts |date=December 28, 2011 }} Sunshine State News October 25, 2011 Cain's 9–9–9 plan attracted skepticism from his fellow candidates at numerous Republican debates.{{cite news|last=Abcarian|first=Robin|title=Vegas debate: GOP rivals jump on Herman Cain's '9–9–9' plan|url=https://www.latimes.com/la-xpm-2011-oct-18-la-pn-vegas-debate-open-20111018-story.html|access-date=November 10, 2011|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=October 18, 2011}}

==Sexual harassment allegations==

{{main|Herman Cain 2012 presidential campaign#Sexual harassment allegations}}

File:Herman Cain by Gage Skidmore 6.jpg, Arizona, in November 2011]]

In late October 2011, Politico reported that Cain had been accused by two women of sexual harassment and misconduct during his time as CEO of the National Restaurant Association in the late 1990s.{{cite news| work = Politico | title = Herman Cain accused by two women of inappropriate behavior |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67194.html | date = October 31, 2011 | access-date =October 31, 2011 | first = Jonathan | last = Martin |author2=Maggie Halberman |author3=Anna Palmer | author4-link = Kenneth P. Vogel |author4=Kenneth P. Vogel}}{{cite news |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/report-cites-womens-claims-of-inappropriate-acts-by-cain/ |title = Report Cites Women's Claims of Inappropriate Acts by Cain | first = Michael | last = Shear |work=The New York Times | date = October 30, 2011 | access-date =October 31, 2011}} Two other women made additional harassment accusations later on. Cain acknowledged that the restaurant organization made financial settlements to the complainants. Two of the four women came forward publicly: Sharon Bialek and Karen Kraushaar.{{cite news|last=Kucinich|first=Jackie|title=Herman Cain's accusers: What's been made public|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2011-11-08/herman-cain-accusers/51129758/1|access-date=November 15, 2011|newspaper=USA Today|date=November 8, 2011}}

On November 28, 2011, Cain asserted that a woman named Ginger White claimed to have had an affair with him and that the allegation was not true.{{cite news|last1=Madison|first1=Lucy|title=Woman claims 13-year affair with Herman Cain|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57332384-503544/woman-claims-13-year-affair-with-herman-cain/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129202946/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57332384-503544/woman-claims-13-year-affair-with-herman-cain/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 29, 2011|access-date=November 28, 2011|publisher=CBS News|date=November 28, 2011|first2=Brian|last2=Montopoli}} In an interview with White, which aired on the same day, she stated that the affair lasted 13 years and ended right before Cain announced his presidential campaign.{{cite news|last=Kucinich|first=Jackie|title=Businesswoman alleges 13-year affair with Herman Cain|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2011-11-28/cain/51448808/1|access-date=November 29, 2011|newspaper=USA Today|date=November 29, 2011|archive-date=November 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129080946/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2011-11-28/cain/51448808/1|url-status=dead}} On November 30, 2011, at an event in Dayton, Ohio, Cain denounced the allegations of sexual harassment and adultery.{{cite news|last=Stainburn|first=Samantha|title=Herman Cain: 'character assassination' victim?|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/111130/herman-cain-character-assassination-victim-ginger-white-ohio|access-date=January 5, 2012|newspaper=GlobalPost|date=November 30, 2011}}

== End of 2012 campaign ==

On December 3, 2011, Cain suspended his campaign. The sexual harassment claims were widely considered responsible for the sharp drop in his poll numbers.{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-cain-announcement-20111203,0,889996.story |title=Herman Cain drops out of presidential race |work=Los Angeles Times |first=James |last=Oliphant |date=December 3, 2011 |access-date=December 3, 2011}}{{cite news |url=http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/12/02/cain-poll-numbers-plummet-iowa |title=Cain Poll Numbers Plummet in Iowa |work=Fox News |first=Joy |last=Lin |date=December 2, 2011 |access-date=December 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205173231/http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/12/02/cain-poll-numbers-plummet-iowa |archive-date=December 5, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

According to a Pew Research Center report on December 21, 2011, Cain was the "most covered candidate" among the Republicans during that year.{{cite news|url=http://www.journalism.org/analysis_report/top_newsmakers|title=The Year in the News 2011: Top Newsmakers|publisher=Pew Research Center|newspaper=Project for Excellence in Journalism|date=December 21, 2011|access-date=December 22, 2011|archive-date=September 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917175724/http://www.journalism.org/analysis_report/top_newsmakers|url-status=dead}}

=Cain's Solutions Revolution=

On January 4, 2012, Cain announced the "Cain's Solutions Revolution". Cain's stated goal was to get commitments from members of Congress to support the 9–9–9 Plan before the 2012 elections.{{cite news|title=Herman Cain launches 'Cain's Solutions Revolution' to 'keep 999 alive{{'-}}|url=https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/herman-cain-launches-cain-solutions-revolution-keep-999-034444411.html|first=Dylan|last=Stableford|access-date=January 4, 2012|work=The Ticket|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=January 4, 2012}} Cain stated that he started a new movement because the "biggest comment I got when I ended my candidacy was to keep 9–9–9 alive. That's what this is about, and I'm going to keep it alive with what I'm calling Cain's Solutions Revolution."{{cite news|last=Summers|first=Juana|title=Herman Cain to launch 9–9–9 bus tour|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71098.html#ixzz1iathozL6|access-date=January 4, 2012|newspaper=Politico|date=January 4, 2012}} In order to promote this movement, Cain employed both a bus tour and a new website.{{cite news|title=Cain aims to keep 9–9–9 alive|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/04/cain-aims-to-keep-9-9-9-alive/|access-date=January 4, 2012|work=PoliticalTicker...|publisher=CNN|date=January 4, 2012|archive-date=January 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105161603/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/04/cain-aims-to-keep-9-9-9-alive/|url-status=dead}} New York magazine stated, "It's Cain's earnest effort to keep 9–9–9 alive and focus on solutions."{{cite news|last=Smiley|first=Brett|title=Herman Cain to Ride Around Promoting 9–9–9 on 'Cain's Solutions Revolution' Bus Tour|url=http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/01/herman-cain-announces-bus-tour-promoting-9-9-9.html|access-date=January 4, 2012|newspaper=New York|date=January 4, 2012}} On January 20, 2012, Cain spoke at Stephen Colbert's "Rock Me Like a Herman Cain: South Cain-Olina Primary Rally".{{cite news|last=Katz|first=Matt|title=Colbert channels Cain in big anti-rally|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/137803703.html|access-date=January 21, 2012|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=January 21, 2012|archive-date=January 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124023700/http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/137803703.html|url-status=dead}} The Huffington Post reported the crowd size was between 3,000 and 5,000 people. It was described at the time as "the largest campaign rally so far during this GOP presidential primary season".{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Andy |title=Stephen Colbert's Rally for Herman Cain Draws Record Crowd in South Carolina |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/stephen-colbert-south-carolina-rally-herman-cain-283756 |access-date=January 21, 2012 |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 21, 2012}}

=State of the Union response=

For President Barack Obama's 2012 State of the Union address, the Tea Party Express chose Cain to give its second annual response.{{cite press release|title=Herman Cain Delivers Tea Party Response to SOTU Tonight!|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/herman-cain-delivers-tea-party-response-to-sotu-tonight-137956603.html|publisher=Tea Party Express|date=January 24, 2012}} After Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels gave the official GOP response,{{cite news|last=Weinger|first=Mackenzie|title=Herman Cain: 'Stop the blame game{{'-}}|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71926.html|access-date=January 25, 2012|newspaper=Politico|date=January 25, 2012}} Cain delivered his speech at the National Press Club.{{cite news|last=Reilly|first=Ryan J.|title={{-'}}We Ain't Stupid': Herman Cain Responds To State Of The Union|url=http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/watching-obamas-state-of-the-union-address-with-herman-cain.php|access-date=January 25, 2012|newspaper=Talking Points Memo|date=January 24, 2012}} The speech was streamed live on the Tea Party Express website.{{cite news|last=Chandler|first=D.L.|title=Herman Cain Responds To Obama's Speech With Tea Party Rebuttal|url=http://newsone.com/nation/washington-watch/dlchandler/herman-cain-responds-to-obamas-speech-with-tea-party-rebuttal/|access-date=January 25, 2012|work=News One for Black America|publisher=Radio One|date=January 25, 2012}} Cain referred to Obama's address as a "hodgepodge of liberal ideas," adding that there were "no big ideas that would impact job growth" and "no big ideas that would stimulate economic growth in this country."{{cite news|title=Cain: 'We deserve better{{'-}}|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/01/24/Cain-We-deserve-better/UPI-77621327465814/|access-date=January 25, 2012|publisher=UPI|date=January 24, 2012}}

=Call for a third party=

Although Mitt Romney was endorsed by Cain on May 15, 2012,{{cite news|title=Cain endorses Romney, urges Republicans to 'get over' doubts about presumptive nominee|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cain-endorses-romney-urges-republicans-to-get-over-doubts-about-presumptive-nominee/|publisher=Fox News|access-date=May 16, 2012|date=May 16, 2012}} he would eventually lose the general election to President Obama.{{Cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2012/president/2012/12/23/the-story-behind-mitt-romney-loss-the-presidential-campaign-president-obama/2QWkUB9pJgVIi1mAcIhQjL/story-5.html|title = The story behind Mitt Romney's loss in the presidential campaign to President Obama|last = Kranish|first = Michael|date = December 22, 2012|work = Boston Globe|access-date = April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528013007/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2012/president/2012/12/23/the-story-behind-mitt-romney-loss-the-presidential-campaign-president-obama/2QWkUB9pJgVIi1mAcIhQjL/story-5.html|archive-date = May 28, 2013|url-status = dead}} Cain then told Bryan Fischer that the Republican Party no longer represented the interests of conservatives in the United States and that it did not have "the ability to rebrand itself." He asserted that "a legitimate third party" would be needed to replace it.{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2012/11/07/gop_civil_war_herman_cain_calls_for_3rd_party/|title=GOP civil war: Herman Cain calls for 3rd party|website=Salon|date=November 7, 2012| first=Alex |last=Seitz-Wald}}

Personal life

Cain married Gloria Etchison of Atlanta soon after her graduation from Morris Brown College in 1968.{{Cite news |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/01/politics/gloria-cain-profile/index.html|title='Team Cain': A portrait of the candidate's marriage |date=November 1, 2011 |first=Wayne |last=Drash |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101231446/http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/01/politics/gloria-cain-profile/index.html|archive-date=November 1, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/cain-herman-1945 |title=Cain, Herman (1945–) |work=blackpast.org |date=April 7, 2011 |access-date=October 11, 2011}} They had a daughter named Melanie, a son named Vincent, and four grandchildren.{{Cite web|last1=Stracqualursi|first1=Veronica|last2=de Vries|first2=Karl|date=30 July 2020|title=Herman Cain dies from coronavirus|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/30/politics/herman-cain-dies-coronavirus/index.html|access-date=2020-07-30|website=CNN}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/us/politics/herman-cain-dead.html|title=Herman Cain, Former C.E.O. and Presidential Candidate, Dies at 74|first1=Aimee|last1=Ortiz|first2=Katharine Q.|last2=Seelye|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 30, 2020}}

Cain served as an associate minister at the Antioch Baptist Church North in Atlanta, which he joined at the age of 10.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2011/03/22/herman-cains-story-of-gods-healing-power.aspx |title=Herman Cain's Story of God's Healing Power |first=David |last=Brody |author-link=David Brody (correspondent) |date=March 22, 2011 |access-date=June 6, 2011 |publisher=Christian Broadcasting Network}} The church is part of the National Baptist Convention{{cite web |url=http://www.usachurches.org/church/antioch-baptist-church-north.htm |title=Antioch Baptist Church North : Atlanta, Georgia |publisher=USA Churches |access-date=June 6, 2011}} and is politically liberal and theologically conservative. The church's senior pastor, Rev. Cameron M. Alexander, did not share Cain's political philosophy.Marrapodi, Eric; Blake, John. [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/18/the-liberal-church-of-herman-cain/ "The liberal church of Herman Cain"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703211040/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/18/the-liberal-church-of-herman-cain/ |date=July 3, 2020 }}. CNN. October 18, 2011.

In 2006, Cain was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer that had spread to his liver and was given a 30% chance of survival. After surgery and chemotherapy, the cancer was reported to be in remission.{{cite magazine |first=Tim |last=Dickinson |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/docs-herman-cains-cancer-is-not-disqualifying-83826/ |title=Docs: Herman Cain's Cancer Is Not Disqualifying |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=October 13, 2011 |access-date=July 31, 2020}}

Disclosures filed during Cain's 2011 campaign categorized his wealth at that time as being between $2.9 and $6.6 million, with his combined income for both 2010 and 2011 being between $1.1 and $2.1 million.{{cite news |url = http://www.omaha.com/article/20111011/NEWS01/710119907/0 |title = Cain: The Godfather's years |first = Steve |last = Jordon |newspaper = Omaha World-Herald |date = October 11, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111012144214/http://www.omaha.com/article/20111011/NEWS01/710119907/0 |archive-date = October 12, 2011 |df = mdy-all |access-date = October 11, 2011 }}

Death

Cain opposed wearing face masks and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news |first1=Daniel |last1=Trotta |first2=Andrea |last2=Shalal |first3=Susan |last3=Heavey |date=2020-07-30 |title=Herman Cain, ex-presidential candidate who refused to wear mask, dies after COVID-19 diagnosis |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-cain-idUSKCN24V2OD |access-date=2020-07-31}}{{Cite news |last=Stahl |first=Jeremy |date=2020-07-30 |title=Herman Cain, Conservative Culture Warrior Who Opposed Mask Mandates, Dies of COVID-19 |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/07/herman-cain-mask-mandate-opponent-dies-covid-19-tulsa.html |access-date=2020-07-31 |work=Slate |language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Peters|first=Jeremy W.|date=2020-07-30|title=Will Herman Cain's Death Change Republican Views on the Virus and Masks?|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/us/politics/herman-cain-gop-coronavirus.html|access-date=2020-07-31|issn=0362-4331}} He attended the Donald Trump rally in Tulsa on June 20, 2020, and was photographed not wearing a mask in a crowd of people also not wearing masks.{{cite news|last=Solender|first=Andrew|date=July 2, 2020|title=Herman Cain Hospitalized With COVID-19 After Attending Trump Tulsa Rally Maskless|work=Forbes|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/07/02/herman-cain-hospitalized-with-covid-19-after-attending-trump-tulsa-rally-maskless/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703090134/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/07/02/herman-cain-hospitalized-with-covid-19-after-attending-trump-tulsa-rally-maskless/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 3, 2020|access-date=July 2, 2020}} On June 29, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to a hospital in Atlanta two days later.{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/herman-cain-hospitalized-after-testing-postive-for-coronavirus |title=Herman Cain hospitalized after testing positive for coronavirus |date=July 2, 2020 |publisher=Fox News |first=Andrew |last=O'Reilly |access-date=July 2, 2020 }} On July 2, his staff said there was "no way of knowing for sure how or where" he became infected. Cain's website editor Dan Calabrese said, "I realize people will speculate about the Tulsa rally, but Herman did a lot of traveling [that] week, including to Arizona where cases [were] spiking."

Cain died of COVID-19 complications at the hospital on July 30, 2020, at the age of 74.{{Cite news |last=Edelman |first=Adam |date=July 30, 2020 |title=Former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain dies of COVID-19 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/former-gop-presidential-candidate-herman-cain-dead-coronavirus-n1235312 |access-date=August 9, 2020 |work=NBC News |language=en}} His death from COVID-19 following his refusal to protect himself from it led to the creation of the Herman Cain Award subreddit, where users share news stories about people who died from COVID-19 after downplaying its deadliness or expressing doubts about the efficacy of precautions against it.{{Cite web |last=Loofbourow |first=Lili |date=September 21, 2021 |title=The Unbelievable Grimness of HermanCainAward, the Subreddit That Catalogs Anti-Vaxxer COVID Deaths |url=https://slate.com/technology/2021/09/hermancainaward-subreddit-antivaxxer-deaths-cataloged.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921190634/https://slate.com/technology/2021/09/hermancainaward-subreddit-antivaxxer-deaths-celebrated.html |url-status=live |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |website=Slate}}{{Cite web |last=West |first=Phil |date=September 8, 2021 |title='He was so dumb': Redditors from HermanCainAward sub called out for 'doxing, harassing' families of deceased COVID patients |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/hermancainaward-redditors-doxing-harassing-covid-patients/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908145323/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/hermancainaward-redditors-doxing-harassing-covid-patients/ |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |website=The Daily Dot}} One month after his death, his official Twitter account (which had come under the control of his team and family members) posted that "it looks like the virus is not as deadly as the mainstream media first made it out to be",{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/THEHermanCain/status/1300211456126803968 |title=Archived copy |access-date=August 30, 2020 |archive-date=August 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830231940/https://twitter.com/THEHermanCain/status/1300211456126803968 |url-status=live }} sparking a discussion about Twitter policies for deceased account holders.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/08/31/herman-cain-tweets-coronavirus-not-that-deadly-despite-having-died-from-it/ |title=Herman Cain Tweets Coronavirus Not That Deadly—Despite Having Died From It |date=June 29, 2021 |magazine=Forbes |first=Lisette |last=Voytko-Best |access-date=August 16, 2024 |url-access=limited}} In her 2023 memoir Enough, former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson noted that Trump's Chief of Staff Mark Meadows reacted to Cain's passing by remarking "we killed Herman Cain" in reference to the 2020 Tulsa rally.{{Cite web |last1=Tapper |first1=Jake |last2=Herb |first2=Jeremy |last3=Humphrey |first3=Makayla |date=2023-09-26 |title=Cassidy Hutchinson's new book reveals a Trump White House even more chaotic than previously known {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/26/politics/cassidy-hutchinson-book-trump-white-house-chaos/index.html |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=CNN |language=en}}

Bibliography

{{external media| float = right| video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?187371-1/they-stupid-book-party Book party for They Think You're Stupid, May 16, 2005], C-SPAN}}

"The Intangibles of Implementation" in the technical journal Interfaces (Vol. 9, No. 5, 1979, pp. 144–147), published by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS).
{{cite book|title=Leadership Is Common Sense|orig-year=1997|edition=2nd|year=2000|publisher=Tapestry|isbn=978-1-930819-02-3}}
{{cite book|title=Speak as a Leader|year=1999|publisher=Lebhar-Friedman Books|isbn=978-0-86730-782-5|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/speakasleaderdev0000cain}}
{{cite book|title=CEO of SELF|year=2001|publisher=Tapestry|isbn=978-1-930819-04-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/ceoofselfyourein0000cain}}
{{cite book|title=They Think You're Stupid: Why Democrats Lost Your Vote and What Republicans Must Do to Keep It|orig-year= 2005|year= 2011|publisher=Stroud & Hall|isbn=978-0-9796462-7-0}}
{{cite book|title = This Is Herman Cain!: My Journey to the White House|year=2011|publisher = Threshold Editions|isbn = 978-1-4516-6613-7|title-link = This is Herman Cain!: My Journey to the White House}}
{{cite book|title = 9–9–9: An Army of Davids|year= 2012|publisher = Velocity Mascot|isbn = 978-1-62086-030-4|title-link = 9–9–9: An Army of Davids}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20120328215620/http://cainconnections.com/ Cain's Solution Revolution] official website, archived from March 2012

{{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=128737 | fec=P00003608 | congress= }}

[http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/candidate.php?id=N00009852 Financial information] at OpenSecrets.org

[https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/01/watch-herman-cain-battle-bill-clinton-on-health-care/69683/ Watch Herman Cain Battle Bill Clinton on Health Care], Joshua Green, The Atlantic, January 2011, with [https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1969/12/herman-cain-the-gop-wild-card/8367/ Profile]

{{s-ttl|title=President and Chief Executive Officer of Godfather's Pizza|years=1986–1996}}

{{s-ttl|title=President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Restaurant Association|years=1996–1999}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City|years=1995–1996}}

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