Spiro Theodore Agnew, the son of a Greek immigrant, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1918. Agnew spent his childhood in Baltimore and later attended Johns Hopkins University to study chemistry but quit before completing the degree. He began working a day job while attending law school in the evening at the University of Baltimore. Agnew was drafted into the Army during World War II where he served as an officer. After the war he married Elinor Isabel Judefind.

In 1947, Agnew began the practice of law and ten years later became involved in municipal law through his appointment to the Baltimore County Zoning Board of Appeals. In 1962, he was elected to serve as Executive of Baltimore County. In 1967, Agnew entered and won the gubernatorial race in Maryland. Following his first year as governor, Agnew was chosen to be Richard Nixon's running mate. While Agnew was a well-known figure in...