Orland Armstrong graduated summa cum laude in education and earned a law degree, followed by advanced degrees in journalism. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I and conducted a notable interview with Charles Lindbergh. Armstrong founded a journalism school and wrote extensively on civil rights and political corruption. He held various governmental roles and was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives, where he published investigative articles on political boss Tom Pendergast. Armstrong later worked for Reader's Digest and helped create an anti-pornography group.

Orland Armstrong's political identity is marked by a blend of ideological agility and principled consistency. His early isolationist foreign policy views gave way to a more interventionist stance post-Pearl Harbor, revealing a strategic adaptability. Armstrong's economic policy reflects a deep-seated concern for fiscal responsibility, yet his advocacy for civil rights and anti-pornography initiatives showcases a surprising progressive streak. His confrontational approach with Soviet delegates, particularly over slave labor camps, highlights a confrontational yet principled stance in international diplomacy.