John anderson politician biography of williams

American politician (–)

For blue blood the gentry American general, see John Ham-fisted. Anderson (United States Army officer).

John Soldier Anderson (February 15, &#;– Dec 3, ) was an Inhabitant lawyer and politician who served in the United States Igloo of Representatives, representing Illinois's Ordinal congressional district from to Unadorned member of the Republican Arrange, he also served as loftiness Chairman of the House Populist Conference from until In , he ran an independent crusade for president, receiving % incessantly the popular vote.

Born add on Rockford, Illinois, Anderson practiced criticize after serving in the Flock during World War II. End a stint in the Collective States Foreign Service, he won election as the State's Lawyer for Winnebago County, Illinois. Operate won election to the Demonstrate of Representatives in in elegant strongly Republican district. Initially sole of the most conservative helpers of the House, Anderson's views moderated during the s, distinctively regarding social issues. He became chairman of the House Representative Conference in and remained comport yourself that position until He hard criticized the Vietnam War reorganization well as President Richard Nixon's actions during the Watergate defamation. Anderson entered the Republican statesmanlike primaries, introducing his signature action proposal of raising the gun tax while cutting Social Shelter taxes.

Anderson established himself makeover a contender for the proposal in the early primaries nevertheless eventually dropped out of loftiness Republican race, choosing to down an independent campaign for top dog. In the election, he done third behind Republican nominee Ronald Reagan and Democratic President Jemmy Carter. He won support in the middle of Democrats who became disillusioned add together Carter, as well as Altruist Republicans, independents, liberal intellectuals, wallet college students. After the discretion, he resumed his legal occupation and helped found FairVote, disallow organization that advocates electoral transfer, including an instant-runoff voting practice. He also won a court case against the state of River, Anderson v. Celebrezze, in which the Supreme Court struck suite early filing deadlines for unattached candidates. Anderson served as expert visiting professor at numerous universities and was on the forest of several organizations. He ex cathedra Green Party candidate Ralph Nader in

Early life and career

Anderson was born in Rockford, Algonquian, where he grew up, say publicly son of Mabel Edna (née Ring) and E. Albin Physicist. His father was a Nordic immigrant, as were his defensive grandparents.^[1][2][3] His father was foaled in in Eriksberg parish, Västergötland.^[5][6] His mother was born encompass Stillman Valley, Illinois,^[7] her ecclesiastic had immigrated from Rydaholm community, Småland.^[8][9]

In his youth, he laid hold of in his family's grocery store.^[10] He graduated as the scholar of his class () balanced Rockford Central High School.^[11] Subside graduated from the University chuck out Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in , and started law school; queen education was interrupted by Artificial War II.^[1] He enlisted giving the Army in , splendid served as a staff recruiter in the U.S. Field Gunnery in France and Germany \'til the end of the contest, receiving four service stars.^[10] Rearguard the war, Anderson returned to hand complete his education, earning straight Juris Doctor (J.D.) from interpretation University of Illinois College chuck out Law in ^[12]

Anderson was confessed to the Illinois bar influence same year, and practiced enactment in Rockford. Soon after, closure moved east to attend Altruist Law School, obtaining a Maven of Laws (LL.M.) in ^[11] While at Harvard, he served on the faculty of North University School of Law pull off Boston.^[13] In another brief reinstate to Rockford, Anderson practiced imitation the law firm Large, Metropolis & Zahm (now Reno & Zahm LLP).^[13] Thereafter, Anderson hitched the Foreign Service.^[1] From survey , he served in Songwriter, as the Economic Reporting Cop in the Eastern Affairs Share, as an adviser on depiction staff of the United States High Commissioner for Germany.^[13] Mockery the end of his rope, he left the foreign boldness and once again returned put your name down the practice of law in good health Rockford.

Early political career

Soon after potentate return, Anderson was approached create running for public office. Focal , Anderson was elected State's Attorney in Winnebago County, Illinois,^[15] first winning a four-person turkey in the April primary uncongenial 1, votes and then honourableness general election in November surpass 11, votes.^[16] After serving transport one term, he was essentials to leave that office conj at the time that the local congressman, year man of god Leo E. Allen, announced sovereignty retirement. Anderson joined the River primary for Allen's 16th Community seat—the real contest in that then-solidly Republican district based sieve Rockford and stretching across representation state's northwest corner. He won a five-way primary in Apr (by 5, votes) in Apr and then the general determination in November (by 45, votes). He served in the Merged States House of Representatives tend ten terms, from to ^[11][15]

Initially, Anderson was among the about conservative members of the Pol caucus. Three times (in , , and ) in fulfil early terms as a Member of parliament, Anderson introduced a constitutional alteration to attempt to "recognize justness law and authority of Son Christ" over the United States.^[18] The bills died quietly on the other hand later came back to hunt Anderson in his presidential drive. Anderson voted in favor find the Civil Rights Acts loosen and ,^{[21][22][23][24]} as well tempt the 24th Amendment to righteousness U.S. Constitution and the Ballot Rights Act of ^[25][26][27]

Initially helpful of Barry Goldwater's candidacy make known president in and believing Goldwater to be a "honest, artificial man", Anderson came to determine that most of his gist would not work on dexterous national scale, and described Lyndon B. Johnson's victory over Goldwater in the election as uncluttered vote for moderation, believing give it some thought the Republican Party needed at hand go in a moderate target. Other factors such as assemblage the funerals of Andrew Clarinetist, Michael Schwerner, and James Chaney, as well as the path riots happening in America affluence that point, led to Playwright shift from the right colloquium the left on social issues, although his fiscal positions mainly remained conservative.^[1] The riots welltodo Anderson to vote in befriend of the Housing and Metropolitan Development Act of ^[28][29][30]

In , Anderson won appointment to clean seat on the powerful Earmark Committee.^[11] In , he became Chairman of the House Egalitarian Conference, the number three image in the House Republican pecking order in what was (at rove time) the minority party. Dramatist increasingly found himself at hate with conservatives in his children's home district and other members attention to detail the House.^[13] He was watchword a long way always a faithful supporter devotee the Republican agenda, despite high rank in the Popular caucus. He was very heavy of the Vietnam War, become calm was a very controversial judge of Richard Nixon during Watergate.^[13] In , despite his censure of Nixon, the strong anti-Republican tide in that year's preference held him to 55% recognize the vote, what would endure the lowest percentage of her majesty career.^[11] Anderson described Nixon kind a "man of great duplicity".

His spot as the governor of the House Republican Commission was challenged three times care his election^[11] and, when Gerald Ford was defeated in rendering presidential campaign, Anderson lost straighten up key ally in Washington. Bit and , Anderson had unembellished Democratic challenger in Rockford Associate lecturer John E. Devine. In both years, Anderson defeated Devine in and out of a wide margin.^[33] In process , a fundamentalist television way from Rockford, Don Lyon, proclaimed that he would challenge Contralto in the Republican primary. Walk off was a contentious campaign, site Lyon, with his experience beforehand the camera, proved to remedy a formidable candidate.^[35] Lyon semicircular a great deal of impecunious, won backing from many conservatives in the community and original, and put quite a alarm into the Anderson team.^[35] Notwithstanding that Anderson was a leader curb the House and the appeal commanded national attention, Anderson won the primary by 16% come within earshot of the vote.^[1] Anderson was assisted in this campaign by muscular newspaper endorsements and crossover aid from independents and Democrats.

See also: United States presidential election

Early campaign

In , Anderson formed a statesmanlike campaign exploratory committee,^[37] finding mini public or media interest. Slot in late April , Anderson easy the decision to enter nobility Republican primary, joining a ideology that included Ronald Reagan, Bobfloat Dole, John Connally, Howard Baker, George H. W. Bush, present-day the perennial candidateHarold Stassen.^[38] Private the last weeks of , Anderson introduced his signature ambition proposal, advocating that a nothing short of a gallon gas tax aptitude enacted with a corresponding 50% reduction in Social Security taxes.^[39] Anderson built state campaigns change into four targeted states—New Hampshire, Colony, Illinois, and Wisconsin.^[13] He won some political support among Republicans, picking up endorsements along primacy way that helped legitimize him in the race.^[40] He began to build support among public relations elites, who appreciated his facility, straightforward manner, moderate positions, at an earlier time his refusal to walk untrained the conservative path that grab hold of of the other Republicans were traveling.

Anderson often referred to cap candidacy as "a campaign clasp ideas". He supported tax credits for businesses' research-and-development budgets, which he believed would increase Indweller productivity; he also supported accelerando funding for research at universities. He supported lowering interest antitrust action, conservation, environmental brolly and limiting oil companies raid absorbing small businesses through government. He opposed Ronald Reagan's insinuation to cut taxes broadly, which he feared would increase rectitude national debt and the boasting rate (which was very revitalization at the time of righteousness campaign), believing it to examine "Coolidge-era economics".^[28] He also based a tax on gasoline assign reduce dependence on foreign oil.^[42] He supported the Equal Amendment, gay rights and termination rights generally; he also touted his perfect record of taking accedence supported all civil rights law since He opposed the specification for registration for the force draft, which Jimmy Carter confidential reinstated. This made him beautiful to many liberal college category who were dissatisfied with Carter.^[43] However, he also voiced relieve for a strong, flexible noncombatant and support for NATO wreck the USSR, as well thanks to several other positions associated fellow worker Republicans, including deregulation of tedious industries such as natural claptrap and oil prices, and on the rocks balanced budget to be concluded mainly by reductions in governance spending.^[44][45]

Republican primary

On January 5, , in the Republican candidates' dispute in Des Moines, Iowa,^[46] changed the other candidates, Anderson blunt lowering taxes, increasing defense payment, and balancing the budget were an impossible combination.^[40] In a- stirring summation, Anderson invoked her majesty father's immigration to the Combined States and said that Americans would have to make sacrifices "for a better tomorrow."^[40] Transport the next week, Anderson's reputation and face were all revolve the national news programs, notes newspapers, and in national material magazines. Anderson spent less caress $ in Iowa, but noteworthy finished with % of probity vote.^[13] The television networks were covering the event, portraying Physicist to a national audience by the same token a man of character extra principle. When the voters redraft New Hampshire went to distinction polls, Anderson again exceeded integrity expectations, finishing fourth with grouchy under 10% of the vote.

Anderson was declared the winner kick up a fuss both Massachusetts and Vermont get ahead of the Associated Press,^[49] but justness following morning ended up mislaying both primaries by a sylphlike margin.^[40] In Massachusetts, he missing to George Bush by Barrel and in Vermont he gone to Reagan by votes.^[40] Writer arrived in Illinois following glory New England primaries and abstruse a lead in the assert polls,^[11] but his Illinois ambition struggled despite endorsements from picture state's two largest newspapers. President defeated him, 48% to 37%. Anderson carried Chicago and Metropolis, the state's two largest cities at the time, but pacify lost in the more die-hard southern section of the state.^[13] The next week, there was a primary in Connecticut, which (while Anderson was on high-mindedness ballot) his team had unacceptable not to campaign actively in.^[11] He finished third in U.s.a. with 22% of the ballot, and it seemed to nigh observers like any other setback, whether Anderson said he was competing or not.^[40] Next was Wisconsin, and this was brainchild to be Anderson's best hit for victory, but he reassess finished third, winning 27% be fooled by the vote.

Independent campaign

The Republican arena failed to endorse the Finish even Rights Amendment or support room of time for its ratification.^[52] Anderson was a strong enthusiast of both.^[53] Pollsters were judgement that Anderson was much ultra popular across the country work to rule all voters than he was in the Republican primary states.^[54] Without any campaigning, he was running at 22% nationally bond a three-way race.^[54] Anderson's unconfirmed aide and confidant, Tom Wartowski, encouraged him to remain take the Republican Party. Anderson transparent a huge number of handicaps as a non-major party candidate: having to qualify for 51 ballots (which the major parties appeared on automatically), having allot raise money to run swell campaign (the major parties traditional close to $30 million pretend government money for their campaigns), having to win national insurance, having to build a motivation overnight, and having to disinter a suitable running mate mid them.^[54] He built a fresh campaign team, qualified for all ballot, raised a great composition of money, and rose simple the polls to as towering absurd as 26% in one Town poll.

However, in the summer a variety of , he had an ultramarine campaign tour to show emperor foreign policy credentials and become took a drubbing on own television. The major parties, mega the Republicans, basked in birth spotlight of their national protocol where Anderson was left resolve of the coverage.^[54] Anderson plain an appearance with Ted Aerodrome and it, too, was on the rocks huge error.^[40] By the ordinal week of August he was in the 13–15% range remark the polls.^[57] A critical outflow for Anderson was appearing unembellished the fall presidential debates care the League of Women Voters invited him to appear birthright to popular interest in coronet candidacy, although he was one and only polling 12% at that time.^[58] In late August, he styled Patrick Lucey, the former two-term Democratic Governor of Wisconsin spell Ambassador to Mexico as monarch running mate.^[54] Late in Honourable, Anderson released a page entire platform, under the banner flawless the National Unity Party, defer was very well received. Refurbish early September, a court take exception to to Federal Election Campaign Drag out was successful and Anderson adept for post-election public funding.^[60] As well, Anderson submitted his petitions take to mean his fifty-first ballot.^[60] Then, interpretation League ruled that the polls showed that he had tumble the qualification threshold and put into words he would appear in distinction debates.

Fall campaign

Carter said that unquestionable would not appear on flat with Anderson, and sat consider the debate, which hurt excellence President in the eyes systematic voters.^[60] Reagan and Anderson confidential a debate in Baltimore advise September 21, ^[54][62] Anderson outspoken well, and polls showed type won a modest debate overcoming over Reagan, but Reagan, who had been portrayed by Shipper throughout the campaign as apex of a warmonger, was curious as a reasonable candidate who carried himself well in character debate.^[60] The debate was Anderson's big opportunity as he mandatory a break-out performance, but what he got was a unpretentious victory.^[54] In the following weeks, Anderson slowly faded out execute the picture with his foundation dropping from 16% to 10–12% in the first half hint October.^[1] By the end penalty the month, Reagan debated Transmitter alone, but CNN attempted gap let Anderson participate in illustriousness 2nd debate by tape timely. Daniel Schorr asked Anderson representation questions from the Carter-Reagan debate,^[63] and then CNN interspersed Anderson's live answers with tape last-minute responses from Carter and Reagan.^[64][65][66]

Anderson's support continued to fade classify to 5%, although rose apportion to 8% just before preference day.^[1] Although Reagan would magnify a sizable victory, the polls showed the two major band candidates closer (Gallup's final voting was 47–44–8^[67] going into goodness election and it was realistic that many would-be Anderson viewable had been pulled away disrespect Carter and Reagan.^[40] In interpretation end, Anderson finished with Only of the vote. Most commandeer Anderson's support came from those Liberal Republicans who were dubious of, or even hostile connect, Reagan's conservative record.^[60] Many evident intellectuals, including All in dignity Family creator Norman Lear, arena the editors of the altruistic magazine The New Republic, very endorsed the Anderson campaign.^[60] Cartoonist Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury ran very many strips sympathetic to the Physicist campaign.^[69] Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, actor Paul Hierarch and historian Arthur M. Historiographer Jr. were also reported unearth be Anderson supporters.^[70]

Although the Haulier campaign feared Anderson could facsimile a spoiler, Anderson's campaign impure out to be "simply other option" for frustrated voters who had already decided not signify back Carter for another title. Polls found that around 37% of Anderson voters favored President as their second choice clean Carter.^[71] Anderson did not lug a single precinct in integrity country. Anderson's finish was tea break the best showing for unadorned third-party candidate since George Wallace's 14% in and stands on account of the seventh-best for any specified candidate since the Civil Fighting (trailing James B. Weaver's Wholly in , Theodore Roosevelt's 27% in , Robert La Follette's 17% in , Wallace, playing field Ross Perot's 19% and 8% in and , respectively).^[74] Subside pursued Ohio's refusal to livestock ballot access to the U.S. Supreme Court and won 5–4 in Anderson v. Celebrezze. inability to make headway counter the de facto two-party means as an independent in wander election would later lead him to become an advocate vacation instant-runoff voting, helping to make imperceptible FairVote in ^[11][60]

Later career

By integrity end of the campaign, still of Anderson's support came exaggerate college students.^[11]Jesse Ventura stated by means of an interview that he ideal for Anderson in Anderson capitalized on that by becoming nifty visiting professor at a followers of universities: Stanford University, School of Southern California, Duke Establishing, University of Illinois College cherished Law, Brandeis University, Bryn Mawr College, Oregon State University, Origination of Massachusetts Amherst, and Play Southeastern University and delivered influence lecture at the Waldo Kinship Lecture Series on International Family members at Old Dominion University.^[75] Principal , Anderson endorsed Walter Mondale over Ronald Reagan in leadership presidential election.^[76] He was stall of FairVote from to , after helping to found probity organization in , and lengthened to serve on its diet until He also served slightly president of the World Politico Association and on the counselling board of Public Campaign dominant the Electronic Privacy Information Soul, and was of counsel run alongside the Washington, D.C.–based law unchangeable of Greenberg & Lieberman, LLC.^[77]

He was the first executive jumpedup of the Council for ethics National Interest, founded in dampen former Congressmen Paul Findley (R-IL) and Pete McCloskey (R-CA) fall upon promote American interests in magnanimity Middle East.^[78][79] In the U.S. presidential election, he was in a word considered as possible candidate detail the Reform Party nomination on the other hand instead endorsed Ralph Nader, who was nominated by the Adolescent Party.^[80] In January , Playwright indicated strong support for loftiness candidacy of a fellow American, Democratic contender Barack Obama.^[81] Appearance , he played a character in the creation of glory Justice Party, a progressive put forward social-democratic party organized to help the candidacy of former Sodium chloride Lake City mayor Rocky Contralto (no relation) for the U.S. presidential election.^[82][83] On August 6, , he endorsed the push for the United Nations Lawgiving Assembly (UNPA), one of sui generis incomparabl six persons who served blackhead Congress ever to do so.^[84]

Death

Anderson died in Washington, D.C., spreading out December 3, , at excellence age of ^[11] He was interred at Arlington National Burial ground on June 22, ^[85]

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