From time to time throughout American history, third parties have popped up to represent a particular cause, or on behalf an individual who believed that he, and he alone, could save the country from a disastrous course. Eugene Debs, for example, ran for President as a Socialist five times beginning in 1900 (the last time from a prison cell).
Theodore Roosevelt was a man of energy. His meeting with John Muir led to the establishment of the National Park System.
His policy of “Walk softly but carry a big stick” helped prevent foreign interference in the Americas, and his heroic charge leading the Rough Riders up San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American war are legendary. He assumed the Presidency in 1901 when William McKinley was shot by an anarchist. He was re-elected easily in 1904 and since he had served ‘nearly’ two terms he didn’t run again in 1908. All good! But being out of the limelight didn’t suit Teddy and in 1912 he ran again. His candidacy split the Republican party and allowed Woodrow Wilson, the Democratic candidate to win.
Wilson, former President of Princeton (and, sadly, an avowed antisemite) had campaigned on staying out of the war in Europe. Three years later, an American ship, Lusitania, was sunk by German U-boats. He bowed to public pressure and declared war. How history would have turned out if Teddy had stayed out of the race is just another “what if?”
By 1992, wars, civil rights, and gay acceptance had increased schisms within our country. Two years earlier, tiny Kuwait, a small middle east oil rich country, was invaded by its larger neighbor, Iraq, and the 1st Gulf War began with the U.S. coming to the small kingdom’s rescue. To pay for it President H.W. Bush broke his campaign slogan ‘no new taxes.’ Republicans were furious and now he was running for re-election against a charming, brash Democrat, Bill Clinton. In addition, a wealthy Texas computer nerd, H. Ross Perot, entered the race as a 3d party Independent. Perot managed to suck in more than 18% of the vote, enough to divide the Republican base and give Bill Clinton the election. Monica Lewinsky would be forever more grateful.
The 2000 election was even more of a debacle. Bill Clinton couldn’t run for a 3d term, so the Democrats embraced Al Gore, who had been Vice-President. The Republicans nominated George W. Bush, son of the senior George Bush, whom Clinton had defeated eight years earlier. This younger Bush, Governor of Texas, was thought to be a lightweight but the Bush name still drew support, and Gore had only yawn-appeal. Then the election got really “mushed” up.
Enter Ralph Nader, a consumer advocate who had gained fame criticizing dangerous auto design, and darling of those on the left. At the same time, Pat Buchanan, formerly White House Communications Director, also entered, appealing to those on the far right.
As votes were counted, Florida’s election system came into question and a new word, ‘hanging chad’ entered our vocabulary. The dispute was dropped into the hands of the Republican-leaning Supreme Court. The result…a foregone conclusion.
In the years that followed Bush’s hawkish supporters upended the Middle East with wars in Iraq and Syria, that left both countries bankrupt and bleeding. It is unlikely any of those would have been fought had the 3d party candidates not divided the democratic vote. It is also interesting whether a Gore presidency would have engendered more “green” policies.
As we head for 2024 we could have a plethora of choices. One can only hope for the election of a moderate. I, for one, have had enough craziness.