VP candidate for Reform Party 1844
Running mate with nominee: Joseph Smith (1805-1844)
Popular vote: 0
Electoral vote: 0/275
The campaign:
Historians of all stripes debate the motives of why Joseph Smith, who is considered a prophet by those in the Mormon faith, would ever run for President. Had he lived, the Reform Party of 1844 would no doubt have changed the tone of that election season.
The plans were set early in the year. On May 17, 1844 a convention was held in the LDS city of Nauvoo, Ill. nominating Smith with Sidney Rigdon for Vice-president. A more formal national convention was planned for Baltimore on July 13. Over 200 "electioneer missionaries" were sent to all 26 states, including nearly everyone in the top LDS echelon. As far as minor political parties go, this one was well organized but also created intense reactions. Reform Party political conventions in Boston, Mass. and Dresden, Tenn. sparked riots.
The Reform Party platform included "compensated emancipation," creation of a national bank, moderate tariffs, downsizing the federal government including reducing the number of representatives in the US House, open borders, abolish prisons, invite Canada and Mexico to join the US, annexing Texas, California and Oregon. The Party's Latin campaign slogan, "Super hanc petram aedificabo" roughly translates to "Upon this rock."
While Rigdon and most of the other Mormon inner circle were spread around the nation starting the electioneering, Smith was killed by a mob in Carthage, Ill. on June 27, 1844, ending the campaign and creating a leadership vacuum which resulted in a power struggle known as a classic "Succession Crisis." By Election Day 1844 the Reform Party had dissolved and the Church had split into several schisms, one of them being led by Sidney Rigdon who was initially based in Pittsburgh, Penn.
Election history: none
Other occupations: Baptist minister, tanner, Postmaster of Nauvoo, Ill.,
Buried: Maple Grove Cemetery (Friendship, NY)
Notes:
Converted to the Mormon faith in 1830.
Although Rigdon and Joseph Smith shared the bond of being jailed, tarred and feathered they also had a contentious relationship as the LDS Church was being formed.
Rigdon was Smith's third choice as a running mate.
Rigdon remains a controversial figure in LDS history to this day
