William Richard Rogers, May 1, 1923 (Rougemont, NC) - May 25, 2015 (Fulton, Mo.)
VP candidate for Theocratic Party (1964)
Running mate with nominee: Homer A. Tomlinson (1892-1968)
Popular vote: 24 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Early in the campaign season perennial candidate Homer A. Tomlinson (Theocratic Party) endorsed perennial candidate Harold E. Stassen (Republican) for President. In fact, Tomlinson said the Theocratic Party would give Stassen the Presidential nomination with Richard Nixon as his running mate in a heartbeat. But Stassen and Nixon had other plans, so Tomlinson had no choice but to run for President himself. It would be his fourth attempt and he declared at the outset in March, 1964, "There's no remote chance I'll be elected."
Tomlinson had been easily nominated at the Theocratic Party convention in Fulton, Mo. His running mate was William ("call me Bill") R. Rogers.
Rogers was elected the National Chair of the Theocratic Party at their convention also in Fulton, Mo. in May 1960, where he was also the pastor of the local Church of God. He served as the campaign manager for the Party's 1960 Presidential campaign.
In May 1964 Tomlinson told an audience in Lawrence, Kansas that he hoped to be a "the dark-dark horse" for the Republican Presidential nomination. An ex-Republican himself, Tomlinson said Goldwater was "75% Theocratic already."
The 1964 "Platform of Righteousness" was already well in place before Tomlinson was nominated:
1. For Union of Church and State in Jesus, Prince of Peace.
2. To keep U.S. Constitution, Freedom of Worship, Liberty.
3. For 10% Tithes for Church and Nation, Instead of Taxes.
4. To Maintain 1964 Scale of Wages, Profits, Progress.
5. For Unlimited Production, Free Enterprise.
6. To End Wars, Crime, Delinquency.
7. To Unite Families, End Divorce.
8. To End Use of Tobacco, Intoxicants. Narcotics, Gambling.
9. To Assure Equality for all Races, Nations.
10. To Abandon Roman Law, English Common Law, Establish New Codes, Civil and Criminal.
11. Establish Bible Reading, Prayer in All Schools.
12. Follow New Revelations in Government and Peace.
Most of the Theocratic Party press conferences took place in Greyhound Bus terminals around the country.
In April 1964 VP nominee Rogers revealed to the press that the Theocratic Party believed the Democratic Party would split when Alabama Gov. George Wallace ran on a third party ticket (Rogers was four years off, but he did indeed see the future, sort of) and in an Electoral College deadlock the US House would turn to the Tomlinson/Rogers ticket to save the country.
In early July 1964 Bill Rogers was driving a car with several passengers in Terre Haute, Ind. and rear-ended another vehicle. No one was killed but the other driver suffered back injuries.
Later in July Rogers told the press he had 93,000 supporters and was planning to show up at the Republican convention since "Divine inspiration was guiding him toward the vice-presidency." Surprisingly, he said he planned to don the sort of crown and robe costume usually worn by Tomlinson and declare the following message at the doors of the convention as he nominated himself as their VP nominee:
Oh, Republicans! I stand at your door and knock. But there is a latch. If you will not lift that latch, I cannot come in. But if you will lift it, I will come in.
Rogers said of himself and Tomlinson: "He's an ex-Republican and I'm an ex-Democrat. This nation needs men who've got wisdom like Solomon, and we've got it."
In a rare joint appearance in Lawrence, Kansas late October in the presence of an audience, Tomlinson (self-proclaimed "King of the World") anointed Rogers on the top of his cranium with drops of olive oil and declared his running mate to be "King of the United States." When asked why a King of the World needs to run for President, Tomlinson answered, "I am king in righteousness. I am like an artist who wants to paint the great picture. The President holds more power than any modern king; therefore I am a candidate for President."
The Party was not on any ballots, once again. The Theocratic ticket was alleged to have earned about 24 votes. Tomlinson thought 1964 would be his final run for President, but 1968 had a surprise in store for him.
Election history:
1968 - US President (Theocratic Party) - withdrew
Other occupations: pastor, missionary, baseball umpire, sailor (US Navy WWII)
Buried: Oak Chapel Methodist Cemetery (Stephens, Mo.)
Notes:
His schooling ended at the 11th grade.
Became a pastor in Tomlinson's church in 1956.
Considered running for President in the 1990s.
One writer says Tomlinson withdrew from the race only days before the election and encouraged
voters to write-in Harold Stassen, but I can find no primary sources to support that.
