John Newberry, 1953 (British Columbia) -
VP candidate for Mad Hatters Tea Party International (1976)
Running mate with nominee: Steve Willis (b 1955)
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
The Mad Hatters Tea Party International was cooked up by two cartoonists, John Newberry of Victoria, BC and Steve Willis of McCleary, Wash. around 1973. The Party was Leftist Dada with a main interest in the impeachment of President Richard Nixon. Silkscreen posters were created and displayed in comic book shops, most notably and enthusiastically at the now legendary Eaton's Bookstall in Aberdeen, Wash. where future well known comics artist John Workman used to hang out at the time. Also an ad was placed in the Daily Olympian Apr. 15, 1973.
After Nixon resigned in disgrace in 1974 the MHTPI sort of evaporated and Newberry and Willis lost contact.
Newberry had been politically active with the New Democratic Party in British Columbia. Willis was a former McGovern volunteer who was a Democratic Party PC and supported Fred Harris in the 1976 caucus (and was hopelessly outvoted by the Scoop Jackson fans) but did vote for Carter in the general election. In 1999 he ran a cartoon dog for Mayor and won about 5% of the vote.
Aside from both candidates being far below the Constitutionally mandated minimum age to hold office, Newberry is a Canadian citizen which would have posed a small legal problem in the event this ticket had won.
Election history: none
Other occupations: comic book dealer, cartoonist, author
Notes:
Full disclosure: I'm Willis.
