Michael Joseph Jackson, August 29, 1958 (Gary, Ind.) – June 25, 2009 (Los Angeles, Calif.)
VP candidate for Independent (aka Independent Republican) (2000, 2008)
Running mate with nominee (2000, 2008): Roger Henry Jewell (b. 1960)
Popular vote (2000, 2008): ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2000, 2008): 0/538
The campaign (2000):
On Nov. 29, 1998, reporter Robert Gavin disclosed, "Roger Jewell of Phoenix, Ariz., also was a candidate in 1996. This time he's apparently hoping a well-known running mate will put him over the top. In addition to his own committee, he formed the 'Draft Michael Jackson (King of Pop) for VP 2000 Committee,' according to FEC records."
From what I can gather, Jewell has run for President in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2016. Although he has initially filed as a Republican or Libertarian on occasion it seems he usually settles into an independent status by Election Day.
Jewell has also created numerous PACs over the course of his political career, here are several I have identified that provide a window into his platform--
ROGER JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT '96 COMMITTEE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT UNIFICATION PROJECT
FRIENDS OF THE LIGHT PARTY
COMMITTEE FOR FAIR AND OPEN ELECTIONS
AMERICANS AGAINST ABORTION
ISRAEL/PALESTINE PEACE MEDIATION COMMITTEE
AMERICAN WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE
PEACE IN IRAQ NOW COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION FOR EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR PRESIDENCY
DRAFT MICHAEL JACKSON (KING OF POP) FOR VP 2000 COMMITTEE
DRAFT MICHAEL JACKSON KING OF POP FOR VP 2008 CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
COALITION OF INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
COMMITTEE FOR THE DECLASSIFICATION OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
UFOS
ROGER JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT 2008
REPARATIONS NOW!
EXPLORATION COMMITTEE FOR PEACEFUL FORMATION OF A SPACE NATION
AGENCY FOR DECRIMINALIZATION OF DRUG LAWS
CARING CHRISTIANS FOR FAIRNESS AND GAY MARRIAGE
VETERANS FOR ROGER JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008
AMERICANS FOR FAIR TAX STRUCTURE
GET UP STAND UP STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS COMMITTEE
PATRIOTS FOR STRICTER GUN POLICIES
FIGHT THE POWER COMMITTEE
ROGER JEWELL DRAFT MICHAEL JACKSON KING OF POP PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN
COMMITTEE 2008
JEWISH-CHRISTIAN COALITION FOR ROGER JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008
PATRIOTS FOR THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS AND ASSAULT WEAPONS (AS PER THE
CONSTITUTION)
JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT '96 COMMITTEE
MUSLIMS FOR JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008
COMMITTEE INVES/POSSIBLE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT/1996 REP PRES CAND ROGER
JEWELL
ROGER JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT 2000 CAMPAIGN
FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL DISABILITY PARTY
ELECTORAL COLLEGE FOR ROGER JEWELL 2015
ROGER JEWELL FOR LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENT 2016
ROGER JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT 2016
Not sure what his connection was with the Light Party or the National Disability Party. The 1996 assassination attempt is a story yet to be uncovered.
In a 2014 too-much-personal-information interview, Jewell expressed admiration for Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush, coming across as something of a centrist conservative peppered with a few social libertarian policies.
Jewell's choice of Michael Jackson as a running-mate, was, I assume, news to Mr. Jackson if in fact he knew about it. The Jewell-created PAC called Draft Michael Jackson (King of Pop) For VP 2000 Committee could possibly have attracted Jackson's attention. In 2000 Jackson was living in New York City and working on his 10th solo album, Invincible.
I could not locate any states where Jewell was a certified write-in candidate in 2000.
The campaign (2008):
Although Jewell had run for President in 2004 there is not a lot data about that campaign. But in 2008 he once again indicated Jackson would be a fine running-mate as Jewell formed a PAC called Draft Michael Jackson King of Pop For VP 2008 Campaign Committee. Demonstrating a possible inner conflict, Jewell also formed the PAC known as Roger Jewell Draft Michael Jackson King of Pop President Campaign Committee 2008.
For his part, Jackson was preparing for a new concert tour. Back in California, Century 21 had not been kind the King of Pop. He lost his contract with Sony, was taken to court as a result of various child sexual abuse allegations, and he was on the edge of financial ruin. Also his health was rapidly declining. If the Jewell/Jackson ticket had emerged victorious in 2008, the Vice-President would have died only six months after taking office if Fate kept the same timetable.
Jewell did not run for President in 2012, instead acting as the Executive Director of the Draft Sarah Palin for President Committee. But in 2016 he made another run for the White House.
Election history: none
Other occupations: entertainer, King of Pop
Buried: Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale, Calif.)
Notes:
Washington State trivia alert! Roger Jewell was born in Tacoma. I knew some Jewells in Olympia in
the 1960s. Related?
In addition to a long list of celebrities, Jackson is buried in the same cemetery as fellow third party
VPs Claude Alonzo Watson (1885-1978), Prohibition Party 1936, and Job Harriman (1861-1925),
Social Democratic Party 1900. Like Jackson, Harriman was also born in Indiana.
