Angela Yvonne Davis

 Washington State Voters Pamphlet: 1980 (above), 1984 (below)

Angela Yvonne Davis, January 26, 1944 (Birmingham, Ala.) -

VP candidate for Communist Party USA (aka People Before Profits Party aka Independent) (1980, 1984)

Running mate with nominee (1980, 1984): Gus Hall (1910-2000)
Popular vote (1980): 44,933 (0.05%)
Popular vote (1984): 36,386 (0.04%)
Electoral vote (1980, 1984): 0/538

The campaign (1980):

In the course of gathering the story of the typical third party Vice-Presidential candidate I usually have to scrape and dig to find even the most meager nuggets of data and information. But in the case of Angela Davis my challenge will be to sift through mountains of history and try to focus on her two runs as VP for the CPUSA.

Among the third party VPs for 1980 and 1984 Davis was easily the one who arrived as the most widely recognized national figure, and among the most controversial. It was a rare instance of the running-mate being better known than the Presidential nominee, in this case Gus Hall. She had been identified with the Black Panther Party, anti-war activity, Communist groups and countries, feminism, and prison reform. In a highly publicized criminal case, she had been held in prison 1970-1972 on three felony charges regarding her purchase of firearms that were later used in a Marin County, Calif. courtroom takeover that resulted in four deaths, including the judge. For a brief time Davis was on the Ten Most Wanted List when she became a fugitive. After her capture and subsequent trial she was eventually found not guilty.

The 1980 CPUSA platform included support of the ERA, transfer of money from the military to schools and hospitals and mass transit, outlawing the KKK and the Nazis, opposition to the draft, not allowing American companies to close plants and move out of the country, six-hour workday with 8-hour wages, and ratification of SALT II.

On the ballot in close to 30 states, the Hall/Davis ticket placed 6th nationally. Davis helped the Party gain a little more publicity than usual. It always amazes me how the CPUSA really outdid other third parties in terms of campaign buttons, stickers, and pamphlets. The major source of their electioneering funds was assumed to originally be in the form of rubles but we'll never know the exact amount or percentage of contributions from the CCCP because the CPUSA has hardly been transparent about these sort of things.

Strongest popular results were in: District of Columbia 0.21%, Illinois 0.20%, Arkansas and Hawaii 0.15% each, Alabama and New York 0.12% each. 

The campaign (1984):

Four years later the CPUSA offered the same Hall/Davis team. In this Orwellian year they spent more energy campaigning against President Reagan than they did in promoting their own agenda. In some ways they were giving a backhanded endorsement to the Mondale/Ferraro Democratic ticket.

Describing Reagan as a "nuclear madman," Davis told the press, "We understand millions of people are not going to vote for the Communist Party this time around. We are working primarily to defeat Reagan, a mouthpiece for the military-industrial complex that is willing to risk the sake of our planet for profits."

Hall added, "As the election approaches, Reagan's now calling for peace. He used to be a lousy actor, but now he's getting good at it." Davis said, "We do have problems with Mondale, who vacillates and thinks the way to win is by courting people who ordinarily would be in the Republican constituency. But if we do not defeat Reaganism this year, there is a possibility of nuclear holocaust."

This would be the final Presidential campaign for the CPUSA. Davis' star power presence on the ballot probably helped slow the rate of decline, but the popular votes were diminishing. More importantly, changes taking place in the soon to be former Soviet Union would shake the philosophical foundation of the American party and cut off financial support. Also, many of the idealistic young Leftists of the 1970s had become materialistic Yuppies of the 1980s. For a second time, Reagan won in a landslide.

The CPUSA finished in 8th place nationally. On the ballot in almost a dozen states they finished strongest in: Alabama 0.32%, Hawaii 0.24%, Maine 0.23%, Arkansas 0.17%, and District of Columbia 0.12%.

Election history: none

Other occupations: teacher, lecturer, author

Notes:
When skyjacker Garrett Brock Trapnell took control of a jet in 1972 he not only demanded money, he wanted Angela Davis released from prison and he wanted a pardon from President Nixon among other things. Instead he was made an involuntary guest of the Crowbar Hotel. During the 1980 election he was incarcerated in Marion and ran for President with VP and fellow convicted skyjacker Martin Joseph McNally under the Nationalist Christian Democratic Party.

Jarvis Tyner

 1972

 1976

Jarvis Tyner, July 11, 1941 (Philadephia, Penn.) -

VP candidate for Communist Party USA (aka Independent) (1972, 1976)

Running mate with nominee (1972, 1976): Gus Hall (1910-2000)
Popular vote (1972): 25,598 (0.03%)
Popular vote (1976): 58,709 (0.07%)
Electoral vote (1972, 1976): 0/538

The campaign (1972):

After years of numerous splits and intra-Party wars, the Communist Party USA was greatly diminished but enjoying something of a revival in the early 1970s. Even though the Democratic Party had nominated ultra-liberal US Sen. George McGovern (D-SD) who had been a member of Henry Wallace's Progressive Party earlier in his career, the CPUSA felt he would only "nibble" away at the capitalistic system and probably shift to the Right once he was elected.

The CPUSA selected Party veteran Gus Hall in what would be the first of his four runs for President. Jarvis Tyner, who at age 31 by Election Day was under the Constitutionally mandated age (35) to serve, was selected as VP. The ticket represented the pre- and post-WWII generations of the Party, but their orthodox views of Leninism, past enthusiastic support of Stalin, and general ties with the Soviet Union alienated a large swath of those on the American Left.

One area where the CPUSA was far ahead of most 20th century US political parties was in their activism for linking the social and civil rights of African Americans to what the Party viewed as part of their model of inevitable economic evolution. This was symbolized in the composition of their Presidential tickets with Charlene Mitchell as the nominee in 1968, and VPs James W. Ford 1936-1940-1944, Jarvis Tyner 1972-1976, and Angela Davis 1980-1984.

Now to digress a bit with a personal story. In 1972 Gus Hall came to give a campaign speech at a college near me, so being the politically curious young person I was, I went to hear what he had to say. The room was not packed, but I would guess there were about 50 of us at most in attendance. The front row was comprised of maybe a half dozen senior citizens who apparently were local Communists and perhaps active in the 1930s. They were quite vocal in cheering for Mr. Hall. The back rows were filled with Right-wing hecklers. At least a couple Secret Service agents were on either side of the room.

Mr. Hall declared at the outset he would not answer any "rhetorical questions," a rule that came in quite handy when attendees from the back row would ask him a question he didn't like, or at least that was my impression. He apologized for the presence of the Secret Service agents, who he said were there against his wishes.

His demeanor was cheerful and one could see the heckling directed at him was just part of the game and he was clearly not bothered by it. I don't recall him ever using the word "Communist," instead he employed the substitute term of "Scientific Socialism."

One of the bits of trivia he happily shared was that in the 1950s when he was imprisoned he got to know and like the infamous Machine-Gun Kelly (better remembered in 1972 than now).

I asked Mr. Hall how as President he would tolerate those who still advocated for the capitalist system. Rather than brush me aside as a rhetorical questioner he claimed he would pay capitalist apologists to speak in public in order to remind people how bad things used to be.

After the presentation was over I hung about a bit and noticed Mr. Hall was taken away in huge luxury car like a Lincoln or Cadillac.

The 1972 Hall/Tyner campaign was active and had the appearance of being better funded than most of the political parties running from the Left that year but they still trailed behind the Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Labor Party, and the People's Party. On the ballot in at least 15 states, their popular vote strongholds were Ohio 0.16%, District of Columbia 0.15%, Illinois 0.11%, and New York 0.08%.

The campaign (1976):

Same ticket as in 1972 but the political landscape was much different. The Vietnam War was over, Nixon was gone, and America had grown weary of keeping up with the social unrest of the 1960s and early 1970s and wanted a break (hence, Disco music and pet rocks). Since the major candidates President Gerald Ford and Gov. Jimmy Carter were both moderate centrists within their parties the CPUSA was able to claim with some justification that there was not a lot of ideological daylight between the two.

1976 was the best year in the CPUSA 1968-1984 range in terms of votes, but still below any of their showings percentage-wise between 1924-1940. On the ballot in almost half the states, they finished best in Louisiana 0.58%, Illinois 0.20%, Ohio 0.19%, Alabama 0.17%, California and New York 0.16% each.

Election history:
1978 - Governor of New York (Communist Party USA) - defeated
1985 - Mayor of New York City (People Before Profits) - defeated

Other occupations: industrial worker, lecturer, author

Notes:
Winner of the 1978 race was Hugh Carey.
Opponents in 1985 included Ed Koch (winner) and Lenora Fulani.
Moved to New York in 1967.
Jazz pianist McCoy Tyner is his older brother.
Joined the CPUSA in 1961 and remains allied to this day.

Michael Zagarell

 Zagarell, Gus Hall, Mitchell

Michael Zagarell, December 26, 1944 (New York, NY) -

VP candidate for Communist Party USA (aka Free Ballot Party) (1968)

Running mate with nominee: Charlene Alexander Mitchell (b. 1930)
Popular vote: 1,077 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

In the 1968 election year the Communist Party USA was making a comeback to the United States electoral game after an absence of 28 years. The last time we saw them openly run candidates in a Presidential election was in 1940. In 1948 and 1952 they endorsed the Progressive Party tickets and after that they just struggled to survive in the face of hostility from both the Right and Left. They were a magnet for vilification and persecution by Right-wing McCarthyites in the 1950s as the Cold War raged, but the CPUSA was also viewed as too authoritarian, Soviet-friendly, and Right-wing within the framework of other Leftist labor-centered political parties.

Athough Charlene Mitchell, the Presidential nominee of CPUSA selected in July 1968, was not the first African American woman to be on a party ticket, she was indeed the first to run for President. Charlotta Amanda Spears Bass was the VP nominee for the Progressive Party in 1952, which was also endorsed by CPUSA.  

Michael Zagarell, age 23, was selected as the running mate. He was one of several Presidential or Vice-Presidential nominees in the 1968 election year under the Constitutionally mandated age of 35. And in the era where the term "Generation Gap" was a harsh reality this was important. Mitchell's gender and race combined with Zagarell's youth spoke to three categories of disenfranchised Americans and, at least in 1968, was a counterweight to the perception that the CPUSA was sort of a relic-of-the-past party.

The CPUSA ticket was on the ballot only in Minnesota (415 votes, 0.03%) and Washington State (377 votes, also 0.03%). They gained a number of write-ins other states, particularly in California with 260 votes.

Later in life Mitchell left the CPUSA and joined the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism.        

Election history:
1974 - New York Attorney General (Communist Party USA) - defeated
1988 - US House of Representatives (NY) (Independent Progressive) - defeated

Other occupations: editor of Daily Worker, National Youth Director of CPUSA, editor of Political Affairs

Notes:
Joined CPUSA in 1962

Charlotta Amanda Spears Bass

 Bass compared to major party VP nominees Richard Nixon and John Sparkman

 During her acceptance speech with Hallinan

 With Hallinan and Paul Robeson

 With Robeson

Charlotta Amanda Spears Bass, February 14, 1874 (Sumter, SC) – April 12, 1969 (Los Angeles, Calif.)

VP candidate for Progressive Party (aka Independent Progressive Party) (1952)

Running mate with nominee: Vincent Hallinan (1896–1992)

Popular vote: 140,746 (0.23%)
Electoral vote: 0/531

The campaign:

After being badgered by the FBI and House UnAmerican Activities Committee and watching their 1948 leader Henry Wallace walk out in 1950 due to differences in foreign policy, the Progressive Party experienced a mass exodus in the short time since the previous Presidential election. Wallace came to support the Korean War and many of the more centrist members of the Party were not comfortable with the amount of Communist participation in their organization. By 1952 the Progressive Party was in the control of their Left flank.

For President in 1952, the Progressive Party nominated San Francisco-based attorney Vincent Hallinan who at the time was serving a short prison sentence in McNeil Island, Washington as a contempt of court charge while defending Harry Bridges. When he was released on August 17, 1952, a large crowd of supporters greeted him with a rally at the Steilacoom ferry dock. One of them had a sign that read, "From the Big House to the White House."

The running mate was a historic choice. Charlotta Bass was the first African American woman to be nominated for Vice-President. Her name was placed in nomination by Paul Robeson and seconded by W.E.B. Du Bois.

Sources vary on the date of her birth, but it seems she was 78-years old at the time she was nominated. She was mainly known as the publisher and editor of the California Eagle and used her influence to crusade for civil rights in many forms: racial, housing, labor, and voting as well as highlighting the abuses of police brutality. She was a registered Republican, even a Willkie organizer in 1940, until 1948 when she helped form the Progressive Party.

Most of her career had been made in California, but in 1951 she moved to New York.

Here are some excerpts from her acceptance speech:

I shall tell you how I come to stand here. I am a Negro woman. My people came before the Mayflower. I am more concerned with what is happening to my people in my country than in pouring out money to rebuild a decadent Europe for a new war. We have lived through two wars and seen their promises turn to bitter ashes. Two Negroes were the first Americans to be decorated for bravery in France in World War I, that war that was fought to make the world safe for democracy. But when it ended, we discovered we were making Africa safe for exploitation by the very European powers whose freedom and soil we had defended. And that war was barely over when a Negro soldier, returning to his home in Georgia, was lynched almost before he could take off his uniform. That war was scarcely over before my people were stoned and shot and beaten in a dozen northern cities. The guns were hardly silenced before a reign of terror was unloosed against every minority that fought for a better life.

...

Yes, we fought to end Hitlerism. But less than 7 years after the end of that war, I find men who lead my government paying out my money and your money to support the rebirth of Hitlerism in Germany to make it a willing partner in another war. We thought to destroy Hitlerism—but its germ took root right here. I look about me, at my own people—at all colored peoples all over the world. I see the men who lead my government supporting oppression of the colored peoples of the earth who today reach out for the independence this nation achieved in 1776.

Yes, it is my government that supports the segregation by violence practiced by a Malan in South Africa, sends guns to maintain a bloody French rule in Indo-China, gives money to help the Dutch repress Indonesia, props up Churchill’s rule in the Middle East and over the colored peoples of Africa and Malaya. This week Churchill’s general in Malaya terrorized a whole village for refusing to act as spies for the British, charging these Malyan and Chinese villagers who enjoyed no rights and no privileges—and I quote him literally—“for failing to shoulder the responsibility of citizenship.” But neither the Malayan people—nor the African people who demonstrate on April 6—will take this terror lying down. They are fighting back.

...

I have fought not only for my people. I have fought and will continue to fight unceasingly for the rights and privileges of all people who are oppressed and who are denied their just share of the world’s goods their labor produces. I have walked and will continue to walk in picket lines for the right of all men and women, of all races, to organize for their own protection and advancement. I will continue to cry out against police brutality against any people, as I did in the infamous zoot suit riots in Los Angeles in 1944, when I went into dark alleys and reached scared and badly beaten Negro and Mexican American boys, some of them children, from the clubs and knives of city police. Nor have I hesitated in the face of that most unAmerican Un-American Activities Committee—and I am willing to face it again. And so help me God, I shall continue to tell the truth as I know it and believe it as a progressive citizen and a good American.


...

The Progressive Party in 1952 was endorsed by the American Labor Party and for the second time in a row, the Communist Party USA. When Bass was accused of communist sympathies and "leaning to the Left" she replied, "How can I lean to the left when I am advocating what is right?"

The campaign suffered a blow in early September when newspaper supplement magazine This Week published an anti-Communist anti-Soviet article by Henry Wallace entitled "Where I was Wrong."

On the ballot in 28 states, the Progressive Party had a pretty feeble result especially compared to their 1948 showing. As bad as it was, they still placed third nationally. Best states: New York (0.90%), Maryland (0.81%), Oregon (0.53%), and California (0.46%) and it rapidly declines after that.

The Progressive Party disbanded in 1955. Hallinan was sent back to McNeil Island in 1954 to 1955 on a tax evasion conviction. Bass was considered a "security risk" by the FBI well into her 90s.

But Charlotta Bass had the last word, "Win or lose, we win by raising the issues."

Election history:
1945 - City Council, Los Angeles, Calif. - defeated
1950 - US House of Representatives (Calif.) (Independent Progressive) - defeated

Other occupations: newspaper editor and publisher, western regional director for Wendell Willkie 1940, National Chairman of the Sojourners for Truth and Justice 1952

Buried: Evergreen Cemetery (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Notes:
Buried in the same cemetery as Eddie Anderson, Matthew Beard Jr., and Katherine Grant.
Winner of the 1950 House race was Sam Yorty.
Wrote an autobiography, Forty Years (1960)
Her birth year is sometimes given as 1879 or 1880 and her birthplace as Rhode Island.
First African American woman to serve on a grand jury.
Believed to be the First African American woman to publish a newspaper.