David McClure Brinkley, July 10, 1920 (Wilmington, NC) – June 11, 2003 (Houston, Tex.)
VP candidate for Correction, Punishment and Remedy Ticket (1980)
Running mate with nominee: James Zalmer Hardy (1929-1993)
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
James Zalmer Hardy of Louisville, Ky. had run for President in 1976 (mostly advertising in newspaper classified ads) and filed complaints with the FEC that his campaign had been ignored and deserved some of those public dollars the major party candidates were receiving. In 1980 he was back with his Correction, Punishment and Remedy Ticket.
Among his platform issues: opposition to all churches and political parties, "a new nation with guaranteed satisfaction for all citizens," and "federal aid and assistance 100 percent of the time."
Hardy believed some Canadians, with the aid of the National Hockey League, were plotting to somehow "violate the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens."
Hardy selected NBC News journalist David Brinkley as his running mate by "commendation" in Jan. 1979. In his filing statement Hardy's description of his party included the phrases, "The nerves expand ... and contracts (spirals) spasticity ... Organic juice is a must for correction." Once Brinkley's name appeared in the FEC filing, NBC quickly disavowed any association with Hardy's campaign.
The Hardy/Brinkley juggernaut failed to materialize and it is possible the candidate for the Correction, Punishment and Remedy Ticket withdrew from the race at some point in late 1979/early 1980.
Election history: none
Other occupations: television and radio newscaster, journalist, author, soldier,
Buried: Oakdale Cemetery (Wilmington, NC)
Notes:
Rick Moranis had a dead-on impersonation of Brinkley on SCTV.
See, I made it through this whole profile without mentioning the phrase many of us grew up hearing,
"Good night, Chet -- Good night, David." But I guess by mentioning I didn't mention it I have
mentioned it after all. I couldn't help it. Such are persistent TV ear worms even decades later.
