Edmund O. Matzal, July 1, 1933 (Newark, NJ) - June 10, 2010 (Livingston, NJ)
VP candidate for American Party (aka American Independent Party) (1976)
Running mate with nominee: Lester Maddox (1915-2003)
Popular vote: 7716 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
By the 1976 election the American Party and the American Independent Party were two separate political entities, both claiming to be the rightful philosophical heir to George Wallace's 1968 significant third party effort.
While the American Party was more influenced by the John Birch Society, the American Independent Party had taken a couple steps into the past and in a contentious and bitter convention battle nominated the publicity-grabbing arch-bigot and pickaxe handle wielding ex-Governor of Georgia, Lester Maddox. Many delegates who considered themselves to be serious conservatives walked out of the convention upon his nomination as they regarded Maddox to be a populist buffoon and throwback to an era and issue that most of America, including many in this Right-wing party, wanted to put behind them and move on.
In New Jersey the situation was a bit different. In that state Christian F. Larson was nominated for President and Dr. Edmund O. Matzal was the VP. Matzal, a well known local tax activist, jokingly described himself as, "an interested citizen somewhere to the right of Sen. Buckley, a real John Bircher, way out." Also, they were called the American Party when in fact they were actually allied with the American Independent Party.
On Sept. 20, 1976 Matzal was indicted for failing to pay taxes for three years in a row in the early 1970s. "I'm perfectly willing to pay a constitutional tax," he told the press. A few days later Christian F. Larson, who said he always thought of himself as a stand-in candidate simply for filing purposes, stepped down and Lester Maddox became the new name for the Electors' pledge. In spite of Matzal's indictment, he remained on the ticket.
The AIP platform opposed abortion, the ERA, pornography, homosexuality, gun control, legal marijuana, and busing for school segregation, U.S. involvement with the United Nations, amnesty for Vietnam War draft evaders, and releasing the Panama Canal. It supported the governments of Taiwan, South Africa, and Rhodesia. Since Matzal was something of a single-issue activist as far as politics went he never really went on record about Maddox or the AIP platform that I can find.
George Wallace, the Godfather of the AIP, endorsed Jimmy Carter in the course of the campaign. Maddox was livid. He said southern Democrats who endorse Carter were "southern pseudo-conservatives" who "have betrayed the people and betrayed the South." Of Wallace in particular Maddox declared the Carter endorsement was "The greatest blow to the conservative cause in this nation's experience." Maddox predicted a Ford victory.
Maddox/Matzel placed 5th out of 12 with 0.26% of the vote in New Jersey.
In July 1977 Matzal was sentenced to three years' probation for willfully failing to file his federal income taxes. He viewed his crime as a form of civil disobedience against the "involuntary servitude" of complying with federal taxation on income. Although he became a tax revolt hero as a result, Matzal appears to have lived a much quieter public life in the following decades.
Other occupations: physician, Medical Director of New Jersey Pain and Rehabilitation Institute, inventor, tax activist
Election history:
1967 - New Jersey State Senate (Essex Conservative Party) - defeated
1968 - US House of Representatives (NJ) (Essex Conservative Party) - withdrew
Buried: Hope Moravian Cemetery (Hope, NJ)
Notes:
Converted from deism to Christianity in 1997.
His father was an Austrian immigrant, his mother from Germany.
Winner of the 1968 race was Peter Rodino.
Supported Barry Goldwater in 1964.
