VP candidate for Socialist Workers Party (aka Militant Workers Party) (1964)
Running mate with nominee: Clifton DeBerry (1923–2006)
Popular vote: 32,706 (0.05%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
In 1964 when the Socialist Workers Party was starting their long process of phasing out of Trotskyism into a guiding policy of Castroism they nominated Clifton DeBerry for President. It was the first Presidential election out their five that the SWP did not run Party Godfather Farrell Dobbs in the top slot, instead they ran his reported son-in-law. At the time some sources claimed DeBerry was the first African American to run for a President on a "real" party ticket.
The VP nomination went to longtime SWP activist Ed Shaw, a member of the Party since the 1940s. A Merchant Marine during WWII, Shaw had experienced union and racial problems firsthand, and his exposure to other countries in the course of his travels widened his political perspective. He became particularly interested in Cuba after Castro's regime took power and toured the country extensively in 1960. He also served as Midwest Director of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee.
The Party's platform included: "1) an end to both military build-up at home and Vietnam-type adventurism abroad; 2) a militantly anti-racist government policy; 3) an end to HUAC and all it stands for; 4) 30 hour work week, with 40 hours' pay to end unemployment; 5) a government-guaranteed college education for all youth; 6) No taxes on incomes under $7500; 7) nationalize banks, basic industries, all natural resources; institution of a planned economy, planned for human betterment, not individual profit."
The main focus of the actual SWP campaign was on African American civil rights and recognition of Cuba. They made their appeal to college and university students and black nationalist followers of Malcolm X. Support of President Johnson as the lesser of two evils with Barry Goldwater as the alternative was a constant barrier in recruiting supporters for the SWP activists. For example, groups like the Students for a Democratic Society used the slogan "Part of the Way with LBJ" rather than "All the Way with LBJ." The Socialist Workers were also attempting to recruit the remnants of the Norman Thomas socialists.
Although the Vietnam War was not the dominant issue it would later become, the SWP noted at the time that the Gulf of Tonkin incident which would result in escalated military intervention was suspicious and the product of "cynical calculations."
The SWP support for Malcolm X and the Cuban government widened some fissures within the Party and a number of members were either expelled or simply moved on to another group. Among the refugees was thrice SWP VP candidate Myra Tanner Weiss and future politico-cult leader Lyndon Larouche.
Shaw, who was a printer for the New York Times in 1964, remarked during the campaign, "The New York Times has a long-standing tradition of standing by its own people. But they put it aside in my case and failed to endorse me. Of course, the fact that I'm running for Vice President on the Socialist Workers Party ticket might have some bearing on that."
With votes recorded in 13 states the SWP experienced a slight drop from the 1960 election. Their best states in 1964: Colorado 0.33%, New Jersey 0.29%, and Pennsylvania 0.22%.
Election history: none
Other occupations: printer, Merchant Marine (WWII), soldier (Korean War), auto worker, machinist in aircraft engine shop, Midwest Director of Fair Play for Cuba Committee
Buried: ?
Notes:
Was a lifelong Party activist.
Favorite popular authors were Mark Twain and Kurt Vonnegut.
Had a large tattoo on his bicep.
His Party name was "Atwood."
