Parker with Theodore Roosevelt, 1915
John Milliken Parker, Sr., March 16, 1863 (Bethel Church, Miss.) – May 20, 1939 (Pass Christian, Miss.)
VP candidate for Progressive Party (aka Bull Moose Party aka Middle-Road Progressive Party) (1916)
Running mate with nominee: Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) - Roosevelt withdrew upon nomination
Popular vote: 33,406 (0.18%)
Electoral vote: 0/531
The campaign:
The Progressive Party nominated Theodore Roosevelt for a second time, with wealthy Louisiana businessman John M. Parker as his running mate. But Roosevelt's dislike of Woodrow Wilson was so strong he did not want to be held responsible for the incumbent Democrat's re-election so he rejoined the Republican Party and endorsed Charles Evans Hughes. With that the Progressive Party essentially came to an end as many members followed Roosevelt's lead. Almost.
Some remaining delegates, called "Middle-Road" Progressives could not abide Hughes and even though they had a vice-presidential candidate only in Parker since Roosevelt's presidential nomination vacancy was never refilled, decided to remain in the game if for no other reason than to possibly be Electoral College spoilers. The nobody/Parker ticket was a very unusual arrangement.
During the campaign Parker himself endorsed Wilson.
Nobody/Parker was on the ballot in 12 states. In Georgia they placed second with 12.88% and in Louisiana they finished a very close third with 6.83%. In all other results they were under 1%.
Election history:
1916 - Governor of Louisiana (Progressive Party) - defeated
1920-1924 - Governor of Louisiana (Democratic)
Other occupations: President of the New Orleans Cotton Exchange (1897-1898), commission merchant, cotton broker, wholesale grocer
Buried: Metairie Cemetery (New Orleans, La.)
Notes:
Unapologetic participant in the 1891 lynching of 11 Italians in New Orleans.
Was a vocal political enemy of Huey Long after 1920.
Presbyterian.
First cousin, once removed, to Mary Ann Todd Lincoln
Buried in the same cemetery as P.G.T. Beauregard, Jefferson Davis, Pete Fountain, Jim Garrison, Al
Hirt, John Bell Hood, Louis Prima, and Cora Witherspoon.
Family moved to New Orleans ca. 1871.
Campaigned for Al Smith in 1928.
Mason.
Some sources give his birthplace as Washington, La.
Was with Theodore Roosevelt on the 1902 hunting trip that led to the origin of the "Teddy Bear"
In spite of the "Progressive" label, was a segregationist who worked to keep African-American
participation in the Progressive Party at a minimum.
As Governor, asked the FBI for help in fighting the KKK.
Mourner at the funeral of Huey Long's assassin, Dr. Carl Austin Weiss.
