Paulsen, Miss Vicki, Tiny Tim, 1970
Herbert Butros Khaury, April 12, 1932 (New York, NY) – November 30, 1996 (Minneapolis, Minn.)
VP candidate for Straight Talking American Government Party (aka STAG Party) (1992)
Running mate with nominee: Pat Paulsen (1927-1997)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Perennial candidate/comedian Pat Paulsen told a reporter in Jan. 1992 he had an "A" list for running-mates: Abraham Lincoln (to help him write speeches), Marilyn Monroe (because he would have someone to sing "Happy Birthday" to him), Elvis Presley (because 1 in 5 Americans thought he was still alive and if Paulsen could register those "morons" he'd win), and Herbert Butros Khaury better known as Tiny Tim (because Paulsen would always have an opening act while on the road in 1992).
In April Paulsen offered a teaser to the press, "I've been thinking strongly about Tiny Tim, because I like the way he sings and he could maybe introduce me with a patriotic song." In June, Tiny Tim (the only person on Paulsen's "A" list who wasn't dead) announced he was the VP nominee and did, in fact, go on the road with Paulsen. Both of them were entertainment figures who had experienced their career peak in the late 1960s and were starting to see a small comeback on the small venue circuit.
Paulsen was pure Paulsen on the campaign trail:
On his political message: "That's the thing, I don't know. I have no idea. Stop asking me those tough questions!"
On drug use: "I don't do dope, but once in a while I shoot up on Preparation H."
"I'm strongly opposed to Japanese whaling. I can't stand Yoko Ono! Boy, there's some wailing for you."
"I know in my heart that for centuries to come, years will pass."
On Bush and Quayle: "Tweedledee and Tweedledumber."
Tiny Tim also shared his view on some of the issues of the day, and revealed a surprising conservative outlook--
"If Mr. Bush doesn't run I'd like to see him (VP Dan Quayle) in there. I think a lot of people underestimate the wisdom he has."
On Dan Quayle's speech about "Family Values": "He's absolutely right. There's extreme liberality to permissiveness. In the expression of morality I think the Vice President should have said more of it. I think someone needs to take a stand."
On AIDS: caused by "the disobeying of God's laws and fornicating."
"If I was the President of this country I would need bodyguards all around me because, believe me, there would be a lot of changes."
There is no reliable record of how many write-in votes the Paulsen/Tiny Tim ticket earned. If elected, Tiny Tim would have died in the lame duck period of the first term. Paulsen, who made one last run in 1996, died in April 1997.
Election history:
1989 - Mayor of New York, NY (New Age Party) - withdrew
Other occupations: musical performer
Buried: Lakewood Cemetery (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Notes:
I knew someone who toured with Tiny Tim for a year or so when he was part of a circus in the late
1980s. She said he was one the sweetest and kindest men she had ever met.
His father was born in Lebanon, his mother in Belarus.
Buried in the same cemetery as Orville Freeman, Hubert Humphrey, and Paul Wellstone.
