Above: Donahue with various past, present, future Presidents. Below, Paulsen in 1988
Phillip John Donahue, December 21, 1935 (Cleveland, Ohio) -
VP candidate for Straight Talking American Government Party (aka STAG Party aka Independent) (1988)
Running mate with nominee: Pat Paulsen (1927-1997)
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
With a campaign slogan of "Pat Paulsen for President. He's running again?" the comedian and perennial candidate started off the season by running in the Democratic primaries. In previous elections he began his campaigns by running in the Republican primaries. In all cases he eventually ran as an independent sometimes as part of the supposed Straight Talking American Government Party (aka STAG Party). Although the entire electioneering was a publicity stunt and a political sideshow people had come to expect and enjoy, there were times when he seriously addressed some issues.
Still, it is his comedy we remember--
On why he is running: "I'm often asked why am I traveling around the country talking politics. Is it for humanitarian reasons, community spirit, or is for for the money, the limousines, and the girls? The answers are no, no, yes, yes, yes. Why should I be any different?"
On entering the Iowa caucus as a Democrat: "I want to do it. I want to come into Iowa. I think the other Democrats here will be every bit as funny as I am."
On dealing with the deficit: "I'll turn it into a government program and then eliminate the program."
On leadership: "I figure I can be a leader if I can find a group of desperately lost people."
On the Strategic Defense Initiative, aka "Star Wars": "I don't care what Johnny (Carson) or Joan (Rivers) are doing."
On the future: "I think I can say without qualification that the future lies ahead."
On the GNP: "I feel privileged to live in a land where even the national product is gross."
On whether or not he had Secret Service protection: "That's a secret."
Although he said he had no VP when he originally announced his 1988 run, there was a quip he frequently made later in the campaign: "Pat Robertson may run, and he has God as his running mate. I'm pretty close; I've got Phil Donahue." That isn't much to go on, but I'm going to use it.
Televangelist Robertson was running in the Republican primaries that year. Phil Donahue was, at the time, one of the pioneers in hosting daytime TV shows asking tough confrontational questions about controversial issues. Paulsen's joke was playing off the public perception of liberal morality exhibited by Donahue. Donahue's show blazed a trail and created an entire genre that would inspire many others to follow, not the least of which would be Oprah Winfrey who by 1988 had already been in the air for a couple years.
If Donahue had a response to Paulsen's assigning him the role of running mate I have yet to find it.
Election history: none
Other occupations: radio and television interviewer, syndicated talk show host,
Notes:
Erma Bombeck lived across the street during his childhood.
Has 20 Emmy Awards.
Married to Marlo Thomas.
Endorsed the Ralph Nader Green Party campaign in 2000.
