Irving Homer

 Both of the above images: John Mahalchik. Below: Irv Homer

Irving Homer, May 29, 1924 (Philadelphia, Penn.) - June 24, 2009 (Bryn Mawr, Penn.)

VP candidate for America First Party (1972)

Running mate with nominee: John Val Jean Mahalchik (1918-1987)
Popular vote: 1743 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

There was a certain kind of individual we used to see more of before online forums and Facebook eclipsed their method of expression. They generally lived in rural areas and leaned to the political Populist Right-- either Christian or Libertarian-- and declared their disgust and disdain with the political system through the medium of crude hand-painted signs on their property (now they simply post online). Such a person was New Jersey's John Val Jean Mahalchik.

Mahalchik owned 49 acres that used to be an airstrip but by 1972 had become something of a junkyard filled with surplus and salvaged mostly military equipment. He lived in a modified teepee on the property after his home had mysteriously burned.

Mahalchik announced his run for the Presidency under the America First Party early in the campaign season, but Philadephia radio talk-show host Irv Homer's name as the VP choice didn't surface in the press until much later since he wasn't nominated until Sept. 22, 1972. The Mahalchik/Homer ticket's America First Party did not have any connection with previous political parties using the same name. If there was any precedence for this version of the Party it would have to from his fellow Garden State gadfly Henry B. Krajewski (1912–1966) who ran several times for President under the Poor Man's Party banner. Krajewski and Homer had actually both shared the experience of being tavern owners at one time.

Below is a sample of Mahalchik's property signage which gives some clue as to his political platform. Punctuation has been cleaned up a bit so it is readable. Mahalchik didn't really bother about things like the proper use of upper and lower case letters:

I am the dissenter. I am the gypsy. I am the patriot. I am all races. I am all religions. I am this land. I am this land’s future... Join me, be a freedom fighter. Help me fight in any way you can. Add honor to your name.

[1972 was the Year of the Rat, and Nixon and Kissinger's heads are pictured on rat bodies] : 1972 China glorifies rats. Chickens coming home to roost. Nixon, Tricky Dick a tricky Red. Who is the #2 rat. Kissinger, Rasputin & pimp. Has Fate or Divine Power set the stage or arranged to show us our 2 biggest red rats. Kissinger went to Red China as a pimp to make a deal & set a price so Nixon like a 2 bit whore can hop in bed with the Reds and make us "The Bastard Children of Nixinger" red sell out to make American fathers & mothers of sons, killed or crippled fighting Reds now lay & reward the Red Communist killers of their sons. Nixon & Kissinger are defectors and now want all Americans to be prostitutes to Red compromise thru "Nixingerization" Pray to God that the Chinese do the defectors in

Why? Why? The Dollar Sign. Fathers & mothers, sweet hearts and wives, your loved ones are fighting in Vietnam. Why? Just read all of my signs here you'll soon find out why. It's to make rich men richer and to keep poor men poor. This war is not for freedom for you or those that fight, its the rich maniacs game of power to use guns to keep control. Yes the rich make all the money while the poor get all the grief. Yes its for someone else's dollar young boys must die like freaks. Establishment ([unintelligible] thought) hypocrisy if you kill someone for your profit you are called "a murderer," if you kill for Rockefeller of DuPont's profit you are called "a hero." Defense plants have become aggression plants. The Army, Navy & Air Force have become the private army-- killers for the Rockefeller DuPont G.M. I.T.T. etc. corp. known as the Military Industrial Complex.

Politicians invented the slogan Love It Or Leave It. Parasites and other kinds of rats who want to keep their own dirty little things going they want things to stay as they are so their selfish corruption and rot power remains but Mahalchik says if you love it you'll change it. You'll give gov't back to the people. If you don't do your share then you are one of the rats and parasites and someday those who love it will make you leave it.

In cadence count 1,2 kill kill hup, hop, kill, kill. Fathers mothers of soldiers in Vietnam while your sons are dying & fighting Communists and Socialists over there it's your duty to fight them here. Kill Kill Kill any Commie or Socialist you know. Drag them from their rat holes, hang em, stab em, burn em, bomb em, gas, choke, strangle drown, shoot, but kill em all. A rat in the alley is still a rat in your [parlor?]. A Communist over there or a Communist here, is still a Communist
Exactly how Irv Homer came to be the running mate is probably a great story but I have yet to find it. Homer was also a well known regional character, an outspoken pioneer of the radio talk-show format in the Philadelphia market who was known as "The Evil One" or "Evil Irv." Homer's curmudgeonly radio persona was part of the draw, making him one of the most popular local broadcasters in his genre. Like Mahalchik, he was a WWII veteran and a pilot.

Somehow several sources have erroneously listed Homer as being the VP on the Libertarian Party ticket, perhaps that is due to his political leanings? He later became a noted tax protester.

Homer reflected on the race in a 1980 news article: "We were on the ballot in the State of New Jersey and we actually got votes. We campaigned but we didn't spend one dime. We were out to show that to run for political office you have to have money and you have to lie like Hell."

Only on the ballot in New Jersey, the America First Party ticket placed 7th out of 8 (beating the Communist Party USA) with 1743 votes, or 0.06% of the state result. Although Mahalchik was something of a perennial candidate, this would apparently be Homer's only run for public office.

In 1981 Mahalchik was on the verge of losing his property for failure to pay back taxes and Homer helped out by spreading the word on his radio program. As a result of Homer's publicity, an anonymous gentleman personally paid the over $1000 required which reinforced Mahalchik's nickname, "Lucky."

Election history: none

Other occupations: soldier/pilot (WWII), lens grinder, hairdresser, paperhanger, insurance salesman, bartender/tavern owner, pizza company equipment sales, radio talk show personality, author

Buried: ?

Notes:
Moved from radio to Internet podcasts in his later years.

Edward Joseph Silverman

Edward Joseph Silverman, August 2, 1913 (Davidson County, Tenn.) - August 12, 1980 (Kenbridge, Va.)

VP candidate for Conservative Party of Virginia (aka Conservative Party aka Virginia Conservative Party) (1960)

Running mate with nominee: Claiborne Benton Coiner (1912-1963)

Popular vote: 4204 (0.01%)
Electoral vote: 0/537

The campaign:

In sort of a spin on the unpledged electors wave of the 1950s-1960s, the newly formed Conservative Party of Virginia ran a ticket that were pledged electors for other people. Originally the Party nominated Sen. Harry F. Byrd Sr. (D-VA) for President with Sen. Barry M. Goldwater (R-AZ) as his running mate. Both senators asked to be removed from consideration.

So the Party nominated segregation activists C. Benton Coiner for President with Edward J. Silverman as his running mate, making it the literary sounding Coiner/Silverman ticket. The fact that both were residents of Virginia and as such would pose a Constitutional problem if elected didn't seem to bother anyone. Remember, Harry Krajewski and Anna Marie Yezo of the Poor Man's Party had been kept off the ballot in New Jersey in 1960 for that very reason.

Coiner and Silverman pledged that if they won they would instruct their Electors to cast their votes for Byrd and Goldwater in a bid to throw the election into the US House. Goldwater's objection was strong enough that they substituted the pledged VP votes to arch-conservative journalist Thomas Jefferson Anderson (who would become a future third party VP and Presidential nominee himself).

Many conservatives in Virginia, although sympathetic to the new third party's platform, felt the election in Virginia was going to be too close and that Coiner/Silverman might hand the state to JFK, so they expressed their support but their votes still went to Nixon.

Silverman, who was connected with a small weekly newspaper in Blackstone, Va., was the segregationist du jour by virtue of his leading a rousing rally called the Bill of Rights Crusade while exhibiting his gift for oratory in Mar. 1959. Newspapers at the time identified him as a charismatic spokesperson for The Defenders of State Sovereignty. The demonstration, described with terms like "a last ditch effort" and "highly dramatic yet minimally effective" by reporters and historians, brought 5000 angry Virginians to the capitol steps at Richmond and launched Silverman's short 1960-1966 foray into elective politics.

On Election Day their 4204 votes amounted to 0.54% of the Virginia results. Their strongest showing was in Silverman's own Lunenburg County with 3.78%, followed by Orange County 3.00%, Surry County 2.77%, Nottoway County 2.56%. Nixon took the state by a comfortable margin.

C. Benton Coiner committed suicide by hanging, Oct. 3, 1963.

Election history:
1966 - US House of Representatives (Va.) (Conservative Party of Virginia) - defeated

Other occupations: newspaper advertising salesman, worker at Railway Handle Corp., newspaper editor

Buried: Kenbridge Heights Cemetery (Kenbridge, Va.)

Notes:
Sometimes listed as Edward M. Silverman

Anna Marie Yezo

Anna Marie Yezo, July 30, 1918 (Hoboken, NJ) - Nov. 18, 2012 (New Jersey)

VP candidate for American Third Party (1956), Poor Man's Party (1960, 1964)

Running mate with nominee (1956, 1960, 1964): Henry B. Krajewski (1912–1966)

Popular vote (1956): 1,829 (0.00%)
Popular vote (1960): 0 (0.00%)
Popular vote (1964): 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote (1956): 0/531
Electoral vote (1960): 0/537
Electoral vote (1964): 0/538

The campaign (1956):

Henry B. Krajewski had gone through some changes since he ran for President on the Poor Man's Party in 1952. He ran for New Jersey Governor in 1953 under the Jersey Veterans Bonus Party, under the American Third Party for the US Senate in 1954, and he made an attempt for Mayor of Secaucus, NJ in 1955. He was now solidly a perennial candidate character.

He had also since the last election sold his pig farm and now relied on his tavern for regular income but continued to make the improvement of the farmers condition a staple in his campaign. His 1956 platform included a moratorium on income tax for families of 3+ people with incomes $5000 or less, veterans bonuses, 18-year olds having the right to vote, a national lottery to benefit hospitals and schools, and the USA should be able to annex Canada in payment of the UK's debt. He stated his goal was to be placed on the ballot in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, and Indiana.

His running mate was Anna Marie Yezo, described by the press as a "North Bergen mother and housewife," she was actually a former Democrat, recent mechanic and gas station owner who was outspoken on the issue of women's rights. When the announcement of her being the VP nominee was made in January, 1956, Krajewski stated, "Having a woman on the ticket will help my chances. Also, it will give women someone to vote for." They danced to Krawjewski's campaign polka theme song to the delight of the media. Also present was the Party's mascot, a piglet named "Little Miss Secaucus."

In March it was reported New Jersey Sec. of State Edward J. Patten, a Democrat, informed Krajewski it was unconstitutional to have Yezo on the ticket since they were from same state. Krajewski/Yezo apparently were later listed on the ballot, so some sort of negotiating must have taken place. Perhaps the candidate's stated goal of running in other states helped make the difference? In 1952 his running mate Frank Jenkins was also from NJ and no one objected at that time.

Three days before Election Day Krajewski endorsed Eisenhower but still voted for himself. He and his family and Yezo as well were actually invited to Ike's 1957 Inaugural Ball.

Krajewski/Yezo placed 7th out of seven parties on the ballot in New Jersey with 1,829 votes (0.07%), a much lower result than the 1952 run.

The campaign (1960):

Same ticket, but in the recycled round they returned to the original name of Krajewski's party, the Poor Man's Party.

This time New Jersey Sec. of State Patten flat-out refused to include electors for the Poor Man's Party on the ballot on the grounds that a Presidential ticket cannot have two people from the same state according to his interpretation of the US Constitution. His decision was upheld by NJ Attorney General David D. Furman. Journalists quoted Patten as telling Krajewski: "Your petition is a farce and a sham and an insult to the sacredness of our democratic processes ... You told me the other day that you have no plans to file in other states that would make you a bona fide candidate. You come into the office with a Victrola and started to play records. Another time you entered the office with a pig." Patten later claimed he meant "nothing personal" in his remarks.

The ruling, which Krajewski called "a dirty, lousy deal which stinks to high heaven," didn't slow down the campaign as they shifted into write-in mode. As late as Nov. 1960 Krajewski was still making campaign appearances, such as the Levittown (Penn.) Shop-a-Rama sponsored by the Levittown Businessmen's Association.

The campaign (1964):

Undaunted by petty legalities, Krajewski announced in Sept. 1964 he and Yezo would run a third time together, this time starting out from Day One as write-in candidates under the Poor Man's Party banner. The campaign was evidently more subdued than the previous efforts.

Also in 1964 Krajewski had offered himself as the VP nominee for President Lyndon Johnson and the Democrats, but response had he none.

Election history: none.

Other occupations: housewife, auto mechanic, gas station owner, stationary packer

Buried: Ocean County Memorial Park (Toms River, NJ)

Notes:
Sometimes called Anne Marie Yezo, Ann Marie Yezo, Ana Marie Yezo, Anne Mario Yezo.
Later lived in Brick, NJ
Anna Dopyera married Louis Yezo (1917-1969) in 1941.
Parents were immigrants from Czechoslovakia. Her father was an auto mechanic.
If elected in 1964 Yezo would have become President upon the death of Krajewski in 1966.

Frank F. Jenkins

Frank F. Jenkins, January 29, 1913 (Frostburg, Md.) - February 19, 1956 (Chicago, Ill.)

VP candidate for Poor Man's Party (1952)

Running mate with nominee: Henry B. Krajewski (1912–1966)

Popular vote: 4,203 (0.01%)
Electoral vote: 0/531

The campaign:

Henry Krajewski (pronounced Kry-ef-ski) was a Secaucus, NJ pig farmer who also owned a tavern he called "Tammany Hall." According to his campaign material he had "been a messenger boy, errand boy, drove farm trucks, worked as a farm hand, sold newspapers, worked as a slaughter and skin man in the local piggeries and has also chopped wood for a living. He speaks and understands six languages and plays piano, accordion, guitar, banjo, organ, drum, and bugle."

After losing several local elections since 1949 under his self-proclaimed Poor Man's Party, he decided to go national in 1952. Frank Jenkins, a printing press operator and former Pennsylvania miner who lived in Rahway, NJ, answered Krajewski's newspaper advertisement seeking a running mate and was selected. Jenkins appeared to have had no role in the campaign other than handing out buttons that read: "For President Krajewski-- I Like." The Constitutional quandary of having two people on the ticket from the same state had apparently not crossed anyone's mind in 1952 but would come back to haunt Krajewski in 1956.

The Poor Man's Party used the pig as their animal mascot and the candidate frequently had a small piglet under his arm as he went out to electioneer (one piglet, named Stephanie which was also his wife's name, relieved herself on some important documents when Krajewski officially filed his petition for office in Trenton). He said the pig was a gentle animal, representing peace and prosperity, plus there was no waste with a pig since all parts were eaten. The Party also had a polka theme song, "Hay, Krajewski! Hay! Hay!," and sales of 45 single records of it helped finance the campaign.

None of the campaign buttons, banners, or marketing that I have seen mention Jenkins at all.

Some Krajewski quotes from the 1952 election:

--He wanted a two-president system because "if you had a Democrat and a Republican in the White House at the same time, they'd be so busy watching each other that there would be no danger of a dictatorship."

--On how to stop juvenile deliquency: "Let 'em rock'n'roll with the pigs and chickens at five o’clock in the he morning. By the time the sun goes down they would be tired enough to go to sleep and not spend their time thievin' and driftin' around the streets at night lookin' for mischief..."

--"The Democrats have been hogging the Administration at Washington for twenty years, and it’s about time the people began to squeal."

--"A pig in every pot! A porkchop on every plate!"

--On how to solve the problem of world hunger: "Da solution is simple. In every bundle a wheat we send ova'dere to India we ought to put in a little 'boit control'."

--"If I am elected I will give my 4,000 pigs to Truman so he can feed the people pork instead of donkey meat as he has been doing."

--"No piggy deals in Washington!"

Krajewski endorsed Sen. Joseph McCarthy's persecution of anyone suspected of being a Communist. His other policies included free milk for children and free beer for adults, lowering the age of eligibility for Social Security to 60, cutting taxes on gasoline and alcohol, a tax moratorium for all those earning less than $6000 a year (average family income in 1950 was $3,300), families of four or more should be exempted from income tax, huge cuts in foreign aid, and a national lottery to fund more money for veterans.

The Poor Man's Party was actually on the ballot, but only in New Jersey, where they landed in sixth place out of eight. Krajewski finished with 4,203 votes, or 0.17%, beating the Socialist Workers and Prohibition parties.

Election history: none

Other occupations: printing press operator, coal miner

Buried: Hillside, Ill.

Notes:
If elected would have died in office.
Lived in Coalport, Penn. in 1940. Moved to Rahway, NJ ca. 1945.
Had a serious head injury at work in the mines at Coalport in 1929 that laid him up for several weeks.
His first wife was Mabel. He apparently divorced around the time of the 1952 election and married Esther.
His mother was an immigrant from England.
Died in a Chicago hospital.