Rollie James Bartlett, September 25, 1916 (Paducah, Ky.) - July 17, 2006 (Paducah, Ky.)
VP candidate for Independent (1976)
Running mate with nominee: Eugene McCarthy (1916-2005)
Popular vote: 6,837 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
After US Sen. Eugene McCarthy (D-MN) failed to secure the Democratic Party's nomination for President in 1968, a number of his followers campaigned for him as a third party candidate. McCarthy himself did not approve and in many but not all cases was able to have his name removed from the ballot. Different states ran his name under various party names with a variety of running mates, some of whom who were also not too thrilled to be listed: Coretta Scott King, Paul Newman, Dick Gregory, Paul O'Dwyer, and John Lindsay.
McCarthy made a brief foray into the Democratic Party primaries of 1972 but did not generate a lot of excitement. At some point after he dropped out of the race he left the Party, declared himself an Independent, and began a political journey to what could be described as libertarian centrism. As an Independent Presidential candidate in 1976 he is frequently better remembered for his high-profile legal battles to gain ballot access for third parties than for his political platform.
His 1976 VP situation made 1968 look tame. He was on the ballot in 29 states and a registered write-in in a few others. He had over 20 running mates. McCarthy himself said, "Vice-presidential candidates just clutter up the campaign. We should not ask the country to make two judgments. Everyone knows vice presidents have no influence on presidents once elected. Presidents' wives have much more influence. Perhaps we should have candidates' wives debate."
McCarthy's running-mate in Kentucky was Rollie J. Bartlett of Paducah where they ran under the Independent label. An advertisement in the newspaper for the University of Alabama in Huntsville suggests Bartlett was also McCarthy's running mate as a write-in in that state. Bartlett had been a McCarthy volunteer in 1968.
After the election Bartlett wrote to the FEC: "With one exception, I did not campaign. I did attend a 'so called advertised non-Partisan open political speaking' sponsored by certain church, but I was refused by the pastor and sponsoring committee to speak. That was the beginning and ending of my campaigning. I have been trying to forget the past election and apply my remaining strength to more enjoyable and rewarding things."
The McCarthy/Bartlett ticket finished with 0.59% of the Kentucky popular vote. Alabama had 308 write-in votes that were not categorized in their reporting. Nationally McCarthy won 0.91% of the popular poll.
Election history: none
Other occupations: semi-professional baseball player, Army Engineer (WWII), Paducah Water Works employee, Director and Chairman of the Paducah-McCracken County Senior Citizens and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program
Buried: Mt. Kenton Cemetery (Paducah, Ky.)
Notes:
Baptist
Survived a heart attack in April 1970.
