Thomas Jeffrey Hanks, July 9, 1956 (Concord, Calif.) -
VP candidate for Independent (2016, 2020)
Running mate with nominee (2016): Vincent Damon Furnier (b. 1948)
Running mate with nominee (2020): Dwayne Douglas Johnson (b. 1973)
Popular vote (2016, 2020): ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2016, 2020): 0/538
The campaign (2016):
Rock star Alice Cooper (aka Vincent Damon Furnier) apparently had used the publicity method of running for President as a way of self-promotion since, he said, 1972. If true, this would make him something of the Harold Stassen of the joke candidates.
Cooper, who was unabashedly apolitical, did have a platform in 2016--
So, if you're looking for a candidate with a platform that matters, vote Alice Cooper, the man with the plan to tackle the hot button, contentious and provocative issues on the minds of the real America and Britain:
1. Getting Brian Johnson back in AC/DC
2. A snake in every pot
3. No more pencils, no more books
4. Adding Lemmy to Mt. Rushmore
5. Rename Big Ben "Big Lemmy"
6. Groucho Marx on the $50 bill
7. Peter Sellers on the £20 note
8. Cupholders required for every airplane seat
9. Ban on talking during movies in movie theatres
10. Ban on taking selfies, except on a designated National Selfie Day
The highly theatrical Cooper's campaign website marketed a plethora of electioneering merchandise.
One of his quotes during the media coverage of his election 2016 effort confirmed his nonpolitical stance, "I hate it when fans go, ‘Who should I vote for?' Why do you think rock stars would know any more than you do? We’re rock stars; we’re dumber than you."
Cooper did admit he voted for Bush in 2004. In 2016 he said he wanted to vote for the actor Tom Hanks, but instead assigned him to the role of running-mate. This was probably news to Mr. Hanks.
Tom Hanks was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom as well as the French Legion of Honor in 2016. He also endorsed Clinton in that year. But oddly what he is really remembered for during this particular campaign season in spite of those prestigious honors was his now classic "David Pumpkins" sketch on SNL right before the election. Oh, excuse me, I meant "David S. Pumpkins."
Any questions?
The campaign (2020):
In 2017 Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson made the announcement he was running for President during his opening monologue on Saturday Night Live. He also introduced Tom Hanks as his running-mate. "In the past I never would've run for president, I was worried I wasn't qualified," Johnson said. "But the truth is, now, I think I'm a little too qualified." Hanks added, "I would get the senior vote, because I fought in World War II in like 10 different movies."
But by the end of the skit a split developed between the ticket. Johnson admitted, "Listen America, don’t get too excited, Tom and I are merely joking. When it comes to politics, we need more poise and less noise. Americans deserve strong, capable leaders, leaders who care about this country and care about its people." But Hanks countered, "Uh, Dwayne, that kinda sounds like you and me. I guess we gotta do it! Let's go! We're doing it!"
The idea of a Johnson/Hanks team in the White House delighted a number of fans. There were also movements to draft Hanks as a Presidential candidate. Filmmaker Michael Moore promoted the idea of Hanks as the Democratic nominee, contending that only a celebrity could defeat another celebrity (i.e. Trump). In an interview, Hanks responded to Moore's suggestion--
"Just because I'm an actor, I can give a good speech, I agree with that. But the concept of actually voting for someone just because they can do that? Then Monty Hall could have been president of the United States! I get what he's saying, I understand, but I don't buy my participation."
Both Johnson and Hanks endorsed Biden in the 2020 election. In the same year, both gentlemen contracted and survived COVID-19.
Election history: none
Other occupations: actor, director, producer
Notes:
Hanks' films in my VHS/DVD library: Nothing in Common, Dragnet, The Bonfire of the Vanities (an unfairly maligned film, I must say), Road to Perdition, Catch Me if You Can, The Terminal, Cloud Atlas, Bridge of Spies.
