Above and below: Taylor (Left), Swan (Right)
Henry Albert Swan, September 26, 1914 (Warren, Ariz.) - July 1, 2001 (Sierra Vista, Ariz.)
VP candidate for United American Party (aka U.S. Party) (1976)
Running mate with nominee: Frank Taylor (1937-ca2013)
Popular vote: 36 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
On Feb. 5, 1975 the United American Party was born in the living room of the Taylor family. Frank Taylor, a journalist and former Republican based in Bisbee, Ariz., piled his large family into a smallish recreational vehicle and toured the United States in his campaign for President. And by large I mean seven children, ages 2-14 with another one on the way. Taylor, who based his his political philosophy partly on his Mormon faith, was quoted by the press: "There's never been an easy way to do anything worthwhile."
Their platform included:
--The United American Party seeks to enthrone once again the nobility of labor as a sure means of earning self-respect and self-reliance, so that each man, woman and child may have a complete self-determination under the law.
--The United American Party is absolutely opposed to the exploitation of government office or prestige for personal or private gain, or unrighteous dominion over the souls of men.
--The United American Party believes that through the development of natural resources and the proper direction and education of our citizens, new opportunities will be available on an unprecedented scale for the advancement of both temporal and religious affairs of our fellow Americans.
--The United American Party fully intends to seek out the honest in heart and purpose and to unit them in purpose for the common good. We seek a new day for the people of this nation within the framework of the Constitution, which we regard as a sacred document.
A more compact and slightly charged version included: "Protect America's children; end the federal welfare dole; restore silver and gold money; free homestead land; swift and sure justice; retire the national debt; eliminate major federal waste; halt deficit spending; bring our troops home; restore the nobility of labor."
Taylor was also an early proponent of recycling and the family collected aluminum cans along their campaign journey to help fund their effort as they advocated a simpler family-centered less-materialistic lifestyle. Their van frequently broke down and some mechanics fixed their vehicle for free once they learned about their mission, but mostly Taylor eschewed any sort of monetary donations.
Henry Swan of Bisbee Junction, the United American Party VP choice, was an uncle of Taylor's wife, Charlotte. Legally nepotism would not have been an issue, but having two candidates from the same state on the same ticket poses a Constitutional question that has yet to be tested. When Swan's position was announced in August 1976 it was hoped he would act as an advance man.
Certified as official write-ins in two states, Taylor/Swan won 14 votes in California and 22 in Arizona which fell a bit short of Taylor's prediction of 3000 votes. Arizona required write-in voters to list the names of the Electors rather than candidates themselves. In Taylor's case most if not all of his Electors were relatives.
Election history: none
Other occupations: electrician, civil servant, tax counselor
Buried: ?
Notes:
His father was a homesteader.
Active in the LDS Church
He is the "Henry" in the book by his brother Walter, Me 'n Henry
