Faithless Electors

[PBrunsel]

Ever since 1796 we have had trouble with faithless electors.
1796:

In 1796 Samuel Miles of Pennsylvania was supposed to cast his electoral vote for John Adams (Federalist) but instead cast it for Thomas Jefferson. Federalist Newspapers were not happy. The Gazette of the United States sated, "What, do I chuse Samuel Miles to determine for me whether John Adams or Thomas Jefferson shall be President? No! I chuse him to act, not to think."

1820:
William Plummer had just about enough by 1820. All but one president up to that time was from Virginia. he wanted to end the Virginia dynasty on the presidency, and thus cast his vote from New Hampshire for Secretary of State John Quincy Adams.

Abother version of the story states that Plummer wanted only George Wasington to become president unanimously.

1948:

Preston Parker of Tennessee was an elector for Harry S Truman. Parker, who was a staunch segregationist, heard the Truman had desegregated the armed forces stated he would not vote for President Truman. He instead casted his vote for J. Strom Thurmond, the Dixiecrat.

1956:

W.F. turner voted for Judge Walter B. Jones, a circuit judge from his home town.

1960:
 
Henry D. Irvin was a Republican elector from Oklahoma. He did not want the Catholic Kennedy and he stated he "could not stomach" Richard Nixon. He became involved in the first plot to sway the electorate to a different candidate. He telegramed them to change their votes to a different man. Irvin voted for Harry F. Byrd of Virginia. The telegram that Irvin sent was this:
"I am Oklahoma Republican elector. The Republican electors cannot deny the election to Kennedy. Sufficient conservative Democratic electors available to deny labor Socialist nominee. Would you consider Byrd President, Goldwater Vice President, or wire any acceptable substitute. All replies strict confidence."

The Mississippi delegation voted for Byrd along with some Alabama electors.

1968:

Dr. lloyd W. Bailey was a Republican elector from North Carolina. He was angry with Richard Nixon. Nixon had asked Chief Justice Earl Warren to stay on as Chief Justice into his term. He was also angry about how Nixon wanted to give Henry Kissinger and Daniel Moynihan jobs in his administration. Dr. Bailey voted for American Independent Party Candidate George Wallace.
He first staed he had done it due to his congressional district voting heavily for Governor Wallace. After pressured by Strom Thurmond at a Senate hearing, he said he had done it purely as a protest vote, and if it had made a differnce in the election outcome he wouldn't have done it.

1972:

Every time Richard Nixon ran for president, one of his electors betrayed him. Roger MacBride of Virginia was a "libertarian" type Republican. He had ran for the Republican nominatoion for Governor of Virginia in 1964. In 1972 MacBride cast his vote for Libertarians John Hospers and Theodora Nathan. This made Ms. Nathan the first woman to win electoral votes. MacBride would be the Libertarian Candidate for President in 1976, but no electors backed him up!

1976:

Mike Padden was a Washngton Elector. He decided that after Ford lost the 1976 Election, his vote wouldn't matter. He instead voted for Ronald Reagan, his prefered Republican Candidate. He did this not to insult Ford, but to attack Jimmy Carter for not attacking abortion.
1988:

Margarette Leach was amazed one day. She learned from her doctor that West Virginia electors can vote for anyone they wanted. She decided to vote for Lloyd Bentsen for President and Michael Dukakis for Vice President. She urged other electors to do the same, but at the end she stood alone.

2000:

Barbare Lett-Simons was a D.C. Democratic elector. Angered over D.C.'s lack of Congressional representation, she abstained rather then vote for Al Gore.

[The Dowager Mod]

the human element.
some states have laws that target them.

[Gustaf]

That's a good reason for getting rid of the electors.

[ilikeverin]

1972:

Every time Richard Nixon ran for president, one of his electors betrayed him. Roger MacBride of Virginia was a "libertarian" type Republican. He had ran for the Republican nominatoion for Governor of Virginia in 1964. In 1972 MacBride cast his vote for Libertarians John Hospers and Theodora Nathan. This made Ms. Nathan the first woman to win electoral votes. MacBride would be the Libertarian Candidate for President in 1976, but no electors backed him up!

That went into my report on third parties

[The Dowager Mod]

i'm good friends with an elector from 2000 interesting process

[PBrunsel]

A 1952 case Ray v. Blaire gave state's the right to make their elector's take loyalty oaths on who they would vote for.

[PBrunsel]

I only did this thread because I thought this forum full of history buffs would like to see the faithless electors.