|Last Edited||RBH - April 28, 2011 01:51am|
|Description||The American Independent Party was formed to place Presidential Electors on the ballot in 1968 who were pledged to George Wallace. The party nominated John G. Schmitz for President in 1972. In these two initial campaigns, the party appeared on the ballot with various party names (American, American Independent, George Wallace Party, Courage Party, Independent American, Independent, etc.). |
Following the 1972 election, the party divided into two camps due to personality conflicts. The American Independent Party nominated Lester Maddox for President in 1976 and became the larger of the two factions. During the 1980s, the national organization fractured and dissolved, but it remained strong in California. In 1992, the AIP in California became the state affiliate of the U.S. Taxpayers Party (currently the state affiliate of the COnstitution Party).