Tonie Nathan

Tonie Nathan. Theodora Nathalia "Tonie" Nathan was an American broadcast journalist, political activist, and the first woman in United States history to receive an electoral vote in a presidential election. As the vice-presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party in the 1972 election, she and presidential candidate John Hospers secured one vote from a faithless elector in the Electoral College. A pioneering figure for women in politics and a lifelong advocate for libertarianism, Nathan was also a prominent media personality in Oregon.

Early life and education

Born in New York City to a Jewish family, she moved to Los Angeles as a child. Nathan developed an early interest in radio, writing scripts for children's programs on stations like KNX. She attended the University of Oregon, graduating with a degree in journalism and becoming a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Her early career was in broadcasting, where she worked as a reporter, producer, and talk show host for television and radio stations in Eugene, Oregon, including KVAL-TV and KUGN.

Political career

Nathan's political activism was rooted in her libertarian philosophy, emphasizing individual liberty, free-market economics, and non-interventionist foreign policy. She was a founding member of the Libertarian Party, established in 1971 in Colorado Springs. She quickly rose to national prominence within the party, known for her articulate advocacy and media savvy. Her work extended beyond electoral politics to include writing columns, public speaking, and serving on the party's National Committee, helping to shape its platform and outreach efforts.

1972 vice-presidential campaign

At the 1972 Libertarian National Convention, held in San Francisco, Nathan was selected as the running mate for presidential nominee John Hospers, a philosophy professor from the University of Southern California. The Hospers–Nathan ticket campaigned on a platform calling for the abolition of the Federal Reserve System, an end to the military draft, and the repeal of all victimless crime laws. In a historic event, Roger MacBride, a Republican elector from Virginia, cast his electoral vote for Hospers and Nathan, making Nathan the first woman and first Jewish American to receive an electoral vote for vice president.

Later life and legacy

Following the 1972 election, Nathan remained active in libertarian circles and continued her career in media. She hosted a long-running public affairs program on KPNW radio in Eugene and was a delegate to subsequent Libertarian National Conventions. She received recognition such as the Thomas Jefferson Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Nathan's historic electoral vote is frequently cited in discussions about third-party politics in the United States and the evolution of the Electoral College. She is remembered as a trailblazer for women in politics and a foundational figure in the modern libertarian movement.

Electoral history

In the 1972 U.S. presidential election, the Hospers–Nathan ticket appeared on the ballot in two states, Colorado and Washington, and also received write-in votes. They won 3,674 popular votes nationally. Their sole electoral vote, cast by faithless elector Roger MacBride, was recorded during the formal counting of electoral votes before a joint session of Congress. This result placed them behind the major-party tickets of Richard Nixon/Spiro Agnew and George McGovern/Sargent Shriver, but secured their unique place in American political history.

Category:1923 births Category:2014 deaths Category:American libertarians Category:American radio journalists Category:American television journalists Category:Libertarian Party (United States) vice-presidential nominees Category:People from Eugene, Oregon Category:University of Oregon alumni