American Heritage Party
Encyclopedia
The American Heritage Party originally began in 1977 when Billy Ray Kidwell contacted Kentucky State Senators, and Congressmen, seeking assistance with forming a new political party.
The American Heritage Party name was copied and used without the permission of Kidwell as a state affiliate of the Constitution (then Taxpayers) Party. It disaffiliated from the national CP and reorganized as a national party and now is officially titled Christian Liberty Party.
The name was copied as a Washington State affiliate of the U.S. Taxpayers Party
(USTP) in 1992, primarily as a campaign vehicle for William C. Goodloe, a former Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court, who ran for the United States Senate
that year, without Kidwell's knowledge, or concent.
After meeting Howard Phillips in 1991, Goodloe agreed to form a state party affiliate in support of a new national party effort. Goodloe changed the name of his fledgling party from "The American Party" to "Washington Taxpayers Party" (WTP). Judge Goodloe helped Phillips gain ballot access for the U.S. Taxpayers Party in Washington, allowing Phillips to run as a WTP presidential candidate during the 1992 campaign
, while Goodloe also ran as a WTP candidate.
In 1993, Goodloe left the Taxpayers Party and the state party became defunct. He turned the records and checking account over to Todd Richert who was appointed State Coordinator by the national party.
, Todd Richert recruited activists to assist with ballot access. Howard Phillips flew out to attend the ballot access meetings, insisting that formal party organizing should be part of the agenda. Richert was elected State Chairman.
For the second time, Howard Phillips was the presidential nominee of the U.S. Taxpayers Party.
It was mutually agreed that at the next organizing convention, the Policy Board would encourage the membership to endorse a slate of state officers which included Dan Eby assuming position as State Chairman.
Most of the state membership preferred the name American Heritage Party to Washington Taxpayers Party, so when Eby called a special convention for considering the name change, the nays were few. Washington Taxpayers Party became American Heritage Party in 1998, but still a state affiliate of the U.S. Taxpayers Party (USTP).
, the national party held its nominating convention a year early, in 1999 in St. Louis, in order to take advantage of certain campaign fundraising laws. This convention is where the national party changed its name to the Constitution Party. The national convention revealed to the AHP state party leadership a number of growing concerns centered on worldview, strategy, philosophy and ethics.
In March 2000, former members reorganized under the new Constitution Party moniker. The new Constitution Party of Washington (CPW) was formed, with Richert elected chairman. Richert immediately applied to the national party for formal consideration as the new state affiliate.
The American Heritage Party was expelled from the Constitution Party and replaced by the CPW as the state affiliate.
On September 18, 2010 the party announced that after extensive review and consideration, the National Committee of the AHP changed the party name to the Christian Liberty Party.
The American Heritage Party name was copied and used without the permission of Kidwell as a state affiliate of the Constitution (then Taxpayers) Party. It disaffiliated from the national CP and reorganized as a national party and now is officially titled Christian Liberty Party.
Foundation
The American Heritage Party originally began in 1977 when Billy Ray Kidwell contacted Kentucky State Senators, and Congressmen, seeking assistance with forming a new political party.The name was copied as a Washington State affiliate of the U.S. Taxpayers Party
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
(USTP) in 1992, primarily as a campaign vehicle for William C. Goodloe, a former Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court, who ran for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
that year, without Kidwell's knowledge, or concent.
After meeting Howard Phillips in 1991, Goodloe agreed to form a state party affiliate in support of a new national party effort. Goodloe changed the name of his fledgling party from "The American Party" to "Washington Taxpayers Party" (WTP). Judge Goodloe helped Phillips gain ballot access for the U.S. Taxpayers Party in Washington, allowing Phillips to run as a WTP presidential candidate during the 1992 campaign
United States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....
, while Goodloe also ran as a WTP candidate.
In 1993, Goodloe left the Taxpayers Party and the state party became defunct. He turned the records and checking account over to Todd Richert who was appointed State Coordinator by the national party.
1996 elections
For the 1996 election cycleUnited States presidential election, 1996
The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack...
, Todd Richert recruited activists to assist with ballot access. Howard Phillips flew out to attend the ballot access meetings, insisting that formal party organizing should be part of the agenda. Richert was elected State Chairman.
For the second time, Howard Phillips was the presidential nominee of the U.S. Taxpayers Party.
Formal structure
Even before the elections were over, activists expressed a strong desire for a more permanent state party, rather than to solely seek ballot access at each election. Richert instituted a formal party membership system in November 1996, and recruited a small Policy Board which would work to organize a formal party structure.It was mutually agreed that at the next organizing convention, the Policy Board would encourage the membership to endorse a slate of state officers which included Dan Eby assuming position as State Chairman.
Most of the state membership preferred the name American Heritage Party to Washington Taxpayers Party, so when Eby called a special convention for considering the name change, the nays were few. Washington Taxpayers Party became American Heritage Party in 1998, but still a state affiliate of the U.S. Taxpayers Party (USTP).
2000 election
For the 2000 election cycleUnited States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
, the national party held its nominating convention a year early, in 1999 in St. Louis, in order to take advantage of certain campaign fundraising laws. This convention is where the national party changed its name to the Constitution Party. The national convention revealed to the AHP state party leadership a number of growing concerns centered on worldview, strategy, philosophy and ethics.
Party split
Eby called a special convention for disaffiliation of the AHP from the national party in November 1999. The motion did not pass but became official in the spring of 2000.In March 2000, former members reorganized under the new Constitution Party moniker. The new Constitution Party of Washington (CPW) was formed, with Richert elected chairman. Richert immediately applied to the national party for formal consideration as the new state affiliate.
The American Heritage Party was expelled from the Constitution Party and replaced by the CPW as the state affiliate.
National party status
The AHP organized a national party in 2000 and Eby was elected Chairman.On September 18, 2010 the party announced that after extensive review and consideration, the National Committee of the AHP changed the party name to the Christian Liberty Party.
President of the United States
| Candidate | Election Year | Results | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Phillips | 1992 | Lost | United States presidential election, 1992 United States presidential election, 1992 The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot.... |
| Howard Phillips | 1996 | Lost | United States presidential election, 1996 United States presidential election, 1996 The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack... |
United States Congress
| Office | Candidate | Election Year | Results | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each... from Washington |
William C. Goodloe | 1992 United States Senate elections, 1992 The 1992 United States Senate election was an election for the United States Senate in which the victory of Bill Clinton in the presidential election was not accompanied by major Democratic gains in the Senate.... |
| Lost | United States Senate elections, 1992 United States Senate elections, 1992 The 1992 United States Senate election was an election for the United States Senate in which the victory of Bill Clinton in the presidential election was not accompanied by major Democratic gains in the Senate.... |
| U.S. Representative United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... from Washington's 1st congressional district Washington's 1st congressional district Washington's 1st congressional district encompasses part of Northwest Seattle and largely suburban areas north and east of Seattle including Shoreline, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Bothell, Kirkland and Redmond as well as Bainbridge Island and part of the Kitsap Peninsula. It is currently... |
Bruce Craswell | 1998 | | Lost - 13,837 votes (6.11%) - 3rd Place | http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=&c=&c2=&t=645&t2=&p=&p2=&y=, |United States House of Representatives elections, 1998#Washington |
| U.S. Representative United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... from Washington's 5th congressional district Washington's 5th congressional district Washington's 5th congressional district encompasses the Eastern Washington counties of Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, Whitman, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin. It is centered around Spokane, the state's second largest city.Since 2005, the 5th District... |
John Beal | 1998 | Lost - 9,673 votes (5.01%) - 3rd place | http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=&c=&c2=&t=653&t2=&p=&p2=&y=, |United States House of Representatives elections, 1998#Washington |
Washington State Legislature
| Office | Candidate | Election Year | Results | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Representative Washington House of Representatives The Washington House of Representatives is the lower house of the Washington State Legislature, the legislature of the U.S. State of Washington. It is composed of 98 Representatives from 49 districts, each of which elects two members. All members of the House are elected to a two-year term without... from District 16 |
Lorne Blackman | 2000 | Lost - 4,685 votes (22.02%) - 2nd place | http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/voterguides/2000/vote.wa.gov/2000/primary/vote2000/results/leg_by_partyd4cb.html |
County Elections
| Office | Candidate | Election Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County, Washington Commissioner District 3 | Don Jackson | 2002 | http://ext.wsu.edu/chj/02/chj-0229.pdf |
External links
- Official Christian Liberty Party website
- Educational Website of Christian Liberty Party
- 72nd “American View:” Interviews Daniel Eby, National Chairman “American Heritage Party”
- One Nation Under Shatner
- 1st Congressional District election results
- 5th Congressional District election results
- Bruce Craswell's voter pamphlet statement
- John Beal's voter pamphlet statement