Lawrence Joseph Sarsfield Daly
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Joseph Sarsfield Daly (January 22, 1912 – April 18, 1979), aka Lar "America First" Daly, was a fringe American politician
who ran unsuccessfully for a variety of political offices (including President of the United States
), often campaigning wearing an Uncle Sam
suit.
Daly was a Republican
primary
candidate for Governor of Illinois
in both 1956 and 1964. He was also a primary candidate for Mayor of Chicago
in 1959, for both the Democratic
and Republican parties, and also ran in the Republican primary in the 1963 and 1967 Chicago mayoral elections. He was the "Tax Cut" and "America First" candidate in the 1960 elections for President of the United States
. He stood in primaries for United States Senator
from Illinois, as a Democrat in 1962 and in 1966, 1970 and 1978 as a Republican. He also ran for United States Representative from Illinois, in a special election in the 7th District in 1973, as a Republican.
Lar Daly is best known today for using the Federal Communications Commission
's "Equal Time Rule" to force radio and television news broadcasts to give him equal coverage with John F. Kennedy
and Richard M. Nixon during the 1960 Presidential campaign, leading to a particularly bizarre appearance on NBC
's Tonight Starring Jack Paar, and later Chicago
Mayor
Richard J. Daley
during the Chicago Mayoral campaigns.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who ran unsuccessfully for a variety of political offices (including President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
), often campaigning wearing an Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam is a common national personification of the American government originally used during the War of 1812. He is depicted as a stern elderly man with white hair and a goatee beard...
suit.
Daly was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
candidate for Governor of Illinois
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
in both 1956 and 1964. He was also a primary candidate for Mayor of Chicago
Mayor of Chicago
The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. He or she is charged with directing city departments and agencies, and with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council, appoints department and agency leaders.-Appointment...
in 1959, for both the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and Republican parties, and also ran in the Republican primary in the 1963 and 1967 Chicago mayoral elections. He was the "Tax Cut" and "America First" candidate in the 1960 elections for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. He stood in primaries for United States 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 Illinois, as a Democrat in 1962 and in 1966, 1970 and 1978 as a Republican. He also ran for United States Representative from Illinois, in a special election in the 7th District in 1973, as a Republican.
Lar Daly is best known today for using the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
's "Equal Time Rule" to force radio and television news broadcasts to give him equal coverage with John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and Richard M. Nixon during the 1960 Presidential campaign, leading to a particularly bizarre appearance on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Tonight Starring Jack Paar, and later Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
during the Chicago Mayoral campaigns.