National Democratic Party of Alabama
Encyclopedia
National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA) was a political party active in the state of Alabama
, founded by John L. Cashin, Jr.
in 1968. The American Bald Eagle was the symbol of the NDPA. It was often opposed by the Democratic Rooster in local democratic elections. The party became a prominent voice for Black
voting rights and an important player in local politics in Greene County, Hale County, Perry County, Lowndes County, Dallas County and other Black-dominated communities, but failed to make a lasting impact on state politics.
The importance of the NDPA must be viewed in terms of the impact that it had on politics in the Alabama Black Belt. Probate Judge William McKinley Branch (1st Black Probate Judge in the nation} credits Cashin and the NDPA with his success. Branch's nephew, Sheriff without a Gun Thomas Gilmore (2nd elected Black Sheriff in the nation) credits Cashin and the NDPA with his success. Peter Kirksey, 1st Black member of the Greene County Board of Education, cites Cashin and the NDPA for his success. Even after the revolution of the mid-sixties that brought these pioneers to power in Greene County, the shadow of the eagles hovered over Greene County for a generation.
During the 1968 Presidential election
, the state's Democratic Party divided on two factions - one, who supported former Governor and American Independent Party
nominee George Wallace
and those who supported Vice President Hubert Humphrey
- a Democratic nominee.
Democrats loyal to Humphrey and national Democratic Party formed NDPA as a vehicle to field a slate of electors pledged to him. Although national Democratic Party supported Humphrey, Wallace was put on ballot in his home state as official Democratic nominee (like Dixiecrat
Strom Thurmond
in 1948 in some southern states, although Harry S. Truman
was Democratic nominee, or in 1964, when Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson
was not in ballot in Alabama, and an unpledged electors slate was officially nominated by Alabama's Democrats).
In 1970, John L. Cashin, Jr.
ran as the NDPA candidate for governor against George Wallance, getting 15% of the vote.
The NDPA was able to get around hundred of local officials elected, especially in the Western parts of the state.
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, founded by John L. Cashin, Jr.
John L. Cashin, Jr.
John Logan Cashin, Jr. was an American dentist, civil rights campaigner, and politician. He was the founder and leader of the National Democratic Party of Alabama....
in 1968. The American Bald Eagle was the symbol of the NDPA. It was often opposed by the Democratic Rooster in local democratic elections. The party became a prominent voice for Black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
voting rights and an important player in local politics in Greene County, Hale County, Perry County, Lowndes County, Dallas County and other Black-dominated communities, but failed to make a lasting impact on state politics.
The importance of the NDPA must be viewed in terms of the impact that it had on politics in the Alabama Black Belt. Probate Judge William McKinley Branch (1st Black Probate Judge in the nation} credits Cashin and the NDPA with his success. Branch's nephew, Sheriff without a Gun Thomas Gilmore (2nd elected Black Sheriff in the nation) credits Cashin and the NDPA with his success. Peter Kirksey, 1st Black member of the Greene County Board of Education, cites Cashin and the NDPA for his success. Even after the revolution of the mid-sixties that brought these pioneers to power in Greene County, the shadow of the eagles hovered over Greene County for a generation.
During the 1968 Presidential election
United States presidential election, 1968
The United States presidential election of 1968 was the 46th quadrennial United States presidential election. Coming four years after Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson won in a historic landslide, it saw Johnson forced out of the race and Republican Richard Nixon elected...
, the state's Democratic Party divided on two factions - one, who supported former Governor and American Independent Party
American Independent Party
The American Independent Party is a right-wing political party of the United States that was established in 1967 by Bill and Eileen Shearer. In 1968, the American Independent Party nominated George C. Wallace as its presidential candidate and retired Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay as the vice...
nominee George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
and those who supported Vice President Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
- a Democratic nominee.
Democrats loyal to Humphrey and national Democratic Party formed NDPA as a vehicle to field a slate of electors pledged to him. Although national Democratic Party supported Humphrey, Wallace was put on ballot in his home state as official Democratic nominee (like Dixiecrat
Dixiecrat
The States' Rights Democratic Party was a short-lived segregationist political party in the United States in 1948...
Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
in 1948 in some southern states, although Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
was Democratic nominee, or in 1964, when Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
was not in ballot in Alabama, and an unpledged electors slate was officially nominated by Alabama's Democrats).
In 1970, John L. Cashin, Jr.
John L. Cashin, Jr.
John Logan Cashin, Jr. was an American dentist, civil rights campaigner, and politician. He was the founder and leader of the National Democratic Party of Alabama....
ran as the NDPA candidate for governor against George Wallance, getting 15% of the vote.
The NDPA was able to get around hundred of local officials elected, especially in the Western parts of the state.
1968 presidential election results in Alabama
- George WallaceGeorge WallaceGeorge Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
/Curtis LeMayCurtis LeMayCurtis Emerson LeMay was a general in the United States Air Force and the vice presidential running mate of American Independent Party candidate George Wallace in 1968....
(American Independent, as Democratic in Alabama) - 691,425 (65.86%) - Hubert HumphreyHubert HumphreyHubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
/Edmund MuskieEdmund MuskieEdmund Sixtus "Ed" Muskie was an American politician from Rumford, Maine. He served as Governor of Maine from 1955 to 1959, as a member of the United States Senate from 1959 to 1980, and as Secretary of State under Jimmy Carter from 1980 to 1981...
(Democratic, but in Alabama on NDPA ticket) - 196,579 (18.72%) - Richard NixonRichard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
/Spiro AgnewSpiro AgnewSpiro Theodore Agnew was the 39th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Richard Nixon, and the 55th Governor of Maryland...
(Republican) - 146,923 (13.99%)