Ted Weill
Encyclopedia
Theodore "Ted" Weill was the nominee for President of the United States
of the Reform Party of the United States of America
in the 2008 election. He was nominated at the party's national convention on July 20, 2008 in Dallas, Texas
.
During a 2009 interview with Monmouth University
's school newspaper, Weill expressed interest in running again in 2012, but he died at his home on November 20, 2009.
, was also a decorated World War II
veteran, who earned four Battle Stars and served aboard the USS Pennsylvania
. He was also a Boy Scout
instructor. He was invited to the White House
Conference on Small Business three times; in 1980, 1985, and 1990.
.
Weill was the chairman of the Mississippi
Reform Party and a Reform Party National Committeeman.
In 1996, Weill ran for a United States Senate
seat from Mississippi finishing third with 2% of the vote (13,600 votes).
In 2000, Weill endorsed Natural Law Party
candidate John Hagelin
instead of Pat Buchanan
.
In 2004, Weill campaigned for the Reform Party's 2004 presidential nomination, but withdrew his candidacy after Ralph Nader
announced his intention to seek the party's nomination. Weill ultimately endorsed Nader and contributed thousands of dollars to his political campaigns.
During his acceptance speech at the 2004 Reform Party National Convention in
Irving, Texas
, Ralph Nader thanked Weill for his support.
of California, the 2008 presidential candidate of the New American Independent Party, was nominated to be Weill's vice-presidential running-mate. However, the party could not announce the results of the national convention on its web site until October, due to a court order obtained by another faction of the party. The rebel faction also prevented Weill from appearing on the ballot in any of the states in which the party retained access, excluding Mississippi.
Therefore, the Weill/McEnulty ticket appeared on the ballot in only Mississippi and received only 470 votes in that state. He also received write-in votes in Alabama
.
, stated:
"Ted truly believed in trying to do what was best for the country and it is what had driven him to spend so much time, money and effort on his campaign and in support of the Reform Party."
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....
of the Reform Party of the United States of America
Reform Party of the United States of America
The Reform Party of the United States of America is a political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot...
in the 2008 election. He was nominated at the party's national convention on July 20, 2008 in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
.
During a 2009 interview with Monmouth University
Monmouth University
Monmouth University is a private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956, and later Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter....
's school newspaper, Weill expressed interest in running again in 2012, but he died at his home on November 20, 2009.
Early life
Weill, a graduate of Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, was also a decorated World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran, who earned four Battle Stars and served aboard the USS Pennsylvania
USS Pennsylvania
Four ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Pennsylvania in honor of the state of Pennsylvania., 136, was one of nine ships of the line authorized by the United States Congress in 1816 and launched in 1837...
. He was also a Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
instructor. He was invited to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Conference on Small Business three times; in 1980, 1985, and 1990.
Political background
In the 1990s, Weill founded the Independent Party of Mississippi. In 1997, the Independent Party of Mississippi became the official state affiliate of the national Reform Party and renamed itself the Mississippi Reform PartyMississippi Reform Party
The Mississippi Reform Party is the state party organization for Mississippi of the Reform Party of the United States of America.In the 1990s, Ted Weill founded the Independent Party of Mississippi. Weill received 13,861 votes in his bid for Senate...
.
Weill was the chairman of the Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
Reform Party and a Reform Party National Committeeman.
In 1996, Weill ran for a 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...
seat from Mississippi finishing third with 2% of the vote (13,600 votes).
In 2000, Weill endorsed Natural Law Party
Natural Law Party
The Natural Law Party was a transnational party based on the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It was active in up to 74 countries, and ran candidates in at least ten. Founded in 1992, it was mostly disbanded in 2004 but continues in India and in some U.S. states.The NLP viewed "natural law" as...
candidate John Hagelin
John Hagelin
John Samuel Hagelin is an American particle physicist, three-time candidate of the Natural Law Party for President of the United States , and the director of the Transcendental Meditation movement for the US....
instead of Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
.
In 2004, Weill campaigned for the Reform Party's 2004 presidential nomination, but withdrew his candidacy after Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
announced his intention to seek the party's nomination. Weill ultimately endorsed Nader and contributed thousands of dollars to his political campaigns.
During his acceptance speech at the 2004 Reform Party National Convention in
Irving, Texas
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated...
, Ralph Nader thanked Weill for his support.
2008 presidential campaign
At the Reform Party's 2008 national convention, Frank McEnultyFrank McEnulty
Frank Edward McEnulty is an American businessperson and politician. In the 2008 presidential election, he was both the Vice Presidential nominee of the Reform Party of the United States of America and the presidential nominee of the New American Independent Party. His running mate was Bobby...
of California, the 2008 presidential candidate of the New American Independent Party, was nominated to be Weill's vice-presidential running-mate. However, the party could not announce the results of the national convention on its web site until October, due to a court order obtained by another faction of the party. The rebel faction also prevented Weill from appearing on the ballot in any of the states in which the party retained access, excluding Mississippi.
Therefore, the Weill/McEnulty ticket appeared on the ballot in only Mississippi and received only 470 votes in that state. He also received write-in votes in Alabama
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...
.
Legacy
Weill died in November 2009. His former running-mate, Frank McEnultyFrank McEnulty
Frank Edward McEnulty is an American businessperson and politician. In the 2008 presidential election, he was both the Vice Presidential nominee of the Reform Party of the United States of America and the presidential nominee of the New American Independent Party. His running mate was Bobby...
, stated:
"Ted truly believed in trying to do what was best for the country and it is what had driven him to spend so much time, money and effort on his campaign and in support of the Reform Party."
Quotes
- "I have six children, 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and they don't have a chance in hell of being free if we don't turn things around and do it quick. Otherwise, there's only one other route, revolution, and the American people don't have the guts for that. We've become couch potatoes."
- "I thought the world of Ross PerotRoss PerotHenry Ross Perot is a U.S. businessman best known for running for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. Perot founded Electronic Data Systems in 1962, sold the company to General Motors in 1984, and founded Perot Systems in 1988...
. I put him up there with our founding fathers. I liked the way he talked. He’d say 'We’ve got to clean out the barn!' and I agreed with everything he said."
- "My reason for joining the third party movement was to save my country from special interests."
- "We know there are a lot more people today that are looking to change things in this country."