Henry D. Irwin
Henry D. Irwin (October 22, 1917 – September 3, 1988) was a
1960 presidential election
In the 1960 presidential election, Irwin, who had been pledged to vote for then-Vice President Richard Nixon (of California) and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (of Massachusetts), instead cast his presidential electoral ballot for Harry F. Byrd who was a conservative Democratic Senator from Virginia. Unlike other electors who voted for Byrd for president, Irwin cast his vice presidential electoral vote for Arizona Republican Senator Barry Goldwater. Irwin later admitted in an interview with CBS that he "could not stomach" Nixon.[1]
Irwin made a public effort to attempt to convince his fellow Republican presidential electors to also change their votes. After the November 1960 presidential election, Irwin sent out the following
I am Oklahoma Republican elector. The Republican electors cannot deny the election to
Socialist nominee. Would you consider Byrd President, Goldwater Vice President, or wire any acceptable substitute. All replies strict confidence.[1]
Irwin received about 40 replies from other electors but all of the other pledged electors voted as pledged.[1] He claimed that national and state party officials knew of his plan though then-Oklahoma Republican chair Henry Bellmon stated that Irwin acted completely on his own. Irwin would be subpoenaed by a Senate committee to testify about his electoral vote after refusing an initial invitation.[2]
Also in the 1960 presidential election, 14 unpledged electors (eight from Mississippi and six from Alabama) cast their presidential votes for Byrd. However, none of them voted for Goldwater as vice president, instead giving their second vote to Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina.
Oklahoma voters had passed an amendment to the
Personal life
Irwin, born on October 22, 1917, in Oklahoma,
He was married to Elizabeth J. Phillips, granddaughter of
References
- ^ Center for Voting and Democracy. 2002. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ a b c Averill, Dave (June 7, 1992). "Tale of Oklahoma's Bolting Presidential Elector". Tulsa World. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ United States Social Security Death Index. Retrieved November 23, 2016 – via FamilySearch.
- ^ Staff (May 2, 1979). "Man Is Awarded $1,600 a Month In Alimony Case". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2016.