Tonie Nathan
Tonie Nathan | |
---|---|
![]() 1993 | |
Born | Theodora Nathalia Nathan February 9, 1923 New York City, U.S. |
Died | March 20, 2014 Eugene, Oregon, U.S. | (aged 91)
Alma mater | University of Oregon |
Occupations |
|
Political party | Libertarian |
Spouse |
Charles Nathan
(m. 1942; died 2012) |
Children | 3 |
Theodora Nathalia "Tonie" Nathan (February 9, 1923 – March 20, 2014) was an American radio producer, television producer, and political activist. She was the first woman to receive an
Background
Nathan was born in 1923 to Jewish parents in New York City.[2] Her last name at birth was Nathan, and she married a man, Charles Nathan, who had the same last name.[3]
She operated her own insurance agency, a music publishing firm and a decorating service in the
Political campaigns
1972 vice-presidential nomination
At the first
Nathan and Hospers campaigned on a platform of minimal government intervention.[7]
1976 vice-presidential candidacy
Nathan consented to have her name put forward for the Libertarian vice-presidential nomination in the 1976 presidential election, though she did not actively campaign for the position.[8] She lost that nomination to Jim Lewis.
1992 Oregon State Senate campaign
Nathan ran against Democrat Bill Dwyer in the 1992 Oregon State Senate election to represent Oregon's 21st House district. She lost, receiving 17.3% of the vote compared to Dwyers' 82.7%.
Senate and House of Representatives campaigns
Following her vice-presidential run, she made a series of unsuccessful runs as a Libertarian candidate during the 1970s through the 1990s, for offices including the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. In the
Nathan ran unsuccessfully for the Oregon State Senate in 1992 and 1998.[12]
Other political activities
Nathan was a founding member and former vice chair of the Libertarian Party,[4][8] as well as a founding member and former president of the Association of Libertarian Feminists.[13] She was a speaker at the 2012 Libertarian National Convention, where she also announced Gary Johnson as the 2012 Libertarian Party presidential nominee.[14]
Views
Nathan was originally a Democrat until one of her sons, Paul, gave her some writings by Ayn Rand. That helped spur his mother’s political views of freedom, free markets and individuality, and prompted her to switch her political allegiance from the Democratic to Libertarian Party, Paul said. She attended the party's first national convention in 1972 in Colorado as an interested observer and freelance writer, but was ultimately asked to join the party's national ticket as a running mate. Throughout the years, Nathan championed a number of social and fiscal issues such as ending the military draft and the war on drugs, advocating historic preservation, abortion rights and a flat tax.[15]
During the
Personal life
Nathan was married to Charles "Chuck" Nathan, an
Death
Nathan died on March 20, 2014, at the age of 91 from Alzheimer's disease.[3][18]
References
- ^ OCLC 750831024.
- ^ Elvin, John (September 28, 2000). "Whatever Happened to ...(Tonie Nathan)". Insight on the News. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Oregon Libertaian, 1st woman to receive electoral vote, dies at 91". KVAL.com. March 20, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ a b c d John, Finn (March 27, 2011). "Libertarian from Eugene was first female VP candidate to get Electoral College vote". Offbeat Oregon. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
- ^ "1972 Presidential General Election Results", Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
- ISBN 9781586485726.
- ^ Buchanan, Matthew. "Obit of the Day". Obit of the Day.
- ^ Eugene Register-Guard. August 22, 1975. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
- Eugene Register-Guard. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
- ^ "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional election of November 4, 1980" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
- ^ "Statistics of the Congressional election of November 6, 1990" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
- ^ "Nathan, Theodora "Tonie"". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ Burford, Lori (March 14, 1982) "Nathan pushes Libertarian cause" The Bulletin, Retrieved July 31, 2012.
- ^ "Nathan, Tonie: C-SPAN Biographical history", C-SPAN Video Library. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
- ^ Wright, Jeff. "Libertarian Tonie Nathan dies". The Register-Guard.
- ^ "Why Are the Major Political Parties Afraid of Competition?". LewRockwell.
- ^ "Charles Nathan 1921–2012". Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ a b Wright, Jeff (March 21, 2014). "Libertarian Tonie Nathan dies". The Register-Guard. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
External links
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Tonie Nathan papers at University of Oregon Libraries Special Collections and University Archives