Document:LP News 1972 January Issue 2

(WORK IN PROGRESS)

The second issue of the LP News publication discusses various aspects of the very beginning of the party including the choice of the party name, ideas for presidential nominees, ballot requirements and recruitment.

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Outline

"Libertarian Party" is name choice; Convention to meet in Denver, June 4-7

In response to the questionnaire sent out with Newsletter #1, the members of the Committee to Organize a Libertarian Party chose the name Libertarian Party, by a vote of 111 to 87 (weighted voting; see page 2). In an even more decisive vote (95 to 59), they selected the first week of June as the best time for the party to hold its first national convention in Denver, Colorado.

Based on this latter vote, the temporary Steering Committee of the Libertarian Party has tentatively set the time of the Convention for June 4-7, and has named Denver, Colorado as the Convention site. Tentative Convention agenda is as follows:

Sunday, June 4 -- Open hearings by platform and constitution committees.

Monday, June 5 -- Closed committee sessions, workshops, first session of the convention (to vote on rules, constitution and by-laws). Evening open for caucuses of various groups who wish to hold them.

Tuesday, June 6 -- Second session of the convention (to vote on platform).

Wednesday, June 7 -- Third and final convention session (to elect Party's officers for 1972-1974, and to nominate a President and Vice-President of the United States). Big bash in the evening.

Thursday, June 8 -- Brief open session of the newly-elected Executive Committee, to deal with such matters are necessary.

As currently planned, the Convention will be open to all Libertarian Party members, and registration will cost of $25 for the whole three-day affair. In order to give the convention planning committee some idea of how many people to expect, please indicate the likelihood that will attend, on the enclosed form.

Symbol and Slogan Adopted

Libersign logo with slogan "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

Libersign chosen as the parties official emblem by a vote of 88 to 79. Libertarian Party member John James, a graphic artist, volunteered to draw the new symbol, the Libersign. The logo has been trademarked, and was used as an identifying mark by the Party and its state affiliates, on literature and on ballots (in states where that was permitted).

There was no clear-cut choice for the party slogan ("Laissez Faire" was preferred over "Live and Let Live," but both choices received many negative comments, and numerous alternatives were suggested). Imagery of the Libersign shows the acronym TANSTAFL, which stands for "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch".

Presidential Questionnaire

Rothbard first choice for Presidential candidate; Greenspan, Kellems, Fitzgerald make strong showings.

By a wide margin, the 52 people who returned their questionnaires by December 15th indicated that Rothbard would be their first choice to be the Libertarian Party's Presidential nominee in 1972. Running behind Rothbard was Greenspan.

The results lead the party to persuade Rothbard to accept the nomination with the remaining top five candidates being given first consideration for vice presidential nominee. The bottom three in the questionnaire were offered to be eliminated as unacceptable to most libertarians. A reminder was made that the official nomination would be determined at the party convention in June.

Recruiting Tips

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LP News January 1972

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