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"

By a narrow vote (88 to 79(, Committee members chose the Libersign as the Liberarian Party's official emblem; regarding a slogan, there was no clear-cut choice ("Laissez Faire" was preferred over "Live and Let Live," but both choices received many negative comments, and numerous alternatives were suggested). The logo shown in the lower right-hand corner of this page was therefore adopted by the temporary Executive Committee, in a unanimous vote. Libertarian Party member John James, a graphic artist, then volunteered to draw it up. The logo has been trademarked, and will be used as an identifying mark by the Party and its state affiliates, on literature and on ballots (in states where this is permitted).

===Roghtbard 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 Murray Rothbard would be their first choice to be the Libertarian Party's Presidential nominee in 1972. Running well behind Rothbard, but well ahead of everyone else, was Alan Greenspan.

As with the other questions, the results were tabulated by giving 3 point for an "excellent" rating, 2 for a "good," 1 for a "fair," 0 if no response was given, and -1 for a "poor." On this basis, the 14 responsibilities given scored as follows; total point scores are given first, with composite ratings, to the nearest tenth of a point, in parentheses...

(See side bar) On the basis of these returns, the following judgments can be made: First, if it is at all possible to preside Rothbard to accept the nomination, this should be done. If not, any of the next five possibilities would probably be acceptable to a majority of libertarians; these same five people should also be given first consideration in seeking a VP nominee. The next bloc of five (Heinlein through Manne) are worth contacting for the VP nomination, if none of the top six can be persuaded. The bottom three can be eliminated as being unacceptable to most libertarians.

It should be emphasized, however, that it is by no means yet time to "close the door." The nomination will be determined at the Convention in June, and entries will be welcomed up until that time; several new possibilities have been suggested, in fact, and will be contacted if none of the front-runners above are available.

Copies of the platform will be sent to all but the bottom three of the people listed above, along with a letter soliciting their reactions. Those who respond favorably will then be sounded out regarding their willingness to run on our ticket. To help persuade Dr. Rothbard that he should seek the Presidential nomination, we suggest that all LP members send him a letter or postcard using him to run; if possible, get up a petition among the local libertarians, and/or have them write to him too. His address is Box 341, Medison Square Station, NY 10010.

PUT IN IMAGE

Extra copies of this Newsletter may be ordered at $1 for 10.

Platform Comments Welcomed

If you have any comments, pro of con, concerning the Temporary Platform, please send them in, on the back of the enclosed reply form. Your opinion counts!

Membership Application

A copy of our new Membership Application is enclosed with this issue; if you're already a member, you need not fill it out, although we'd appreciate having the information. Members of the Organizing Committee who have not yet joined the party, please fill out the Application and return it with your 1972 dues, if you wish to remain on our mailing list. No more material will be sent to people other than Party members and Newsletter subscribers after this mailing -- so join now!

Additional copies of the Membership Appliatoin are available, free on request.

State Chairman Needed

Libertarian Party Chairman are needed in all states except [[Colorado Libertarian Party}Colorado]]; if you are interested and willing to spend the time and effort necessary to build a Party organization in your state, write and let us know. Include a resume of your political experiences.

This is going to be a grass-roots party; the national office will not be able to do the organization work int he various states. We will provide literature, ideas, and names of people who inquire for info, but you will have to get things going in your state yourselves. So, let's get going!

Recruiting Tips

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LP News January 1972

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