This collection comprises news clippings, correspondence, memoranda, press releases and other papers related to the 1972 campaign of John G. Schmitz as the nominee of the American Party for President of the United States. Also included are news stories and publications by and about the national American Party and its affiliated state parties.

John G. Schmitz was born on August 12, 1930 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1964 Schmitz was elected as a Republican to the California State Senate and was reelected in 1966. He successfully ran for a seat in the United States Congress in 1970, where he represented Newport Beach, California (35th District) for a single term. After losing his congressional reelection bid in the June primaries in 1972, Schmitz was nominated to run for President of the United States by the American Party, known in California as the American Independent Party. Although unsuccessful, he and his running mate Tom Anderson received over a million votes in the 1972 presidential election. Schmitz returned to the Republican Party after this election and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1976. He served again in the California State Senate from 1978-1982. Schmitz died on January 10, 2001, in Washington, D.C.

0.6 Linear Feet (1 box and 2 oversize folders)

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Collection is open for research. Access to fragile originals is restricted when preservation photocopies are available.