The comedian Pat Paulsen, a regular on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, first announced he was running for President in 1968 as the candidate for the Straight Talking American Government (STAG) Party. Throughout the campaign he repeatedly described himself as the "common ordinary simple savior of America's destiny." Other campaign slogans he used included "We cannot stand pat," "We can be decisive, probably," "United we sit," and "If elected, I will win." He responded to all criticism with the phrase "Picky, picky, picky."

Paulsen declared that "issues have no place in a presidential campaign." However, he did announce a position on a few issues. For instance, on the issue of gun control he favored letting everyone have guns but locking up the bullets.

He campaigned throughout the United States, telling every community that he spoke in that it was his favorite "filled with real people -- not like those phonies in California." When he arrived in California, he declared it to be his real home "not full of phonies like those other places."

In the election Paulsen received so many votes that Hubert Humphrey blamed him for siphoning off votes from the Democrats, allowing Nixon to win.

Paulsen ran five more times, in 1972, 1980, 1988, 1992, and 1996. In 1992 he finished second to George Bush in the North Dakota Republican Primary, and in 1996 he finished second to Bill Clinton in the New Hampshire Democratic Primary.

Links: Pat Paulsen for President