Presidential Candidate

Time to Clean Out the Barn

Dissatisfied with the country’s direction and encouraged by thousands of Americans through a nationwide petition process, Mr. Perot declared himself an independent candidate for president in 1992.

From announcing his candidacy on Larry King’s cable talk show to outlining his policies with charts and graphs in half-hour paid TV "infomercials," Mr. Perot captured the attention of voters hungry for a straight-talking candidate who promised to "clean out the barn."

Mr. Perot’s messages focused on stimulating growth, boosting private enterprises and creating jobs for all Americans. To achieve these goals, he promised to root out waste and abuse in government, simplify the tax code and effectively address education and poverty.

An Independent for Country Unity

He was described as a political Paul Revere, warning of economic peril and government gone bad. "Are they out of touch?" he asked of Washington officials. "I believe they are. You're not out of touch. You're hurting."

He got on all state ballots and catapulted over Republican incumbent George H.W. Bush and Democratic nominee Bill Clinton in some public opinion polls in early summer 1992. He dropped out of the race that July, saying he couldn’t win and that staying in the race would only create problems for the electoral process.

But he jumped back in with about a month to go, took part in the nationally televised debates and gained wide attention for his half-hour TV infomercials, using charts and speaking directly to voters.

"I did it my way, without cheap political tricks," he said.

He bemoaned runaway government spending while the country was in a recession, hurting everyday workers. He said more must be done to promote the industries of the future — electronics, biotech, telecommunications, civilian aviation, computers, software and robotics.

"The success of tomorrow always belongs to the people investing in the future," he said.

He finished third with about 19% of the national vote, the best independent showing since Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose total in 1912.

In his election night speech, Mr. Perot praised his supporters for giving "Washington a laser-like message to listen to the people. You have done an incredible job of getting this country turned back around to the type country our founders established, a country that came from the people, and you have changed this country through your massive efforts."

Flashback #9

Ross Perot names James Stockdale, a retired Navy vice admiral, former POW and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, as his 1992 running mate.

"You have done an incredible job of getting this country turned back around to the type of country our founders established, a country that came from the people..."

- Ross Perot

Grassroots Power

Political experts said his run showed the power of a blunt-talking, issue-oriented, grassroots campaign attuned to voters’ top concerns. "He broke all the rules and had a very significant impact on politics and policy even in losing," University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato told NPR. "He is a remarkable and unique story in the annals of American politics."

Among them, his focus on balancing the budget and strengthening the economy prodded both parties to work to reduce the budget deficit.

After that election, he created United We Stand, a non-partisan research and educational group to study domestic problems and press for economic and government reform. That later spawned the Reform Party, which nominated him as its 1996 presidential candidate.

"I will be your servant," he said in accepting the Reform Party nomination. "I will only belong to you, the people."

He pressed for campaign and lobbying reform, congressional term limits and an overhaul of health care and income tax policies. He finished again in third, winning 8% of the vote.

He largely stayed out of the national political arena after that but continued, with wife Margot, being involved in a range of charitable activities.

Flashback #10

In the 1992 election, he received about 19% of the national vote, the best independent showing since Teddy Roosevelt's Bull Moose run in 1912.