Buchanan, Patrick (1938–)

Patrick Joseph Buchanan is an author and columnist, former television commentator and presidential advisor, and three-time unsuccessful presidential candidate.

Born in Washington, D.C., he graduated from Georgetown University and received a master's in journalism from Columbia University in 1962. Upon graduation he began writing for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.

In 1966, Buchanan began working for Richard Nixon as the first full-time staffer in preparation for the 1968 presidential election. Following Nixon's election, Buchanan worked as a White House advisor and speechwriter for Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew. After Nixon's resignation in 1974, Buchanan briefly continued his duties under President Gerald Ford until leaving later that year.

After leaving the White House, Buchanan became a syndicated political columnist and a commentator on a radio program and television shows The McLaughlin Group and Crossfire. In 1985, Buchanan returned to the White House as communications director for Reagan. He remained there until 1987, at which point he returned to Crossfire. He would leave Crossfire two more times to run for president but returned between elections until his final departure in1999.

Buchanan challenged incumbent President George H. W. Bush for the 1992 Republican nomination for president. Buchanan enjoyed early success by winning the New Hampshire primary before losing the nomination. Buchanan later supported Bush and delivered his famous “culture war” speech at the Republican National Convention.

In 1996, Buchanan again ran for the Republican nomination for president. Buchanan won New Hampshire before ultimately being defeated by Senator Bob Dole. During the campaign he gained the nickname “Pitchfork Pat” because of his slogan, “the peasants are coming with pitchforks.” He also ran on his opposition to NAFTA. He threatened to run as the U.S. Taxpayer's Party candidate if Dole chose a prochoice running mate. After Dole's selection of Jack Kemp, Buchanan offered his endorsement.

In 2000, Buchanan sought the Reform Party nomination for president against Iowa physicist John Hagelin. Although Buchanan easily won the primaries, Hagelin's supporters challenged the results. Some were also concerned about Buchanan's strong comments against abortion and homosexuality, as well as accusations of racism and anti-Semitism. The two sides held competing and simultaneous national conventions in the same convention center. Ultimately, the courts ruled Buchanan's nomination was valid, which placed his name on the ballot and granted him the $12.6 million in matching federal funds.

In his nomination address, Buchanan advocated that the United States leave the United Nations, abolish the IRS, Department of Education, capital gains and inheritance taxes, and affirmative action. He took fourth in the national election, garnering just 0.4% of the votes.

In 2004, Buchanan announced he was once again a Republican and endorsed the reelection of President George W. Bush. Buchanan continues to write and is a frequent guest on television news shows. He has written six books, including the New York Times bestseller A Republic Not an Empire.