1980 John Anderson vice presidential candidate selection

Yeah.

And I remember arguing with somebody on the school bus about whether John Anderson, because he was, you know, when you're on the school bus, it's all what your parents say.

Right.

So somebody's parents obviously were a big fan of the fact that he was an independent candidate.

Ali G. and Scott Lynn, let me tell you.

Let me tell you something, OK? John Anderson, Katty knows who that is, an independent.

He ran in the 1980 campaign, Jimmy Carter versus Ronald Reagan.

He upset the campaign.

Why not just vote for the third-party peacenik, socialist, whatever they are? You know they're not going to win.

But the point is, if the third party becomes bigger and more popular and people start seeing it, like John Anderson in 1984, Ross Perot in 1992, if we promote these third-parties, This can destabilize the two-party system and make them cater to try to co-opt and steal the votes from that third party and at least bring these, you know, like third-party alternative views into the mainstream.

And that's why I really get annoyed with people who won't vote.

I think it's nihilistic.

Our call screener will check in with you, and hopefully the connection will get better.

John Westborough, welcome to the show.

Hi.

Hello.

Nothing has happened there, has it? I don't

think so.

John, thank you for your call.

Appreciate it.

Reagan’s sunny demeanor and “There you go again” debate dismissal made Carter look desperate.

John Anderson ran as an independent moderate, pulling votes from both sides but mostly from Carter.

On election night, the results were decisive.

Reagan won four hundred and eighty-nine electoral votes to forty-nine.