David Nolan (politician)
David Fraser Nolan (November 23, 1943 - November 21, 2010 [1] ) hosted the meeting at which the Libertarian Party of the United States was founded in 1971.[2] He subsequently served the party in a number of roles including National Chair, editor of the party newsletter, chairman of the By-laws Committee, chairman of the Judicial Committee, and Chairman of the Platform Committee.
He is also known as the popularizer and, incorrectly[3], as the inventor of the Nolan chart which attempts to improve on the simple left versus right political taxonomy by separating the issues of economic freedom and social freedom and presenting them in the format of a plane.
Early life and education
Nolan was born on November 23rd, 1943, in Washington, D. C., and grew up in Maryland. During high school, he read science fiction and became a fan of Robert Heinlein, whose libertarianism shaped his own ideology, as did the works of Ayn Rand. He enrolled at MIT, graduating with a B.S. in political science in 1966.[4]. He was a God believing Unitarian[5].
Political activitism
Nolan was a member of Young Americans for Freedom in 1969 when more than 300 libertarians organized to take control of the organization from conservatives. Many walked out after a physical confrontation sparked by the burning of a draft card in protest to a conservative proposal against draft resistance. While sympathizing with the radicals, Nolan remained with the organization.[6] In 2009, David Nolan publicly endorsed the Free State Project.[7]
Formation of the Libertarian Party
President of the United States Richard Nixon's 1971 imposition of wage and price controls, as well as his closing of the foreign gold window, were the final straws for Nolan and he initiated the Committee to Form a Libertarian Party. The group organized among a number of libertarians, including The Society for Individual Liberty which had been formed by dissident members of Young Americans for Freedom. They officially founded the Libertarian Party on December 11, 1971.[4]
Later political activism
He ran unsuccessfully as a Libertarian in Arizona's 8th congressional district in 2006 and received 1.9% of the vote. He also ran as the Libertarian candidate in the 2010 U.S. Senate election in Arizona, and received 4.7% of the vote.
External links
- The Libertarian Vote, by David Boaz and David Kirby. Cato Institute policy analysis paper 580, October 18, 2006.
- David Nolan for Senate 2010 Senate candidacy page
References
- ^ David F. Nolan, 1943-2010
- ^ Bill Winter, "1971–2001: The Libertarian Party's 30th Anniversary Year: Remembering the first three decades of America's 'Party of Principle'" LP News
- ^ Doherty, Brian. 'Radicals for Capitalism' p. 32. PublicAffairs.
- ^ a b Brian Doherty (journalist) Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement, PublicAffairs, 2007, 389-394.
- ^ http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=66137
- ^ Rebecca E. Klatch, A Generation Divided: The New Left, the New Right, and the 1960s, University of California Press, 1999 ISBN 0520217144, 215-237.
- ^ David Nolan endorsement of the Free State Project
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